Evidence mapPaperPMID 42514432Full record

ReviewNutrients2026

Natural Products as Nutritional Supplements in Human Disease Prevention and Management: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Translation.

Antonios Dakanalis, Sousana K Papadopoulou, Maria Mentzelou, Athanasios Migdanis, Ioannis Migdanis, Constantinos Giaginis

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Antonios DakanalisDepartment of Mental Health, Fondazione IRCSS San Gerardo dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2328-3862
Sousana K PapadopoulouDepartment of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-6408-6128
Maria MentzelouDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece.
Athanasios MigdanisNutrition and Dietetics Department, University of Thessaly, 42132 Trikala, Greece.
Ioannis MigdanisFaculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece.
Constantinos GiaginisDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-2878-4831

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesNatural products derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms have long been used as nutritional supplements and are increasingly recognized for their potential role in preventing and managing human diseases. This narrative review aims to summarize current evidence on the therapeutic relevance of natural products as dietary supplements across major disease categories and to highlight their mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and safety considerations.

methodsA narrative literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and clinical studies focusing on natural products used as nutritional supplements in disease management. Relevant data were analyzed thematically, with emphasis on bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, and evidence from preclinical and clinical research.

resultsNatural products, particularly plant-derived polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotic-derived metabolites, exhibit diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial effects. Evidence suggests potential benefits in cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, neurodegenerative conditions, certain cancers, gastrointestinal disorders, and infectious diseases. However, clinical efficacy varies depending on compound type, dosage, and formulation. Key limitations include low bioavailability, variability in composition, and insufficient large-scale clinical trials. Safety concerns such as herb-drug interactions and lack of standardization remain significant challenges.

conclusionsNatural products as nutritional supplements represent a promising adjunct strategy in the prevention and management of various human diseases. While preclinical and early clinical evidence is encouraging, stronger clinical validation, improved standardization, and clearer regulatory frameworks are required to fully integrate these agents into evidence-based medical practice.

Indexed as

Biological ProductsDietary SupplementsAnimalsAnti-Inflammatory AgentsAntioxidantsFlavonoidsHumansNeoplasmsPolyphenolsTranslational Research, BiomedicalAnti-Inflammatory AgentsAntioxidantsBiological ProductsFlavonoidsPolyphenolsanti-inflammatoryantioxidantsbioavailabilityclinical trialshuman diseasesnatural productsnutritional supplementspreclinical evidence

Identifiers

PMID42514432
PMCPMC13414938

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.