We offer two “medical foods” at our office for those with specific metabolic conditions in need of additional nutritional support. These products are Osteoben and Arthroben and they are clinically proven to aid those suffering from Osteoporosis/Osteopenia and Osteoarthritis respectively. Please read below for additional information on medical foods and these products specificially.
What are Medical Foods?
The term ”medical food” means 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.
21 U.S.C. sec. 360ee(b)(3). — [from the Orphan Drug Act]
Regulatory Definition of Medical Foods
-Specially formulated – not in diet
-GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) ingredients
-Enteral/Oral administration
-Medically determined dietary need
-Dietary management claims of the disease
-Food GMP required
-Exempt from nutritional product labeling
-Based on recognized science (ie., preclinical, toxicology and clinical trials)
-Given to a diseased population or for chronic conditions
-Given under a physician’s supervision
-Not approved, but meets FDA regulations
Generally Recognized As Safe
Any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excluded from the definition of a food additive.
Arthroben™ is a safe, effective, non-NSAID, anti-inflammatory formula offered in 
a highly absorbable, delicious tasting apple-flavored powder. Its combination of nutrients work to reduce inflammation, stimulate connective tissue repair and increase joint mobility and function.
Benefits of Arthroben™ include:
- Reduces inflammation
- Balanced inhibition of COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX
- Offers potent antioxidant protection to reduce joint deterioration
- Increases joint mobility and function
- Stimulates joint repair, and provides nutritional building blocks for cartilage, ligaments (and skin)
- Not associated with the negative side effects that are commonly seen with NSAIDs & other drugs
- Safe for patients on warfarin (Coumadin)
- Little or no effect on prothrombin times (PT)
Osteoben™ is formulated to address the pathophysiology of osteopenia and 
osteoporosis, providing patients with the proper bone-supportive nutritional requirements in order to safely assist with the dietary management of these conditions. The main active compound of Osteoben™ is the isoflavone genistein, which works to target the decreased BMD (bone mineral density) seen in osteopenia and osteoporosis. –
See more at: http://catalog.designsforhealth.com/Osteoben#sthash.sTvFVVjW.dpuf