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GLUCOSAMINE and CHONDROITIN SUPPLEMENTS
What They Are and What They Do

The following two paragraphs are copied from aafco.org/nrapr.htm regarding the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials).  It indicates that at the present time there still needs to be an agreement on what constitutes a "Nutraceutical" and whether or not claims for their health enhancing benefits must be substantiated through controlled clinical studies.  T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM  11/01

Nutraceuticals have been described as being between a nutrient and a pharmaceutical, having characteristics of both (Boothe, 1997) but are not drugs. Attempts at defining these ingredients include, "a substance which is produced in a purified or extracted form and administered orally to patients to provide agents required for normal body structure and function and administered with the intent of improving the health and well-being of animals" (North American Veterinary Nutraceutical Council, 1998) and "any substance that
may be considered a food or part of a food and provides medical or health benefits" (Hassler, 1996). Most of these ingredients are labeled as dietary supplements. Therefore, they fall under the provisions of FDA's FFDCA as well as various state laws.

The term "nutraceutical" was coined in the 1980's as a marketing term to distinguish some ingredients from the usual dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals. The manner in which these ingredients are marketed, either bearing direct or implied claims, has created a regulatory challenge. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) objects to claims that a food/feed may be used for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease because these are drug claims as defined by the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). FDA has concerns regarding the use of ingredients with no previous use in animal feeds, ingredients that are not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), and ingredients that are not approved as food additives. FDA's decision to regulate animal "nutraceutical" ingredients without drug claims as of low regulatory significance should not be confused as FDA's acceptance or approval of these ingredients.

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