Clasado Biosciences (‘Clasado’) has shared its perspective on the evolving immune health product market and the expanding role of prebiotics, shedding light on potential immune health market movement in 2024.
The immune health category saw an intense period of growth during the Covid-19 pandemic, and still holds strong potential. Research firm Future Market Insights for example cites a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4% between 2018 and 2022, and projects a continuing 10.4% CAGR between 2023 and 2033.
Clasado believes that there are abundant opportunities to reignite this upward trajectory and sees prebiotics playing a central role in the future of the category, accelerated by a growing body of gut health science.
Steven Riley, Head of B2B & Corporate Marketing at Clasado, explains: “We’re at a very interesting crossroads when it comes to immune health and the category is still seeing continued growth. Consumers, who were already getting more proactive with their health and wellness, were putting greater focus on immune support and that saw the category grow. We believe that with gut health science advancing at such a rapid pace, there is ample scope for gut microbiome modulation to reignite this expansion, stacking alongside other host health benefits in an approach becoming known as ‘Immunity Plus’.
“We see further indications in the latest consumer study published by the Global Prebiotic Association (GPA). Immune health support was still shown to be one of the core reasons for day-to-day prebiotic supplementation. Then, as new scientific evidence shows the role of prebiotics in supporting the body’s immune function, the argument gets ever stronger. We tend to associate prebiotics more directly with gastrointestinal health, but the reality is that their influence can be much wider. Studies on our own Bimuno® GOS show strong potential in immune health formulations, so for formulators looking to develop the next generation of immunity-supporting products, prebiotics are proving an exciting development option.”
Studies into prebiotic effects on immune function form part of the portfolio of science that underpins Bimuno GOS. The most studied commercially available galactooligosaccharide, Bimuno GOS is backed by over 110 scientific publications, including more than 20 clinical trials.
Steven adds: “The message for formulators is clear; the immune health category is still growing, supported by products offering cross functional benefits. We’re all now looking at where the next crop of immune health and ‘Immunity Plus’ product innovations will come from, and science points towards prebiotics.
“Factor in how prebiotics are simple to combine with other functional ingredients to support immune health and beyond, and the opportunities become even clearer. Naturally, we’ll not only continue to develop prebiotic science with respect to our Bimuno GOS ingredient, but look to support greater market understanding of immune health formulation on a wider scale.”
