What’s trending: The 10 most-read health supplement trends analyses in 2023

Nutra trends 2023: Industry experts on what’s next for healthy ageing, beauty, mental health and infant nutrition​

This year’s nutraceutical market trends in Asia-Pacific would be marked by an increased demand for nutraceuticals that support anti-ageing, chronic disease prevention, and a wide range of beauty-from-within needs, a raft of industry experts told us earlier this year.

For example, developing products that prevent the onset of chronic disease from the mid-40s would be a key consideration for companies formulating products for healthy ageing.

On the other hand, beauty-from-within, or “ingestible beauty”, would need to address an array of conditions, beyond simply brightening and moisturising.

Australia nutra trends: Market leaders Blackmores, Swisse gearing up on mental health, sleep products​​

Products that support mental health and sleep were cited as categories that would drive health supplements market growth in Australia, according to exclusive insights from Blackmores, Swisse, and Herbs of Gold.

They also saw that there was a preference for big value-packs in the Australian market.

According to the Industry Audit report 2022 by Complementary Medicine Australia (CMA), the industry had generated a revenue of AUD$5.5bn (US$3.7bn) last year. This was a yearly increase of 1.4 per cent and the bulk of the revenue came from vitamin and dietary supplements, followed by sports products.

‘The fastest growing beverage category’: Danone China launches electrolyte drink on the back of rising demand​​

Danone China had launched an electrolyte drink on the back of booming demand, adding that the category has seen fast growth in China’s beverage sector.

The drink, Mizone Electrolyte +, was designed for active consumers or those who wanted to supplement their electrolyte requirements.

Citing a report by Qianzhan (Forward) Industrial Research Institute, Danone said that electrolyte beverages were the fastest growing beverage category in China, with its market size expanded 50.1 per cent to RMB$2.7bn (US$381.4m) last year.

Co-enzyme Q10 hot in demand in China amid sharp jump in COVID-19 cases​​

Co-enzyme Q10 dietary supplements were highly sought after in China following a sharp jump in COVID-19 cases earlier this year.

Health foods firm Kingdomway for instance, had responded to investors’ queries that orders for co-enzyme Q10 had gone up.

A reason for the surge was the belief that co-enzyme Q10 could prevent myocarditis – the inflammation of the heart muscle – in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

‘Trends are rapidly changing’: South Korea’s health supplements and ingredients imports up 20%​​

South Korea’s import of health supplements and functional ingredients was up 20 per cent between 2021 and 2022, signifying the country’s persistent demand for health foods.

Data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)​ showed that the volume of health supplements and ingredients imported was up from 22,536 tons in 2021 to 27,045 tons last year.

The increase was largely driven by the imports of complex nutrients and individually approved ingredients. 

South Korea: Nutra sector thriving despite economic slowdown as body fat reduction remains top concern​​

The nutraceutical market growth in South Korea remained robust this year, despite inflationary pressures and an economic slowdown.

This was largely due to the ‘evergreen’ demand for products that support body fat reduction, immune health, as well as a growing interest in joint and bone health supplements, according to brands such as AceBiome and Amway Korea.

Citing statistics from the MFDS, Dr. Frank Kim, founder of South Korean consultancy firm SEAH Bio Solutions, pointed out that the market was expected to have grown at eight percent point in 2023.

Exclusive China analysis: Consumers spending cautiously but supplement sector holding up well​​

Chinese consumer spending on health supplements has held up amid slow economic recovery and reduced spending spanning luxury goods, beauty, and apparel, which showed that Chinese consumers have become more cautious and have prioritised spending on health more so than other areas.

Beauty-from-within, joint, cardiovascular, and eye health were the trending categories, while demand for immunity related products had remained stable this year.

Overall, China’s health supplement market was valued at approximately RMB$400bn (US$5.6bn).

From babies to seniors: How Chinese firms are applying concepts from infant formula, sports nutrition into healthy ageing products​​

Companies in China have branched out from infant formula into milk powder products for the aged population, according to insights from Glanbia Nutritionals.

Some examples include Yili, which has developed a range of formula products under the brand Xin Huo (欣活) as well as Danone China’s low glycemic index (GI) milk powder launched under the Ganmai brand last year.​

In addition, there has been a trend of companies adopting sports nutrition concepts, such as applying whey protein concentrate (WPC) and whey protein isolate (WPI), into healthy ageing products to address the issue of muscle loss among the elderly.                        ​

Beauty on the go: RTE hyaluronic acid jelly booming with young consumers in SEA​​

On-the-go hyaluronic acid jelly had become a highly popular among young South East Asians, according to supplement firm Avance, with the trend spread from hotspots such as South Korea and China.

Part of the reason was because conventional forms of nutraceuticals, such as pills and capsules, had become less appealing to the younger crowd.

Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, had seen its popularity spread​ from major beauty markets such as South Korea and China to the South East Asia region, mainly for use in retaining skin moisture and reducing the appearance of fine lines.

Quality confirmed: High purity, individually packed omega-3 preferred in South Korea - FMW​​

High purity and individual packaging were some of the key features that South Korean consumers preferred to see when purchasing omega-3 supplements, according to FMW Corp, the first firm approved by Korean authorities to advertise using a fish oil quality certification scheme from the US.

Specifically, omega-3 made using supercritical extraction, with a purity of at least 80 per cent, a high content of EPA and DHA at 1,000mg, and individually packed ones would be preferred.

Following the release of radioactively contaminated water in Japan’s Fukushima region, consumers had also gained an interest in algae-derived omega-3.