People searching for a medical food supplement are often looking for targeted nutritional support rather than an everyday vitamin. But “medical food” does not simply mean a stronger or more specialized supplement.
In the United States, medical foods and dietary supplements are distinct categories. The FDA defines a medical food as a food formulated for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition with distinctive nutritional requirements established by medical evaluation and intended for use under medical supervision. Understanding that distinction is especially important when evaluating products marketed around botanical wellness or “detox.”