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FSMP & Clinical Nutrition: Insights from the14th Asian Congress of Nutrition

2025-10-29

640 (2)

What Is FSMP?

Definition: FSMP (Food for Special Medical Purpose) refers to specially formulated foods designed to meet the nutritional needs of individuals with restricted intake, impaired digestion/absorption, metabolic disorders, or specific disease states.640 (3)

Comparison with Other Products:

Category Target Group Primary Purpose Example Products
FSMP Patients with diseases Nutritional support (macro/micronutrients) PKU formula, diabetic formula
Health Foods General population Regulate body functions Functional teas, supplements
Dietary Supplements General population Nutrient supplementation Vitamin/mineral tablets

FSMP Classification

Category Description Examples
Complete Nutrition Formula Sole source of nutrition for target group Standard enteral nutrition
Disease‑Specific Complete Nutrition Formula Tailored for specific conditions, meeting nutrition needs while addressing medical issues Diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease formulas
Incomplete Nutrition Formula Nutrient modules or components Protein powders, amino acid blends, electrolyte solutions
Infant (<1 year) Special Formulas Designed for preterm, low birth weight, or metabolic disorders Lactose‑free, hydrolyzed protein, amino acid formulas

FSMP in Clinical Nutrition

Clinical Positioning: FSMP is part of enteral nutrition, suitable for patients with malnutrition or insufficient intake.640 (4)

Indications include:

  • BMI <18.5 with poor condition

  • Unintentional weight loss >10% in 3–6 months

  • Intake <60% of recommended levels for ≥5 days

  • Malabsorption, swallowing disorders, metabolic dysfunction

Contraindications: Severe short bowel syndrome, high‑output fistula, complete obstruction, severe vomiting/diarrhea, GI bleeding, or severe infection.

Why Develop FSMP?

Clinical Significance Benefits
Correct metabolic imbalance Stabilizes patient condition
Reduce complications Lowers infection risk
Promote recovery Supports healing
Enhance treatment outcomes Improves therapy effectiveness
Reduce healthcare costs Estimated 20% savings (~1 trillion RMB annually)
Improve quality of life Better patient well‑being

FSMP in Rare Diseases

FSMP plays a critical role in managing inherited metabolic disorders, where dietary restriction is essential.640 (6)

Rare Disease Example FSMP Role
Phenylketonuria (PKU) Amino acid formulas without phenylalanine
Maple Syrup Urine Disease Restricted branched‑chain amino acid formulas
Galactosemia Galactose‑free formulas
Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders Specialized lipid formulas

Demand and Challenges

Current Demand:

  • Survey of 592 hospitals: highest FSMP demand for oncology, kidney disease, and diabetes.

  • Aging population: by 2030, 360 million people over 60 (25% of population).

  • 640 (5)

Challenges:

  • Strict regulation, long registration cycles

  • Limited product diversity (125 approved in China vs. 705 globally)

  • Lack of clinical nutritionists

  • Low public awareness and education

  • Inconsistent reimbursement policies

Recommendations for FSMP Development

Area Suggested Actions
Regulation Improve standards, streamline registration
Market Supervision Strengthen oversight, inter‑departmental coordination
Hospital Integration Expand nutrition departments, train clinicians/dietitians
Public Education Increase awareness of FSMP benefits
R&D Invest in diverse formulas for different life stages and diseases

Looking Ahead

The Xinhua Hospital nutrition team, led by Professor Cai Wei, emphasized that due to the limited number of approved products, clinicians often rely on customized blends of multiple formulas to meet patient needs. Excitingly, they announced that in November, the hospital will release clinical nutrition formulas tailored for rare diseases, providing new evidence‑based tools for patient care.

The discussions at ACN 2023 reaffirmed that FSMP is not only a clinical necessity but also a strategic pathway to sustainable healthcare, reducing costs while improving outcomes for millions of patients.640 (11)

Reference:

  • Service Center for Societies of CAST. 14th Asian Congress of Nutrition & 16th National Nutrition Science Conference Opens in Chengdu

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