Foods versus Drugs for Health Promotion: Considerations for Future Directions

Peter      J.H. Jones; Stephanie      Jew

Abstract

The series of papers in this thematic issue discuss the differences and similarities of foods versus drugs in disease prevention and treatment. The main focus of each contribution is considered in this review. The use as well as advantages and drawbacks of combination therapy employing drugs and foods are also elaborated on. Examples of combining the use of pharmaceuticals and food bioactives including using statins or ezetimibe in conjunction with plant sterols are provided. In summary, the present paper makes a case for adoption of food bioactives in both prevention and treatment approaches to disease, and recommends that functional foods can serve as efficacious adjuncts to pharmacotherapy during all stages of treatment of numerous diseases.

Keywords: Bioactives, drugs, food, functional foods, health promotion, mechanisms of action, genes, health, nutrigenomics, targets