Dietary Supplements

Broadly speaking, dietary supplements (nutrition supplements) are substances used as foods or part of foods. They also provide medical or health benefits, such as the prevention and cure of diseases. The nutrient market mainly consists of two major parts: functional foods and dietary supplements. Products include separated nutrients, dietary supplements, processed foods and beverages, etc.

Functional foods are similar to conventional foods or beverages in appearance. They can be used as part of normal foods and beverages. It has already been proved that functional foods have physiological benefits or can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Nutrition supplements are nutrients that supplement to normal diet or oral drugs with nutritious and physiological functions.

The world’s nutrition supplements market was close to $198.0 billion in 2013. The United States was world’s biggest market, accounting for 39% of the world’s market share. West Europe came next, with 26% market share. China was the third, seizing 13% of the world’s share.

Impacted by factors such as population size and structure, dietary culture and lifestyles in various regions of the world, the demand of nutrition supplements will increase continuously and steadily. The United States and China will be the countries with the world’s most rapid consumption growth of nutrition supplements.