Label law
Structure Function Claims Supplements Make: The Asterisk Explained
Structure function claims supplements make describe how a nutrient supports the body, such as "supports bone health," and never say the product treats a disease. The label must add that FDA has not evaluated the statement. The company only notifies FDA after it starts selling; the claim is not approved first.
Written by the Glyco Defender facts deskUpdated · 4 min read
The claim type01
What is a structure/function claim?
A structure/function claim says what a nutrient or ingredient does for the body's normal structure or function. It is the kind of statement supplements may make.
Examples are "supports immune health" or "helps maintain bone strength." Notice the soft verbs. They describe a role, not a cure.
A disease claim is different. Words like "treats a disease" turn a supplement into an unapproved drug. That is why ads use the softer form, and why a soft verb is worth a second look.
The line between the two can blur. "Supports healthy blood sugar" sounds close to a disease claim for many readers, yet it is worded as a body role. Read the whole ad, not just the verb.
A useful habit is to swap the claim into plain words. "Supports X" means "may play a part in X," and nothing more.
The rule02
What does FDA require with these claims?
FDA rules require two things: a notice to FDA within 30 days of first marketing, and a disclaimer on the label (21 CFR 101.93 (eCFR)).
The disclaimer reads: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." It sits next to the claim or is linked by an asterisk.
| Type | Example | Allowed on a supplement? |
|---|---|---|
| Structure/function | Supports normal energy | Yes, with the disclaimer |
| Disease claim | Treats a named disease | No |
| Company evidence | Must be truthful | Required |
What it means03
Does the FDA disclaimer mean the claim is false?
No, it means the claim was not reviewed first. Supplements need no approval before sale, and FDA does not judge whether they work beforehand (NIH ODS, Supplement basics).
The company must still have evidence that its claim is truthful and not misleading. The FTC adds that health claims need solid human evidence for the specific product, dose and users (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance).
So the asterisk is a flag. It tells you to ask: what is the evidence, and was this exact product studied?
For Glyco Defender, no trial of the product exists. Studies of single ingredients, such as chromium or gymnema, used other doses and do not carry over to a blend (see the ingredients).
Glyco Defender: from $49 a bottle30 mL · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back
See packsGlyco Defender04
What claims does Glyco Defender make?
The Glyco Defender bottle prints no support claim on the front. Its sales page is louder, and we quote and check those lines on our benefits page.
The label carries the FDA statement on the facts panel, as the law expects. The sales page quotes studies of single ingredients, which do not test the drops. A claim of any kind should be read next to the amounts on the label.
Use these badges as a guide to what is described, not as an endorsement. None of them is a testing seal.
The label says it was made in an FDA registered facility. Registration is not approval, and FDA does not endorse products.
Matches the label: made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. The countries are not named.
Matches the sales page's 60-day, 100% money-back guarantee, claimed through the order desk.
Every badge is taken from the brand's own image set. A badge is a claim by the seller, not a certificate: none names a certifier, lab or audit. FDA does not approve supplements before they are sold (FDA, Using Dietary Supplements), and health claims in ads need real evidence (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance).
Order05
How should a claim affect your decision?
Treat a claim as a question to test, not an answer. Read the amounts, ask for evidence and keep your doctor in the loop.
Keep taking prescribed medicine and tell your doctor about any supplement. A claim on a bottle is never a reason to change a prescribed dose. See the benefits review for claim-by-claim notes.
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Glyco Defender is a dietary supplement, not a treatment. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you use insulin, a sulfonylurea or another glucose-lowering drug, a blood thinner, blood pressure or heart-rhythm medicine, an antidepressant or thyroid medicine. Chromium, gymnema and ginseng may add to diabetes medicines and cause lows; guarana and green tea add caffeine. Keep taking prescribed medicine. See side effects and interactions.
FAQ06
Glyco Defender questions people ask
What is the difference between a health claim and a structure function claim?
A health claim links a food or nutrient to a lower risk of a disease and needs FDA review. A structure/function claim describes a body role and needs only notice to FDA after launch.
Why do supplements say not intended to diagnose treat cure or prevent any disease?
Federal rules require that second sentence with the FDA statement (21 CFR 101.93 (eCFR)). It confirms the product is not a drug. It is a legal line, so read it as a limit, not a promise.
Who checks that a structure function claim is true?
The company must have evidence, and the FTC can act on misleading claims. No agency reviews each claim before it is printed, so the reader has to check.
Can a supplement claim to support blood sugar?
A claim about supporting normal body function can be made with the disclaimer, but it must be truthful. Saying it treats or manages diabetes would be a disease claim, which is not allowed.
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 . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for Glyco Defender, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
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