Health Claims

What is a dietary supplement actually allowed to promise?

Health claims create a clear framework for health-related statements. We explain what is behind them – and why phrases like "contributes to..." are chosen very deliberately.

Health Claims at Nutrexin

What are health claims?

On packaging and product pages, we encounter statements such as "Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system" or "Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function."

Such statements are called health claims. These refer to health-related claims that describe a connection between a food or a contained nutrient and health.

However, not every statement about a potential effect can simply be used. In Switzerland, health-related claims are regulated by law. Which health claims are permitted and under what conditions they may be used is defined in the FDHA Ordinance on Food Information (LIV).

Why is it often "contributes to..."?

Perhaps you have already noticed that many statements on dietary supplements are phrased similarly: "contributes to normal function," "contributes to the maintenance of," or "makes a contribution to..."

There is a good reason for this: health-related claims about food cannot be made arbitrarily. Specific health-related claims are provided for certain nutrients and substances, and there are conditions for when these may be used.

At Nutrexin, we therefore want to provide clear information without promising more than is legally permitted and technically justifiable.

Responsibility & Transparency

Why health claims are important

Health doesn't need grand promises.

Dietary supplements deal with something very personal: our health. It is all the more important that statements about their effect remain transparent and comprehensible.

Health claims create a clear framework for this. They regulate which health-related statements may be used under which conditions and help protect consumers from misleading promises.

Transparency

We want to make it clear why we use a certain statement about a nutrient.

Scientific basis

Health-related claims are subject to defined requirements and may not be made arbitrarily.

Responsible communication

We want to explain our products clearly – without attributing effects to them that go beyond the permissible health-related claims.

Health claims are not curative claims

Dietary supplements are food, not medicinal products. They serve to supplement a normal diet.

A health claim can, for example, describe the contribution that a specific nutrient makes to normal bodily function. However, it does not mean that a product can prevent, treat, or cure diseases.

Statements that attribute properties to a food for the prevention, treatment, or cure of human disease, or suggest such properties, are not permitted.

Reference

Our health claims at a glance

What are Vitamin C, Magnesium & Co. allowed to do?

Here you can find health-related claims for selected nutrients contained in our products.

Vitamin A
  • Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.
  • Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes.
  • Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal skin.
  • Vitamin A contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Vitamin A has a role in the process of cell specialisation.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
  • Thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Thiamine contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Thiamine contributes to normal psychological function.
  • Thiamine contributes to the normal function of the heart.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
  • Riboflavin contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.
  • Riboflavin contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Vitamin B6 contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism.
  • Vitamin B6 contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity.
Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin B12 contributes to normal red blood cell formation.
  • Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
  • Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Vitamin B12 contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism.
  • Vitamin B12 has a role in the process of cell division.
Biotin
  • Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes.
  • Biotin contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism.
  • Biotin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Biotin contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Biotin contributes to normal psychological function.
Folate / Folic Acid
  • Folate contributes to normal blood formation.
  • Folate contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
  • Folate has a role in the process of cell division.
  • Folate contributes to normal amino acid synthesis.
  • Folate contributes to normal homocysteine metabolism.
  • Folate contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
Vitamin C
  • Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
  • Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
  • Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Vitamin C contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels.
  • Vitamin C increases iron absorption.
Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium and phosphorus.
  • Vitamin D contributes to normal blood calcium levels.
  • Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
  • Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function.
  • Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth.
  • Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Vitamin D has a role in the process of cell division.
Vitamin E
  • Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Vitamin K
  • Vitamin K contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
  • Vitamin K contributes to normal blood clotting.
Calcium
  • Calcium contributes to normal muscle function.
  • Calcium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Calcium contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes.
  • Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones.
  • Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth.
  • Calcium contributes to normal blood clotting.
Iron
  • Iron contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
  • Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin.
  • Iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body.
  • Iron contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Iron contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
Potassium
  • Potassium contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Potassium contributes to normal muscle function.
  • Potassium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood pressure.
Copper
  • Copper contributes to normal iron transport in the body.
  • Copper contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Copper contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Copper contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Copper contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
Magnesium
  • Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance.
  • Magnesium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Magnesium contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.
  • Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function.
  • Magnesium contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
  • Magnesium contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
  • Magnesium contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth.
Selenium
  • Selenium contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Selenium contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
  • Selenium contributes to normal thyroid function.
  • Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.
  • Selenium contributes to the maintenance of normal nails.
Zinc
  • Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
  • Zinc contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
  • Zinc contributes to normal DNA synthesis.
  • Zinc contributes to normal protein synthesis.
  • Zinc has a role in the process of cell division.
EPA and DHA
  • EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart.

The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250 mg of EPA and DHA.

Good to know: A health claim relates to the respective nutrient or the corresponding substance – not automatically to the entire product. Furthermore, whether a health-related statement may be used depends on whether the legal requirements are met.

More knowledge

Health claims explained simply

Why does the phrase "contributes to normal function" appear so often on dietary supplements? Who decides which statements are permissible – and what is the difference between a health claim and a medical claim?

Read article →