Clasado Biosciences (‘Clasado’), a global leader in the development of scientifically proven prebiotic ingredients and product solutions for the human gut microbiome, has shared its perspective on the promising future of the immune health product category, and where the focus is likely to be for formulators.
The immune health product market expected to enjoy a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4% according to Polaris Market Research. As such, Clasado believes that the category is likely to see two key trends come to the forefront – increasing potential in sports health products and functional beverages that offer immune health benefits.
Dr Frederic Narbel, VP of B2B Sales at Clasado, explains: “Consumer interest in immune health grew at speed in recent years, and we now see more interest in the consistent management of immune health than ever before. Now, it’s about where the category can go next. This is something we’ve had a front row seat to, through the research on our Bimuno® GOS prebiotic ingredient. We’ve seen a great deal of innovation, and this isn’t just in concepts at trade shows and expos, it’s in products that are commercialised and available to consumers.
“It could be that the immune health category crosses more directly into sports nutrition to support availability to compete and train. We have observed, for example, how prebiotics can significantly reduce the duration and severity of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. This results in fewer missed events and training sessions, which is critical for supporting consistent performance. When we look to how the immune health category might grow and evolve in the future, it seems clear that sports health can be a focus. Of course, the research that connects prebiotics and immunity goes far beyond sports health and presents exciting opportunities for developing a wide range of health products that cater to proactive health management.”
Steven Riley, Head of B2B & Corporate Marketing at Clasado, adds: “Around the globe, we are seeing a continued shift in consumer attitudes and behaviours. We’re all getting better connected with health. We’re not just solving health challenges when they appear, we want better everyday health, and consumers are more comfortable with fact-finding and evaluating their options. One of the most interesting areas of exploration is in immunity-supporting prebiotic beverages, which are steadily making their way into the market.
“We’ve seen the ‘nutrition plus’ trend for some time, where shoppers expect the functional foods and drinks they buy to do more, they need to contribute to health in some way, this can be either through added protein or fibre. Functional beverages show this in action; consumers today are not just looking for hydration, they are seeking beverages that can enhance targeted areas of health that align with their health goals. With the increasing consumer interest in proactive health management, brands have a unique opportunity to innovate. Prebiotics, like Bimuno GOS, can be incorporated into functional drinks, opening up new avenues for immune health products that are effective, convenient, and built on a strong scientific foundation. The potential to combine prebiotics with other functional ingredients in beverages is particularly exciting, as it aligns with consumer preferences for holistic health solutions that are easy to integrate into their daily routines.”
With market growth expected to continue, the future of immune health product development looks promising, with sports nutrition serving as a springboard and functional beverage products becoming more common. Clasado is committed to furthering research in this area and supporting brands in harnessing the benefits of prebiotics.
Dr Narbel concludes: “One of the most exciting aspects of the nutrition sector is how quickly it moves and evolves, and we believe that the next wave of immune health innovations will be driven by a deeper understanding of the gut microbiome. By leveraging the latest gut health science, which of course includes prebiotics, brands can develop products that support overall immune function and are built around the latest scientific understanding.”