Food supplements

Description

Food supplements are available in the form of tablets, capsules or sachets. Nevertheless they are legally classified as food products, not as drugs. They contain concentrated preparations of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre or other substances with nutritional properties.

Advertising of dietary supplements often suggests that the respective product may correct an unbalanced diet, stimulates the immune system or may help to improve mental and physical performance.

Possible application of biotechnology

The application of genetic engineering is possible in the following ingredients of food supplements. It is however not possible to make general statements whether or not biotechnology was used in a specific product and to which extent.

• Vitamins and provitamins: vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12, biotin
• Amino acids: cysteine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine, phenylalanine, glutaminic acid
• Secondary plant metabolites: Plant sterols (phytosterines)
• Soy protein
• Brewing yeast
• Enzymes (like amylase, lipase, lactase as digestive agents)
• Flavours
• Papaya
• Emulsifiers: soya lecithin, soybean polyose (E426)
• Filling agents: cellulose, ethylcellulose (E 462), dextrin
• Acidity regulators: citric acid