December 2, 2024 – Clinical nutrition includes oral feed and tube-feeding products. In general food and beverage products, consumers globally are demanding products that are plant-based and personalized and also made sustainably and transparently. Clinical nutrition market trends are evolving in a similar way to meet the needs of consumers globally who are in a clinical setting.
Clinical Nutrition is Growing
The global nutrition market for clinical nutrition products is growing and additional growth is forecasted. All global regions are experiencing growth in clinical nutrition products, with Asia leading in sales.
Innovation in Clinical Nutrition
Clinical nutrition products are also called enteral feeding products. These products are evolving to meet consumer needs. Although clinical nutrition products include oral and tube feeding products, oral feedings make up nearly all new product launches. Pediatric nutrition is a strong area for innovation in clinical nutrition market. Oral products for geriatrics also are growing. Product tracking by Innova Market Insights shows emerging innovation in vegan and plant-based formulations. In tube feeding, products made from whole foods offer sustainable and transparent features.
Watch for Ingredient Innovation
Ingredients extracted from algae, such as omega-3 fatty acids, are becoming more widespread in the global nutrition market for nutrition and sustainability benefits. Functional ingredients that are emerging in clinical nutrition market trends include collagen and colostrum. Watch for increased use of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) in infant and adult products.
Clinical Nutrition Claims are Growing
Malnutrition is a key health issue in clinical settings, so claims regarding malnutrition lead clinical nutrition product benefits. Malnutrition is a key driver of innovation in clinical nutrition oral feedings and tube feedings, with growth in product launches projected to continue. In clinical nutrition market, malnutrition is associated with health conditions such as COPD, sarcopenia, and cachexia.
Malnutrition Products Incorporate Functional Ingredients
Clinical nutrition oral feeding and tube feeding products utilize a broad range of functional nutritional ingredients. These include vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and protein. Other functional ingredients aid the palatability of oral feeding and tube feed products. Some of the most widely used functional ingredients are acidity regulators, emulsifying salts, thickeners, and ingredients for firming to improve texture. Flavor is important, with chocolate and caramel becoming more widely used. It is important to flavor oral nutrition products in a way that appeals to the cancer patient’s changing sense of taste.
Mineral Use is Changing
Innova Market Insights is tracking changes in the use of minerals in clinical nutrition market. Some mineral ingredients are being chosen because they are more affordable or easier to use in oral nutrition and tube-feeding products. Minerals also are being chosen for their stability and bioavailability. Manufacturers are looking for ways to balance affordability with effectiveness.
Plant-Based Strengthens in Tube Feeding
Plant-based innovation is more prevalent in tube-feeding products than in oral clinical nutrition formulations. In oral products, soy isolate, and pea isolate are growing modestly. A MCT oil with medium chain triglycerides is becoming more widely used.
Products for Dysphagia Expand
Widespread global adoption of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) is helping drive innovation in products for clinical nutrition patients with dysphagia. Innova has been tracking the increased use of maltodextrin, a highly versatile carbohydrate. Maltodextrin can modify texture and provide carbohydrates affordably. It has a smooth texture that is easy for patients with dysphagia to swallow. The taste of maltodextrin is neutral and it is easy to digest. In contrast, products for diabetes, which are not yet prominent, contain carbohydrates that have a low glycemic index (GI) and sweeteners to reduce sugar.
What’s Next? Clinical Nutrition Settings Diversify
The clinical nutrition marketplace is expanding to include outpatient settings, home health, and long-term care facilities, diversifying clinical nutrition beyond the hospital. Prevention is also becoming more important.
What’s Next? Targeted Nutrition Supports Specialized Products
Innovation in the targeted global nutrition market for clinical nutrition products is poised to result in specialized products for specific populations such as geriatric patients, patients in other age groups, and patients with age-related health conditions. Specialty ingredients such as HMOs, colostrum, and probiotics are expected to become more widely used. Other expected growth areas include women’s health, personalized nutrition, and clinical nutrition oral feeding and tube feeding products based on genetics.
What’s Next? Plant-Based Sustainability
Plant-based ingredients support sustainability. Clinical nutrition products are expected to incorporate sustainable plant-based ingredients to meet the expectations and demands of healthcare systems and consumers and support the environment in a nutritious way.
This article is based on Innova’s Trending in Clinical Nutrition – Global report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more
