Page 69 - FoodFocusThailand No.200 November 2022

STRATEGIC R&D

According to the Notification of the daily food intake. Standard formulas usually contain a complete mix of added
Ministry of Public Health No.238 vitamins and minerals, which is enough to satisfy consumers’ daily nutritional
B.E.2534 (1991), medical food is requirements. Almost all medical foods, however, are formulated to be lactose-
classified as a special-purpose food free, as lactose may cause discomfort in people with lactose intolerance.
whose manufacturer or importer must Disease-specific Formula Medical Food These formulas are designed to
adhere to the regulatory measures 2contain sufficient energy proportion that can supply the body’s nutritional
stipulated in the notifications of the requirements. They also provide specific nutrients ideal for specific diseases. For
Ministry of Public Health concerning instance, the medical food specifically formulated for patients with chronic kidney
the production, manufacturing disease contains a limited amount of kidney-affecting minerals, such as sodium,
equipment, and storage of food. The potassium, phosphorous, and magnesium. Additionally, it must supply a high
labeling practices shall comply with the amount of energy: 1.8 kilocalories per 1 milliliter, which is appropriate for peritoneal
notifications of the Ministry of Public
Health regarding food labeling, and
the texts “Medical Food” and “Consume
under Medical Supervision” must be
displayed in its advertisement.
Medical food is not a medicine, nor
is it a food supplement. It is formulated
for nutrition therapy aimed at specific
patients who cannot consume normal
food or whose body is in a condition
that requires extremely high or low
nutrients, which cannot be acquired
through normal means.

The Differences between
Medical Food and Food
Supplement
In general, food supplement, such as
vitamin, mineral, amino acid, and
herbal extract, is consumed by healthy
individuals through oral administration
only. Medical food, on the other hand,
is food with specific formulas designed
to fulfill the particular dietary needs of
specific patients. Its usage must be
placed under medical supervision. It,
in addition, can be administered orally
or via a feeding tube and comes in
several forms, such as powder, liquid,
or jelly.
There are two main types of
medical food: standard and disease-
specific formulas. The latter is suitable
for patients with certain illnesses such
as diabetes, chronic kidney disease,
or cancer.
Standard Formula Medical Food
1These formulas generally provide
40-60 percent carbohydrates, 15-25
percent protein, and 15-35 percent fat
of the total energy content, all of which
align with the usual recommended

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