Nutraceuticals, encompassing vitamins, minerals, omega-3 products, fibre and herbal supplements, have gained popularity for their touted benefits like better health, anti-aging effects, disease prevention, and overall well-being.
COVID-19 fuelled the rise in dietary supplement usage, particularly for boosting immunity. Currently, the global nutraceutical market is dominated by the US, Japan, and Europe.
What are the recent developments in India?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is planning to bring these products under the supervision of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Nutraceuticals are currently governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). But it only regulates the quality of these products, leaving their usage and marketing uncontrolled.
The proposed move aims to enhance quality control, with the formation of a committee comprising key entities such as FSSAI, CDSCO, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Ayush, and the Department of Pharmaceuticals. This proposal could bring nutraceuticals under the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), making them more affordable for the general public, Local Circles said in a report.
What are the regulations in other markets?
In the US, nutraceuticals, termed ‘dietary supplements’, differ from FDA (Food and Drug Administration)-regulated drugs. They undergo post-market surveillance, without pre-approval. Manufacturers assume responsibility for safety, bypassing the need for FDA approval or product registration.
In Canada, Health Canada oversees food and drug regulations, mandating manufacturers to acquire site licences, monitor adverse reactions, and report serious incidents. Australia's regulatory guidelines detail regulations for complementary medicines, especially high-risk ones requiring regulatory evaluation for health claims. The nation's health authority assesses safety trends and risk communications for all regulated health products.
Is there any medical evidence supporting supplements?
Despite widespread consumption, there is limited evidence of health benefits related to nutraceutical or supplement usage in well-nourished adults. A recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation said that dietary supplements containing antioxidants can accelerate tumour growth and metastasis. However, the risk is only when taken in excess amounts. Healthcare activists and doctors have campaigned against the over-consumption of supplements without medical advice.
Who are the players in the Indian market?
The Indian nutraceutical market, estimated to be worth around $4-5 billion in 2022, anticipates a surge to $18 billion by 2025, as per the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. Despite this growth, challenges loom, with 40,000 cases filed in 2022-23 against unsafe protein powders and supplements failing food safety norms.
Popular nutraceutical products include Revital (Sun Pharma), Ensure (Abbott), Seven Seas Seacod (P&G) Peptamen, NutriMix, Nutrova, Curcumin Boost, Chyawanprash (Dabur), etc. Players also provide health gummies, gut health supplements, hair growth products, among others.
The Indian nutraceutical market consists of pharmaceutical companies like Sun Pharma and Dr Reddy's Laboratories and FMCG companies like Dabur, HUL, P&G.
Vitamins and minerals accounted for 5 percent of Sun Pharma’s total product mix in Q3FY24. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary for nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals, herbals and supplements in September 2023.
Another listed player, JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, acquired a probiotic brand named Sporolac for Rs 628 crore in 2022. The Sporlac brand has registered a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 16 percent, as of December 2023.
A recent nationwide survey by Local Circles unveiled a significant surge in nutraceutical consumption in India, with 7 in 10 individuals opting for various health supplements. Notably, a staggering 69 percent of respondents admitted to using these products without a medical prescription. Local Circles’ survey received over 47,000 responses from 318 districts.
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