--- title: 5 Big Differences Between Medical Foods and Nutritional Supplements description: "The emergence of the Nutraceutical industry has changed the game. Nutritional supplements manufactured in FDA-approved facilities are selling like cheesesteaks in Philly. Medical foods are now \"smart\" and are no longer relegated to an IV stand next to the hospital bed." image: https://blog.vestanutra.com/hubfs/supplementfacts_001.jpg --- [888-558-3782](tel:888-558-3782) [![Vesta-Nutra-New-Logo](https://blog.vestanutra.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Vesta-Nutra-New-Logo.png?width=250&height=45&name=Vesta-Nutra-New-Logo.png "Vesta-Nutra-New-Logo")](https://www.vestanutra.com) - [Ingredients](https://vestanutra.com/ingredients/) - [Manufacturing](https://vestanutra.com/manufacturing/) - [Contract Manufacturing](https://vestanutra.com/contract-manufacturing/) - [Liposomal Contract Manufacturing](https://vestanutra.com/liposomal-contract-manufacturing/) - [CO2 Contract Manufacturing](https://vestanutra.com/co2-contract-manufacturing/) - [Applications](https://vestanutra.com/applications/) - [News & Resource](https://vestanutra.com/information-material-for-download/) - [INGREDIENTS](https://vestanutra.com/ingredients/) - [MANUFACTURING](https://vestanutra.com/manufacturing/) - [Contract Manufacturing](https://vestanutra.com/contract-manufacturing/) - [Development](https://vestanutra.com/development/) - [Packaging](https://vestanutra.com/packaging/) - [Methenamine](https://www.vestamethenamine.com/) - [ABOUT VESTA](https://vestanutra.com/) - [Why Vesta](https://vestanutra.com/about/#_why-vesta) - [Vesta Advantage](https://vestanutra.com/about/#_vesta-advantage) - [Sustainability](https://vestanutra.com/sustainability/) - NEWS - [Blog](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink) - [Events](https://vestanutra.com/events/) - [Podcast](https://vestanutra.com/podcast/) - [CONTACT](https://vestanutra.com/contact/) NutraLink - The Nutraceutical Industry Blog from Vesta Nutra # 5 Big Differences Between Medical Foods and Nutritional Supplements By [Mike Magan](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/author/mike-magan) October 01, 2018 [contract manufacturing](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/contract-manufacturing), [food additive](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/food-additive), [dietary supplement](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/dietary-supplement), [medical food](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/medical-food), [nutritional supplement](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/nutritional-supplement) - [No Comments](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/5-big-differences-between-medical-foods-and-dietary-supplements#comments-listing) [Home](https://vestanutra.com/) » 5 Big Differences Between Medical Foods and Nutritional Supplements There was a time in the not-too-distant past that distinct industries separated dietary supplements and medical foods. The thought that a single company would offer both a medical food and a nutritional supplement as part of its product line-up would be like combining the rosters of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Red Wings. Fascinating in theory, but why? The emergence of the Nutraceutical industry has changed the game. Nutritional supplements manufactured in FDA-approved facilities are selling like cheesesteaks in Philly. Medical foods are now "smart" and are no longer relegated to an IV stand next to the hospital bed. So while a hot economy and endless e-commerce sites have given us protein shots and beet juice; let's understand the basics: nutritional supplements and medical foods are still separate and distinct*[in the eyes of the FDA](https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/UCM500094.pdf)*. Dr. Jeremy Johnson, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, spells out 5 major differences between dietary supplements and medical foods: 1. Medical Foods and Dietary supplements have separate FDA regulatory classifications. 2. Dietary supplements have strict labeling guidelines with a 'Supplement Facts' box while Medical Foods have virtually no labeling regulations. 3. Medical Foods require medical supervision, whereas your primary care physician should approve the use of Dietary Supplements. 4. Dietary Supplements support the overall care of a person with the disease while medical foods target a specific disease and patient population. 5. Medical Foods can make medical claims, dietary or nutritional supplements can not. Manufacturers and brands should know that a medical food can be used to treat a disease but a dietary or nutritional supplement can support or benefit healthy levels of the ingredient it contains. *T[he FDA also published a 2016 guidance document](https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/UCM500094.pdf)* that provides plenty of context for how the agency views the two. If you have questions or thoughts on how you can bring a product to market in the Nutraceutical industry, our research and development team provides excellent guidance. Our customer service representatives can draw upon their vast market experience as well.  [**Paul Kenfield**](mailto:paul@vestanutra.com), can assist you with virtually any aspect of bringing your product to market. You can reach him at ***[paul@vestanutra.com](mailto:paul@vestanutra.com)*** or 888-55-VESTA. ### Subscribe To NutraLink! ### Search By Tag - [nutraceutical (29)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/nutraceutical) - [contract manufacturing (25)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/contract-manufacturing) - [dietary supplement (20)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/dietary-supplement) - [nutritional supplement (15)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/nutritional-supplement) - [ingredients (11)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/tag/ingredients) [![Catch-Up-On Podcast](https://blog.vestanutra.com/hubfs/Catch-Up-On%20Podcast.png "Catch-Up-On Podcast")](https://vestanutra.com/podcast/) #### Featured Posts ![PEARL TOMATO Clinicial Study](https://blog.vestanutra.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Canva%20images/Pearl%20Tomato%E2%84%A2.png?width=737&name=Pearl%20Tomato%E2%84%A2.png)- Pearl Tomato®: Clinical Study Summary - October 24, 2025 #### Recent Posts ![](https://blog.vestanutra.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Email%20Message%20Images/Supply%20Side%202026%20Email.jpg?width=737&name=Supply%20Side%202026%20Email.jpg)- Thirty Years In, Vesta Nutra Brings Its Record to SupplySide Global - October 05, 2026 ![](https://blog.vestanutra.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/SunflowerLiposomesHero.png?width=737&name=SunflowerLiposomesHero.png)- How Sunflower Lecithin Forms Liposomes Without Major Allergens - September 08, 2026 ![](https://blog.vestanutra.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ImmunityBlogPostImage.jpg?width=737&name=ImmunityBlogPostImage.jpg)- Back to School, Back to the Bench: A Four-Layer Blueprint for Building an Immunity Formula - August 19, 2026 ### Archives - [October 2026 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/10) - [September 2026 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/09) - [August 2026 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/08) - [July 2026 (2)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/07) - [June 2026 (2)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/06) - [May 2026 (2)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/05) - [April 2026 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2026/04) - [October 2025 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2025/10) - [July 2024 (2)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2024/07) - [February 2022 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2022/02) - [March 2021 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2021/03) - [April 2020 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2020/04) - [January 2020 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2020/01) - [December 2019 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2019/12) - [November 2019 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2019/11) - [October 2019 (2)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2019/10) - [August 2019 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2019/08) - [February 2019 (3)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2019/02) - [January 2019 (4)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2019/01) - [December 2018 (3)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2018/12) - [November 2018 (3)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2018/11) - [October 2018 (3)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2018/10) - [September 2018 (3)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2018/09) - [August 2018 (1)](https://blog.vestanutra.com/nutralink/archive/2018/08) Explore Further ### Subscribe Here! 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