Which supplement is classified as Class 2?

Which supplement is classified as Class 2?

• A. Vitamin: DKA TRN
• B. Elements
• C. Glucosamine
• D. Saw Palmetto

Answer: (C)

When evaluating supplements for aircrew, the safety risk and potential for interactions with medications or flight status determine how they are classified. Class 2 covers supplements that aren’t outright banned but carry enough risk or uncertainty to require flight surgeon review before use. Glucosamine falls into this category because, although it's commonly used for joint comfort and is generally well tolerated, there are potential interactions (for example with anticoagulants) and variability in product quality. That means it should be reviewed rather than assumed safe for every aircrew member, which is why it’s placed in Class 2. In contrast, vitamins and minerals are typically viewed as Class 1 due to long-standing safety profiles when used at usual doses, and herbal products like Saw Palmetto can pose different kinds of safety concerns or interactions that aren’t as clearly defined, so they don’t fit the same straightforward Class 2 designation.

When evaluating supplements for aircrew, the safety risk and potential for interactions with medications or flight status determine how they are classified. Class 2 covers supplements that aren’t outright banned but carry enough risk or uncertainty to require flight surgeon review before use.

Glucosamine falls into this category because, although it's commonly used for joint comfort and is generally well tolerated, there are potential interactions (for example with anticoagulants) and variability in product quality. That means it should be reviewed rather than assumed safe for every aircrew member, which is why it’s placed in Class 2.

In contrast, vitamins and minerals are typically viewed as Class 1 due to long-standing safety profiles when used at usual doses, and herbal products like Saw Palmetto can pose different kinds of safety concerns or interactions that aren’t as clearly defined, so they don’t fit the same straightforward Class 2 designation.