Blog
Structure/Function Claims: The Rules Behind the Star
Structure/function claims describe how an ingredient affects the body's normal structure or function. FDA does not approve them before sale. The maker needs backing, must notify FDA, and must add a note that FDA has not evaluated the claim. These claims may never name a disease the product will fix.
Written by the Trimoryn label deskUpdated · 4 min read
Basics01
What is a structure/function claim?
It is a sentence about what a nutrient does in the body, such as its role in a normal process.
Supplements use these claims instead of drug claims. A drug is reviewed before sale. A supplement is not, so its claims are limited to words about normal body function. FDA describes these as claims about the role of a nutrient or ingredient meant to affect structure or function 1.
For a shopper the key point is simple. A claim you read on a bottle was written by the seller.
Steps02
What must a maker do before using one?
A maker has three jobs before a claim goes on a label.
Have backing
The firm must have proof that the claim is truthful and not misleading.
Tell FDA
The maker sends a notice within 30 days of first marketing the claim.
Add the note
The label carries a boldface statement that FDA has not evaluated the claim.
None of these steps is a review by FDA. The agency can act once a product is on the market, if a claim is false or the product is unsafe 2.
Limits03
What can a supplement never claim?
It may not say it will diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent a disease.
| Type | Example of wording | Fit for a supplement? |
|---|---|---|
| Structure/function | Plays a role in normal digestion | Yes, with the note |
| Disease claim | Lowers high blood pressure | No |
| Result promise | Drops a set amount in a set time | Risky, and a red flag |
These examples are ours, not quotes from any label. The FTC adds that health claims need competent and reliable scientific evidence 3.
Trimoryn: 30 capsules a bottle1 capsule a day, 15 to 30 minutes before a meal · price and shipping at checkout · 60-day guarantee (confirm)
See packsStar04
Why does every claim have a star?
The star ties the claim to the required note about FDA.
FDA says by law it does not approve dietary supplements or their labeling 4. So the star is a safety valve. It tells you the claim has not been judged. On the Trimoryn bottle, the line Weight Management Support carries this kind of mark.
A star is not a flaw. It is the label being honest. Read the note it points to every time.
Shop05
How can you use this when you shop?
Treat the claim as a question, and let the panel and a pharmacist answer it.
- Find each ingredient and its amount on the panel.
- Ask whether any research on that ingredient used a similar amount.
- Check your medicines with a pharmacist.
- Keep taking prescribed medicine.
The Supplement Facts page and the testing and quality page show how to do this for Trimoryn. This site is an authorized retailer and earns a commission on orders.
Popular
3 bottles: 90 days
$207$69 a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · 60-day guarantee (confirm)
Order 3 bottles
Lowest per bottle
6 bottles: 180 days
$294$49 a bottle
Shipping shown at checkout · 60-day guarantee (confirm)
Order 6 bottlesPrices are per bottle for each pack; the checkout shows the final total and shipping 5. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order.
FAQ06
Trimoryn questions people ask
What is the difference between a drug claim and a structure function claim?
A drug claim says a product treats or prevents a disease. A structure function claim only describes a role in normal body function.
Does the FDA check structure function claims before sale?
No. The maker needs backing and must notify FDA within 30 days, but FDA does not approve the claim first.
What does the star on a supplement claim point to?
It points to the note that FDA has not evaluated the statement and that the product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
Who can act if a claim is false?
FDA can act on unsafe or misbranded products, and the FTC can act on false advertising.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized Trimoryn Retailer. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Trimoryn
USA Authorized Trimoryn Retailer
Ready to try Trimoryn?
Check your medicines first, especially diabetes medicine, then pick a pack. Prices and shipping are shown at checkout; the brief lists a 60-day guarantee, to be confirmed on the live page.
- Secure checkout on the sales site
- 60-day guarantee (confirm live policy)
- Tracking in the order email