INFORM January 2024

HEALTH & NUTRITION

inform January 2024, Vol. 35 (1) • 11

Examples of Food for Special Medical Purposes sold in China. Clockwise from the top-left: comprehensive fiber nutritional formula pow der, formula food containing protein, electrolyte formula beverage, formula food containing carbohydrates, formula food for preterm/ low birth weight infants, and comprehensive nutritional formula powder.

ease patients, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) may be used as a fat source due to their unique metabolic pathway, which alleviates the burden on the liver. Proteins are large molecules that cannot be directly absorbed by the human body. They are valuable only after enzymatic hydrolysis that breaks them down into peptides and amino acids. Consequently, FSMP products include pro tein sources derived from plants and animals, as well as pep tides or amino acids obtained from animal or plant protein hydrolysates.

Carbohydrates are the primary energy source required to maintain vital bodily functions. Common carbohydrate sources in FSMP include glucose, lactose, maltodextrin, cornstarch, and dietary fiber sources such as soy fiber, soy polysaccharides, soy oligosaccharides. Vitamins are essential micronutrients. Both the FSMP Regulation (GB 29922-2013) and the Standards for the Use of Food Nutritional Enhancers (GB 14880-2012) specify the per missible range and sources of vitamins. Similarly, GB 29922 outlines limited standards for minerals, including sodium,