Clinical Nutrition Market

Current Scenario

The clinical nutrition market is rising quickly due to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases. The growing awareness about consuming a healthy diet to maintain sufficient levels of vitamins and minerals is influencing the market growth. Currently, the Asia Pacific region shows the strongest growth in this market. A large portion of the world's population resides in this region. Moreover, the roles and responsibilities of dietitians have also evolved and will continue to do so in the coming years. They are extending their reach into varied environments, comprising research institutions, corporate wellness programs sports teams, schools, and community health centers.

Drivers

The growing number of chronic diseases drives the clinical nutrition market forward. A high prevalence of nutritional illnesses within the clinical practice and increasing scientific evidence supporting the significance of dietary changes in disease prevention is surging. Also, coupled with the creation of uniform curricula for teaching nutrition to healthcare trainees and students, is progressively becoming essential for the affordable incorporation of nutrient and dietary notions in medical practice, which contributes to their escalating demand.

Furthermore, another factor propelling the market growth is the application of digital technology. It is gaining predominance in this realm, with AI being utilized specifically in diet pattern analysis, risk prediction, food image recognition, and diet optimization.

Restraints

Convincing healthcare professionals of the economic and clinical advantages of medical nutrition items is the main problem faced by the clinical nutrition market. This includes increasing cognizance among these experts of the significance of undernutrition and the impacts of clinical nutrition products. Even so, the poor reliability bestowed upon medical sales executives from agri-food organizations or firms is a key obstacle. Apart from this, treatment by medical practitioners is another key challenge in scaling nutrition in healthcare. There are several medical practitioners who have no intention to update or revise their knowledge and understanding and are continuing to practice in the same traditional process that they were educated years ago.

Segment Analysis

By Route of Administration

• Oral Nutrition
• Enteral Nutrition
• Parenteral Nutrition

The oral nutrition segment is the most preferred route of administration and is expected to maintain its position throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to the extensive consumption of oral nutritional supplements (ONS). Powder and liquid vitamins absorb quicker than gummies or pills, which adds to the expansion of the segment’s market share. Compared to standard tablets and capsules, sublingual and oral absorption techniques in health supplements provide higher bioavailability and greater comfort in usage. This is especially advantageous for the elderly and children, improving the convenience and accessibility of getting supplements for these demographics. Hence, due to these reasons, the demand for oral nutrition remains on the higher side.

By Therapeutic Areas

• Malabsorption
• Diarrhea
• Cancer
• Food Allergies
• Maldigestion
• Diabetes
• Short-Bowel Syndrome
• Acute Lung Injury
• Acute Respiratory Distress

The diabetes segment gained the maximum share of the clinical nutrition market and is projected to exhibit a high CAGR during the estimation period. The surging number of diabetic patients globally is primarily influencing the segment’s market growth. In addition, Bangladesh, Italy, Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia, the USA, China, and India are the top 10 countries with the largest proportion of diabetes globally. Further, the segment is also experiencing a growing awareness of eating the correct combination of food for the treatment of diabetes. This rising cognizance among the people is accelerating the expansion of the segment’s market size.

By Ingredients Type

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Carbohydrates
• Amino Acids

The vitamins segment held the biggest proportion of the clinical nutrition market share and is believed to remain dominant over the forecast period. This can be due to the heightening volume of people having vitamin deficiencies. According to a study by the Harvard T.H. CHAN School of Public Health, over 50 per cent of the world’s population takes insufficient amounts of various micronutrients important to health, comprising vitamins C and E, iron, and calcium.

Regional Analysis

Asia Pacific is the fastest growing clinical nutrition market and is projected to remain on course to maintain its position during the forecast period. India is expected to lead the regional market. Moreover, the region is faced with an ageing population and customer associations with healthier nutrition are rising, which influences the demand for vitamin and mineral supplements or for clinical nutritionists. According to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, about 721 million people aged 60 years or more live in Asia Pacific, approximately 1 in 7 persons. It is anticipated that one in four people in APAC by 2050 will fall under this age bracket, totalling close to 1.3 billion senior citizens.

Recent Market Development

• In October 2024, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study of heart failure (HF) in European nations and the Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) by their researchers. It discovered that greater compliance with the Med Diet was related to a considerably lower risk of HF, particularly in women.