Global Probiotic Supplements Market Research Report: Forecast (2022-27)

Market Definition

Probiotic refers to bacteria or yeast that are conducive to human health by providing various benefits such as the prevention of multiple diseases as well as improving immunity. Probiotic supplements are added food products such as tablets, capsules, chewable, gummies, etc., that are consumed along with the food to improve the nutritional intake, enhance immunity, and prevent diseases. With the rising health concerns among the consumers, and health insecurity brought forward by COVID-19 in the minds of consumers, the demand for probiotic supplements is registering an uptrend.

Market Insights

The Global Probiotic Supplements market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 4.64% during the forecast period, 2022-27. The market experienced considerable growth during 2017-19, owing to an increase in disease rates among the global population such as diabetes, bacterial infections, obesity, etc., due to the improper consumption of food items & products. This notably increased the demand for probiotic supplements from pharmacies to help naturally cure diseases with limited drug use.

Moreover, bacterial infections are the leading cause of the development of E. Coli, an anti-bacterial resistant bacterial infection, causing Urinary Tract infections (UTIs) in women across the globe. This has certainly derived the demand for cranberry-based probiotics to minimize the infection risk. Besides, the rising awareness through advertisements for probiotic supplements by industry manufacturers across the globe supported the revenue growth of probiotic supplements.

• In 2019, Yakult conducted over 51,700 health awareness lectures across the world, comprising about 3.88 million of the population from countries such as the Philippines, Japan, China, Mexico, and Indonesia, among many others.

Furthermore, the increasing demand for probiotic supplements that offer a variety of flavors & therapeutic properties to support a healthy lifestyle among adults, infants, and the elderly has also contributed to the increase in the launch of probiotic supplements.

Key Trends in the Market

• Introduction of Probiotic Supplements for Infants’ & Children's Health Improvement

Probiotic supplement for infant diet is the latest trend that has gained traction in North America & Europe. The major reason for the growth is GI-based diseases prevention, due to which consumers are increasingly adopting probiotic supplements. With the introduction of various kinds of probiotic supplements for babies such as DanActive yogurt. In addition, for infants, probiotics supplements help in stimulating diseases such as diarrhea, infant colic, and allergy. They play a crucial role in developing an infant's immune system.

Additionally, probiotic supplements are intended to aid the bacterial colonization in the infant's gut & they help to restore the number of bacteria in their body. Therefore, the demand for probiotic supplements has increased in the countries such as the US, China, Italy, etc. Furthermore, various companies such as the Bayer group, Biocodex, and BioGaia started developing numerous kinds of infants’ probiotics supplements that help to support infants’ digestive & immune systems.

Impact of COVID-19 on Global Probiotic Supplements Market

In 2020, the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe had increased the consumption of probiotic supplements worldwide, owing to the growing concerns for boosting immunity among the consumers of several countries such as the US, India, the UK, etc. The unprecedented trend of purchasing probiotic supplements online was observed during the pandemic period, which positively impacted the market growth.

In the post-COVID-19 scenario, the concerns for proper gut health have also increased the intake of probiotic supplements among global consumers. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of the consumers, which further led to the diversification of the Probiotic Supplements market in the psychobiotic sector. Therefore, it is anticipated that the Global Probiotic Supplements market will grow substantially during the forecast period.

Market Segmentation

By Form

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Gummies
• Powder
• Chewable
• Others

Of them, Capsules & Powder acquired a significant market share in the Global Probiotic Supplement market during 2017-2021. Capsules have a high comparative advantage over tablets & are chewable for senior citizens. It also helps reduces the formation of acids in the gastrointestinal tract.  Moreover, advantages such as faster relief from symptoms & higher bioavailability have contributed to fueling the demand for probiotic supplements in the form of powder & capsules in the historical years.

Moreover, the addition of probiotic capsules such as ImmunoSEB and ProbioSEB CSC3, etc., by the National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements in the prescription list of health professionals to boost immunity and reduce fatigue & muscle weakness in patients affected with COVID-19 supported the demand for probiotic supplements globally to a large extent. Furthermore, the inability of the elderly, kids, and infants to consume medicines in the form of tablets has elevated the demand for powder-based probiotic supplements globally.

Besides, the growing dietary & immune-related diseases such as obesity, eating disorders, cancer, type 2 diabetes, etc., and raising awareness among the populace for the use of probiotic-based health supplements to promote healthy living & reduce disease burden are expected to promote the growth of probiotic supplements in the forthcoming years.

By End User

• Infants (0 to 3)
• Kids (3.1 to 15)
• Adults (Above 15)

Among the three, the Adults acquired a notable market share in the global probiotic supplements market during 2017-21. This is due to less physical activity among the age group above 50 years & excessive intake of alcohol among adults above the age of 18 years has increased the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes, kidney infections, etc. According to the World Health Organization, each year, more than 15 million people between the age group 30 to 69 years die due to the higher prevalence of cancer (9.3 million), respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (1.5 million) globally.

