Why Magnesium Matters: FDA Announces New Qualified Health Claim
On January 10, 2022, FDA announced in a letter of enforcement discretion a newly qualified health claim for magnesium and reduced risk of high blood pressure. Both health claims and qualified health claims characterize the relationship between a substance and a reduction in risk of contracting a particular disease or health-related condition and are reviewed by FDA through a petition process. Qualified health claims are supported by less evidence than the “significant scientific agreement” standard that governs unqualified health claims. Therefore, qualified health claims require a disclaimer or other qualifying language to avoid misleading consumers as to the strength of the scientific evidence supporting the claim. In January, the FDA reviewed health claims related to magnesium. A review of multiple studies did show some benefits with respect to hypertension, but the...