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Practice Management
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2021 Supplement Trends: The Latest in Nutrition and Health Trends

December 16, 2020
Fact checked
Written by Karolina Zaremba, CNP
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Christopher Knee, ND
  1. Wellness blog
  2. 2021 Supplement Trends: The Latest in Nutrition...

The current global pandemic has unpredictably altered the course of 2020 for individuals, communities, and the healthcare and supplement industries. With immunity and overall health front-of-mind, health trends have changed, and individuals are increasingly turning to preventative measures for disease, including dietary supplements.

According to the Nutrition Business Journal, 2020 marked the highest growth in the nutritional supplement industry since 1997, with an estimated 12.1% increase for the year. While this exponential growth is expected to taper off, the industry will likely continue to see a sustained lift in business in the coming years. (8)

In addition to the emphasis on immune-supportive foods and dietary supplements, there are several nutrition trends we’ve identified in 2020, which are expected to continue into the new year. Here are the top nutritional supplement industry trends and other nutrition trends to look out for in 2021.

Woman in grocery store
Individuals are taking control of their health and seeking out preventative measures, including nutrition and dietary supplements.

Nutritional supplement industry trends

2020 health trends highlighted the growth of certain dietary supplement trends and categories, such as immune health, mental health, and organic supplements, as well as an increase in online supplement shopping.

Immune health supplements

The global immune health supplement market is forecasted to grow by 9% annually between 2019 and 2025, with a particular focus on prevention. (1) Ingredients that are commonly used for immune support and are expected to contribute to this growth include:

  • Medicinal herbs (e.g., astragalus, echinacea, elderberry, garlic)
  • Medicinal mushrooms (e.g., chaga, lion’s mane, reishi)
  • Multivitamins
  • Probiotics
  • Vitamins, particularly vitamins C and D
  • Zinc (1)(3)(9)(12)

Did you know? At the beginning of 2020, over 50% of consumers reported increasing their immune supplement consumption. (1)

Mental health supplements

In 2019, the consumer research firm Hartman Group identified the prevalence of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and stress as motivating factors for individuals to prioritize their mental and emotional health. (13) With the many routine disruptions and additional stressors resulting from the pandemic, including social isolation, supporting mental health has now become even more essential. (14)

These health concerns are reflected in supplement trends. A recent insights report by Coherent Market Insights anticipates that the global brain and mental health supplement market will grow at a rate of 8.5% in the next six years, reaching over $13 million USD in 2027. (2) Popular supplement ingredients in this supplement trends category include:

  • Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR)
  • Alpha-glycerophosphocholine (Alpha-GPC)
  • Citicoline
  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
  • Herbal extracts (e.g., curcumin, ginkgo biloba, ginseng)
  • Lion’s mane mushroom
  • Vitamins, particularly B-complex vitamins and vitamins C and E (2)

Organic and natural supplements

Nutritional supplement industry trends have mimicked greater health trends moving towards natural and organic products. In 2020, supplement purchases made up 21% of purchases in the natural and organic product industry, which also includes food, beverages, and natural living products (e.g. aromatherapy, personal hygiene, and cosmetic products). (11)

The organic movement is based on informed consumer awareness about ingredient sourcing and interest in natural ingredients, such as those without genetically modified organisms (non-GMO). (11) Third-party certifications found on product labels, such as USDA Organic and Non-GMO Verified, offer additional assurance that products meet certain criteria for these claims.

Online shopping

In addition to the growth in certain supplement types/categories, trending health news reports that the pandemic has accelerated the transition to purchasing supplements online. (5) The Nutrition Business Journal projects that online supplement sales will double from $5 billion in 2019 to over $10 billion in 2022. (10) Companies and healthcare practitioners supporting their patients will continue to adapt to this behavioral shift, seeking out solutions such as virtual supplement dispensing.

Medicinal mushroom products
Nutrition trends we’ve seen include a growing interest in functional foods and functional ingredients, including medicinal mushrooms.

Nutrition trends

Nutrition trends relate to popular dietary choices that individuals are making, such as seeking personalized nutrition, transparency in food manufacturing, at-home dining, and functional foods.

Personalized nutrition

According to an Innova Market Insights survey, approximately two-thirds of global consumers are seeking products that meet their personal needs, beliefs, and values. This has led to a growing interest in personalized diet plans, supplements tailored to specific nutritional needs, and the use of mobile wellness apps, wearable devices, and testing such as genetic profiling. (7)

Nutrition trends show that interest has grown in food products that support individual lifestyle choices, such as plant-based and keto-friendly. From 2016 to 2020, plant-based claims on products increased by 36% and keto-friendly claims increased by 165%. (7)

Transparency

2020 nutrition and health trends indicate that 60% of individuals would like to learn more about where their food comes from. This demand for transparency, expected to continue into 2021, involves a need for brands to meet consumer interest in clean label, ethical, and environmental stewardship. (6) Clean living health trends include transparency around different factors involved in food production, such as animal/human welfare, sustainable ingredient sourcing, and transparency in the food supply chain. (6)

Dining in

The requirement to socially distance and stay at home has led to changes in the restaurant industry and has encouraged individuals to take up cooking at home more often. Convenient meal delivery kits/cooking starter kits have grown in popularity, and restaurants are adapting to these changing nutrition trends by offering delivery and grocery items, such as sauces and seasoning blends. A 2020 Innova Consumer survey suggests that nearly half of consumers believe restaurant-branded products can help them conveniently obtain the flavors of restaurant meals at home. (6)

Did you know? A growing number of shoppers are buying groceries online. A 2020 consumer survey revealed that 56% of individuals shopped online for groceries in the past 30 days. (15)

To help you organize your meal preparation, download a weekly meal planner.

