Table 1.

Differences between nutrient and non-nutrient bioactives

Characteristic	Nutrients	Non-Nutrients
Chemical structures known	Yes	For some, not all
Xenobiotics	Yes	Yes
Multiple functions, pathways and targets known	Yes	Incomplete
Essential for human life	Yes	No but may have health effects
Functions and metabolism known	Yes	Incompletely described
Safety assessment models available and agreed upon internationally	Yes	No
Adequate intakes known	Yes	No
Excessive intakes known	Yes	No
Efficacy assessment models available and agreed upon internationally	Yes	No
Intakes reducing chronic disease risk known	For some (dietary fiber, sodium, potassium)	Possibly for a few
Authoritative guidance on intakes is available in US	Yes	Not in US, but for selected bioactives in Korea and China (Lupton et al 2014)
Statutory definitions exist	Yes	No