Medical food
Medical food
Medical food (pronunciation: /ˈmɛdɪkəl fuːd/) is a category of products for dietary management or nutritional support that are intended for use under medical supervision. They are formulated to be consumed or administered enterally, i.e., through the digestive tract.
Etymology
The term "medical food" is derived from the words "medical", which originates from the Latin "medicus" meaning "physician", and "food", which comes from the Old English "fōda".
Definition
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a medical food is "a food which is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the supervision of a physician and which is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation."
Types of Medical Foods
Medical foods can be classified into various types based on their intended use. Some of these include:
- Metabolic foods: These are designed for individuals with inherited metabolic disorders.
- Nutrition support foods: These are intended for individuals who are unable to obtain sufficient nutrition through regular food or dietary supplements.
- Foods for gastrointestinal disorders: These are designed for individuals with conditions such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease.
Related Terms
- Dietary supplement: A product intended to supplement the diet and contains one or more dietary ingredients.
- Enteral nutrition: A method of feeding that uses the gastrointestinal tract to deliver part or all of a person's caloric requirements.
- Parenteral nutrition: The feeding of a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Medical food
- Wikipedia's article - Medical food
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