Functional foods

Another one of 2020’s nutrition trends is the growing interest in functional foods, which are foods and beverages intended to provide benefits beyond supplying nutrients, such as reducing the risk of disease or enhancing a physiological process in the body. (4) A 2020 survey by the firm Hartman Group found that over 55% of adults use a functional food or beverage to prevent or treat a particular condition. (16)

Functional foods include both conventional whole foods, such as probiotic yogurt, as well as foods that have been fortified with particular nutrients or other ingredients for their desired health effects, such as plant-based beverages fortified with vitamin D. Popular functional ingredients, used in both supplements and functional foods, include:

  • Chinese herbs (e.g., mimosa bark, rehmannia root, schisandra)
  • Collagen
  • Medicinal mushrooms (e.g., chaga, lion’s mane, reishi)
  • Melatonin
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Vitamin D
  • Zinc (12)

The bottom line

Health and nutrition trends will evolve in 2021 as individuals and the integrative health industry continue to respond to the global pandemic. Keep an eye on these nutritional supplement industry trends and stay informed when it comes to the evidence behind dietary supplements and nutrition trends or fads. From everyone here at Fullscript, we wish you a healthy and safe 2021.

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References
  1. Arizton Advisory and Intelligence. (2020, July 2). Immune Health Supplements Market – Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025. MarketResearch.Com. https://www.marketresearch.com/Arizton-v4150/Immune-Health-Supplements-Global-Outlook-13377529/
  2. Business Wire. (2020, October 1). Global brain health supplements market to surpass US$ 13,492.6 million by 2027, says coherent market insights (CMI). https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201001005590/en/Global-Brain-Health-Supplements-Market-to-Surpass-US-13492.6-Million-by-2027-Says-Coherent-Market-Insights-CMI
  3. Council for Responsible Nutrition. (2020). 2020 CRN consumer survey on dietary supplements: Consumer intelligence to enhance business outcomes | council for responsible nutrition. https://www.crnusa.org/resources/2020-crn-consumer-survey-dietary-supplements-consumer-intelligence-enhance-business
  4. Donato-Capel, L., Garcia-Rodenas, C. L., Pouteau, E., Lehmann, U., Srichuwong, S., Erkner, A., Kolodziejczyk, E., Hughes, E., Wooster, T. J., & Sagalowicz, L. (2014). Technological means to modulate food digestion and physiological response. In Food Structures, Digestion and Health, (pp. 389–422). Academic Press. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124046108000141
  5. Hayes, D. (2020, June 19). Boom in supplement buying likely not a one-off, consumer data shows. Natural Products INSIDER. https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/supplements/boom-supplement-buying-likely-not-one-consumer-data-shows
  6. Innova Market Insights. (2020a, October 21). Innova identifies top 10 food and beverage trends to accelerate innovation in 2021. https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/innova-identifies-top-10-food-and-beverage-trends-to-accelerate-innovation-in-2021/
  7. Innova Market Insights. (2020b, November 17). Tailored to fit: The potential for personalization. https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/tailored-to-fit-the-potential-for-personalization/
  8. Nutrition Business Journal. (2020). 2020 supplement business report. New Hope Network. https://store.newhope.com/products/2020-supplement-business-report
  9. Research and Markets. (2020, September 16). Global immune health supplements market outlook and forecast report 2020-2025 with COVID-19 impact insights. Cision PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-immune-health-supplements-market-outlook-and-forecast-report-2020-2025-with-covid-19-impact-insights-301132334.html
  10. Reynolds, C. M. (2020, July 7). The analyst’s take: Online supplement sales projected to double between 2019 and 2022. New Hope Network. https://www.newhope.com/market-data-and-analysis/analysts-take-online-supplement-sales-projected-double-between-2019-and
  11. SPINS. (2020a, October 6). 2020’s top trends in natural and organic. https://www.spins.com/resources-2020-top-trends-in-natural-and-organic/
  12. SPINS. (2020b, October 6). From vitamin d to collagen: Supplements and functional ingredients are in high demand. https://www.spins.com/resources-supplements-and-functional-ingredients/
  13. The Hartman Group. (2019). Destination wellness 2019: What’s driving demand for today’s emerging health and wellness brands and products? Hartman Group. https://www.hartman-group.com/newsletters/1662318945/
  14. The Hartman Group. (2020a). Functional food & beverage and supplements 2020. The Hartman Group Store. https://store.hartman-group.com/functional-food-beverage-and-supplements-2020/
  15. The Hartman Group. (2020b). The rise of online grocery during COVID-19. Hartman Group. https://www.hartman-group.com/infographics/335195035/the-rise-of-online-grocery-during-covid-19
  16. The Hartman Group. (2020c, July 13). Food, beverage, supplements: What’s functional today? Hartman Group. https://www.hartman-group.com/blogs/1847037760/food-beverage-supplements-whats-functional-today

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Disclaimer

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

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At Fullscript, we are committed to curating accurate, and reliable educational content for practitioners and patients alike. Our educational offerings cover a broad range of topics related to integrative medicine, such as supplement ingredients, diet, lifestyle, and health conditions.

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