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Preventive healthcare now important line of defence
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Saturday, 11 April, 2026, 13 : 00 PM [IST]
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Mohini Mondal
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India's nutraceutical market is prepped to be a global leader at US$4-5 billion. It was expected to grow approximately to US$18 billion by 2025. The dietary supplements market in India is valued at US$3924.44 million in 2020 and reports say that it will reach US$10,198.57 million by 2026 that is 22% growth rate year on year. The recent pandemic and the rising importance about preventive healthcare have led to the exponential growth of this sector. Indian population has begun to believe in immunity-boosting supplements and has led to a significant shift in buying patterns and market behaviour. Vitamin capsules, chewable tablets and gummies are examples of the open-minded buying behaviour of consumers of healthcare products.
Rise of Preventative Healthcare
Preventive healthcare has become an important line of defence during the pandemic proving the nutraceuticals sector to be a strong economic partner to the people. Even after the pandemic severity has minimised, nutraceuticals purchases are soaring. The second wave proved that the nutraceutical sector has built and will continue to grow its presence in the market. The global market for nutraceuticals is huge at approximately US$117 billion; the Indian nutraceutical industry can step up to combat health issues in India amidst ongoing pandemic and significantly contribute to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The consumption of potential nutrients and micro-nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, folate, selenium, zinc, has substantially increased for better immunity. According to a study by Nutrition and Dietary Supplements, many ingredients can be included in daily diet to possibly gain immunity or protection against Coronavirus. Polyphenols, leguminous seeds containing plant protease inhibitors, as well as proteins, such as whey protein could be incorporated into the daily diet.
Indian Nutraceutical Market Stats
After these global markets have attained maturity, the nutraceutical organisations are now shifting to developing economies in the Asia Pacific. In 2017, the Indian market held only a 2% market share of the global nutraceutical market and its estimated valuation stands at around $5 billion as of 2019. It is expected to reach US$11 billion by 2023, increasing at a CAGR of 21%. By 2023, India is also expected to hold at least a 3.5% market share of the global market. Pharmaceuticals export from India stood at US$16.3 billion in FY20. As of November 2020, India exported pharmaceuticals worth US$15.86 billion in FY21. Pharmaceutical exports stood at US$16.28 billion in FY20 and US$2.07 billion in October 2020. Currently, the Indian market imports more than it exports, US$1.5 billion in exports and importing the US$2.7 billion worth of nutraceuticals. The market is expected to grow at a significant 22% CAGR by 2023. The Indian nutraceuticals industry has been growing at 25% annually during the pandemic. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has also increased from US$131.4 million (FY12) to US$584.7 million (FY19).
Nutraceuticals are gaining importance owing to the current pandemic situation and increasing focus on overall health. Nutraceuticals include products, which help in maintaining immunity and prevent diseases. It also includes products that support the optimal functioning of the human body. Poor nutrition plays an important role in lifestyle-related disorders as well. Various nutraceuticals have exhibited therapeutic potential, hence gaining popularity. Nutraceuticals are mainly categorised into dietary supplements and functional foods. With multiple factors contributing to the growth of nutraceutical industry in India, we are marching toward global leadership in nutraceuticals. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is solely responsible for regulating the approvals, promotions, and labelling standards for health supplements and nutraceuticals. As the understanding of these nutraceuticals is improving, the regulations are becoming stricter and there is a pressing need to monitor the usage of such products regularly and stringently. Nutri-vigilance and phyto-vigilance are relatively new concepts in our country; however, regulatory authorities need to proactively observe the adverse effects and issues related to substandard and counterfeit nutraceutical products. Healthcare professionals including pharmaceutical physicians can play an important role in safeguarding the population by advocating the rational use of nutraceuticals, food supplements, and consumer health products.
Focus of public health is moving from “curative” intent to “preventive” one. Although patients are pondering over the importance of food in both causing and relieving their problems, clinicians’ knowledge of nutrition is still limited. Most feel much more comfortable with drugs than foods, and the “food as medicine” philosophy of Hippocrates has been largely neglected. However, that attitude is changing over the last decade and the focus on “nutraceuticals” is ever-rising. The word nutraceuticals contain “nutrition” and “pharmaceuticals.” The term “nutraceutical” was initially devised by Dr Stephen DeFelice, originator of the Foundation of Innovation Medicine, Crawford, New Jersey, in 1989. Now, the old proverb “an apple a day keeps doctor away” has become “a nutraceutical a day keeps the doctor away.” The idea of nutraceuticals has evolved in the last three decades. Considering the growing importance of nutraceuticals, we present this narrative review of its usage, rationale, growth potential, regulatory scenario, and future challenges with the ever-increasing use of nutraceuticals in India. We also explored the expanding responsibility of pharmaceutical physicians to regulate the rational use of nutraceuticals, its promotion, and vigilance for adverse events due to such products.
Indian nutraceutical market-A breakthrough success story
The nutraceutical market in India is evolving and is estimated to reach US$18 billion by the end of 2025 as compared to US$4 billion by end of 2020. It is more than four times growth in a span of five years. The interest of foreign investors in the nutraceutical market has gone up significantly due to the opening of 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the nutraceutical and food supplement manufacturing sector, and such companies can also sell their products through wholesale, retail, or e-commerce platform. Thus, the FDI has increased from US$131.4 million in 2012 to US$584.7 million in 2019. With such phenomenal growth, India is poised to be a global leader in nutraceuticals.
(The author is assistant professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Bharat Technology, Uluberia, West Bengal. She can be reached at mohinimondal7384@gmail.com)
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