Because only a drug can make such a claim. This statement has not been evaluated by [View All]

[HysteryDiagnosis]

the FDA, blah blah blah. On the other hand, in Italy a patient may sue for not being recommended omega threes for certain heart issues. See second link below or excerpt from it.


http://www.fda.gov/food/dietarysupplements/consumerinformation/ucm110417.htm
Why do some supplements have wording (a disclaimer) that says: "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease"?

This statement or "disclaimer" is required by law (DSHEA) when a manufacturer makes a structure/function claim on a dietary supplement label. In general, these claims describe the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient intended to affect the structure or function of the body. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and truthfulness of these claims; they are not approved by FDA. For this reason, the law says that if a dietary supplement label includes such a claim, it must state in a "disclaimer" that FDA has not evaluated this claim. The disclaimer must also state that this product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease," because only a drug can legally make such a claim.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Omega-3-Supplements:-Why-Dont-Doctors-Prescribe-Them?&id=6406784

In Europe, doctors automatically prescribe fish oil supplements to heart attack patients; those living in Italy can actually sue their physicians for malpractice if they do not recommend omega-3 after a heart attack. In the United States, however, hardly any doctor recommends the use of fish oil for patients. This then begs the question - why don't more doctors prescribe omega-3 fatty acids? Why does the average doctor prescribe pharmaceutical medications that cause devastating side effects?

One possible reason is that omega-3 supplements are not licensed to treat diseases in the United States. This means that doctors have to be very cautious when it comes to recommending supplements, and that they cannot promote omega-3 as a treatment or cure for any disease. The reason behind this is to protect the consumer from false advertising and unscrupulous manufacturers. However, this also means that many consumers are left in the dark about fish oil benefits, or are skeptical about what these can do to their health.

Another reason is that pharmaceutical companies do not promote fish oil and other natural supplements because they cannot profit from them as much as they do from drugs. Pharmaceutical manufacturers invest hundreds of millions creating and patenting new drugs, which prevents other companies from copying these for over 20 years. However, only original substances are protected by patent law. Since omega-3 fats can be obtained naturally and have been consumed for decades, they are not covered by patents, which make them less profitable, especially if you consider the mandatory testing the company needs to do to license these as medicines.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6406784