Additionally, the rising prevalence of Parkinson's disease among the elderly population has increased the demand for probiotic supplements as probiotics use decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, etc., and promotes good bacterial growth in patients diagnosed with Parkinson's. Moreover, rising awareness among the female population to maintain their skin health with the use of organic products & supplements is expected to contribute to an increase in the demand for probiotic supplements in the forthcoming years.

By Distribution Channel

• Pharmacies
• Health & Beauty Specialty Stores
• Supermarkets & Hypermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Online Stores
  • Via E-commerce Players
  • Supplier Selling via Own Website

Of them all, the Pharmacies along with Supermarkets & Hypermarkets dominated the sales of probiotic supplements in 2021. The growing prevalence of consumers towards the consumption and use of probiotic supplements to maintain immunity and promote healthy living has keenly supported the burgeoning demand for probiotic supplements from pharmacies during the historical years. Probiotic supplements contain bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which may cause severe stomach issues to the consumer who is allergic to lactose. Additionally, overdosing on probiotic supplements can promote methanogenic bacteria overgrowth, causing constipation & other digestive disorders.

Consequently, the demand for probiotic supplements from pharmacies increased as drug prescriptions are typically patient-centered & focused on meeting the healthcare needs of the patient. Moreover, the rising availability of probiotic drugs with diversified flavors to curb differential diseases is further expected to fuel the demand for probiotic supplements from pharmacies. Hence, the demand for probiotic supplements from pharmacies is expected to dominate the market in the forthcoming years.

Regional Landscape

Geographically, the Global Probiotic Supplement Market encompasses five regions:

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• The Middle East & Africa
• Asia-Pacific

Of all the regions globally, North America attained the largest market share in the Global Probiotic Supplements market during 2017-2021. With the high purchasing power, adoption of a healthy lifestyle, and booming awareness of the health benefits of probiotic-based products, the North American region witnessed significant growth during the historical period. Moreover, an increase in research grants for the development of new probiotic supplements & rising probiotic sports supplements in the region contributed immensely to promoting the market growth. Moreover, the US & Canada are the major adopters of probiotic supplements in line with the increasing demand for probiotic food products to curb the spread of COVID-19 & increase immunity.

In addition, the rising health awareness among North American residents due to an increase in immune infection rates by COVID-19, the demand for probiotic supplements escalated to about 10% in the region. Furthermore, the rising funding & distribution agreements to add up new probiotic flavors & skin care products in the North American market are expected to drive the interest of residents, thereby increasing the revenue growth of probiotics supplements in North America in the forthcoming years.

Recent Developments by Leading Companies

• Kerry Group acquired Biosearch, S.A. (now known as Biosearch S.A.U.), which is a Spain based biotechnology company with an exclusive range of probiotics, botanical ectracts, and omega-3 oils, in 2021.
• BioGaia completed the acquisition of MetaboGen, which creates opportunities to develop novel therapeutics and next-generation probiotics in 2021.
• DuPont Nutrition announced a research partnership with Procter & Gamble company to focus on the development of next-generation probiotics (NGPs), for human health. The research collaboration will accelerate the development and commercialization of NGPs, which will initially be used in dietary supplements in 2020.

Market Dynamics

Key Drivers: Rising Awareness About Probiotic Supplements Among Consumers

The growing awareness among consumers about the benefits of probiotics such as improved gut health & immune system, etc., are some of the key factors driving the growth of the Global Probiotic Supplement market. Probiotic supplements are increasingly being consumed as a preventive measure for avoiding health-related issues. For a long time, the focus of the consumers for health benefits & boosting immunity has been vitamins- & minerals-based supplements, which have seen a shift in past years, i.e., 2017-2020. Moreover, one of the major reasons for the increase in the demand for probiotic supplements was the global pandemic in 2020. During the pandemic, the demand for probiotics promulgated drastically, as consumers became increasingly aware of the food habits & supplements that help boost immunity.

Furthermore, the awareness has also risen among the fitness community, which has long been dependent on health supplements to improve physical attributes & endurance. Therefore, sportspersons have been shifting towards probiotic supplements as they have been seen as a means to enhance immunity. Nevertheless, with the growing population as well as the increase in the demand for probiotics supplements, the manufacturing companies are expanding their operations through the acquisition.

Potential Challenges: Premium Pricing of the Probiotic Supplements

Probiotic supplements have gained popularity as health-improving bacteria, which provide a preventive mechanism to avoid general disorders such as oral care, gastrointestinal diseases, etc. However, the prices of the probiotic supplements have been prohibitive, which has restricted a wide variety of audiences in the Middle & Lower-middle Income group. In addition, the popularity of probiotic supplements has helped it gain significant traction in the countries such as North America & Europe, however, in regional markets such as Asia, Africa, and South America, where the majority of the population has lower purchasing power, the conventional supplement choices tend to be preferred.

Furthermore, since probiotics supplements have a short shelf life, manufacturers need cold storage to prolong their shelf life, which is highly costly & may hinder the market's growth.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall statistics or estimates (Overview, Market Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Segmentation, Market Shares) of the Global Probiotic Supplements Market?
2. What are the country-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Global Probiotic Supplements Market?
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Global Probiotic Supplements Market based on the competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from surveys conducted during the Global Probiotic Supplements Market study?