High Prevalence of Chronic Diseases and Increasing Number of Medical Food Clinics to Augment Growth of U.S. Medical Foods Market
Medical foods are special foods, which are specifically formulated and intended to the special dietary needs of an individual who has unique, particular nutritional requirements, which cannot be met by a normal balanced diet alone. These specialized foods have been specifically designed for people with specific medical conditions. These specific needs range from specific food allergies, to a vitamin or nutrient deficiency, to a weight management issue. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines medical food as “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.” The U.S. medical foods market is expected to witness significant growth in the foreseeable future, owing to high prevalence of chronic diseases in the region...