Beyond The Headlines: Growing US dietary herbal supplement market, US adult obesity rates exceed 40%

13 Sep 2024 --- This week in nutrition news, the American Botanical Council (ABC) published its latest report on the US herbal dietary supplements market. Meanwhile, Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) revealed that the adult obesity rate in the US exceeded 40% and GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition awarded several “agripreneurs” grants in 11 African countries.

Nutrition news

Annual retail sales of herbal dietary supplements in the US reached approximately US$15.551 billion in 2023, according to ABC’s 2023 Herb Market Report. This figure reflected a US$533 million increase from 2022, marking a 4.4% growth in sales. The report identified psyllium as the top-selling ingredient in the mainstream channel for the second consecutive year, while turmeric maintained its leading position in the natural channel. Barberry experienced significant growth due to rising awareness of berberine’s weight-loss potential. Despite a return to growth in 2023 following a decline in 2022, some ingredients, including CBD and elderberry, faced sales decreases. ABC leaders expressed optimism about the market’s normalization, reflecting consumers’ continued interest in plant-based supplements for health and wellness.

Obesity rates among US adults reached or exceeded 35% in 23 states in 2023 and over 40% for the country, according to a report by TFAH. This marked a significant increase since 2012, when no state had an obesity rate at this level. The “State of Obesity 2024: Better Policies for a Healthier America” report analyzed data from the Center for Disease Control’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and revealed that the state of West Virginia had the highest adult obesity rate at 41.2%, followed by Mississippi and Arkansas. Notably, from 2022 to 2023, Alaska, Arkansas and Oregon saw significant increases in their rates, while no states reported declines. More than four in ten US adults are classified as obese and nearly 20% of US children and adolescents were classified as obese. The report concluded that policies must be made to address obesity-related disparities and improve community food environments, emphasizing the need for systemic solutions beyond individual behavior.The TFAH’s latest report shows that obesity rates exceed 40% for adults and 20% for young people and children.

At the 2024 Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition celebrated young agrifood entrepreneurs from 11 African countries. The event highlighted the importance of youth-driven solutions in Africa’s food systems and increased participation from underrepresented regions, emphasizing inclusivity and support for women in agriculture. The competition also showcased the resilience and creativity of Africa’s young agripreneurs, aiming to foster mentorship and policy-making in agriculture.

Business news

Alland & Robert announced the launch of its FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols)-friendly certification for acacia gum, designed to help individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) identify suitable food products. FODMAPs, which are poorly absorbed carbohydrates, can exacerbate IBS symptoms, affecting 5-10% of the global population, primarily those under 50. Acacia gum, rich in prebiotic fiber, serves as an ideal ingredient for low-FODMAP diets, promoting intestinal transit and supporting gut bacteria. The company said it aims to develop natural gum products with high nutritional value while addressing specific dietary needs like vegan, gluten-free and keto diets.

MyFitnessPal, the leading global nutrition and food tracking app, collaborated with the US football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, to enhance the team’s focus on nutrition for peak athletic performance. The multi-year partnership formalized the use of MyFitnessPal within the Eagles’ training facility, where it had already been utilized for several seasons. The app provides tools to track nutrition and help achieve goals such as weight loss, muscle gain and increased energy. The company stated that by collaborating with the Eagles’ in-house nutrition team, the app will empower players to make informed food choices that support their performance and recovery.MyFitnessPal partnered with the Philadelphia Eagles to help track the athletes’ nutrition and exercise.

The ESG (Environmental, social and governance) and innovative food technologies venture capital platform Earth First Food Ventures (EFFV) unveiled a new US$10 million funding round listed with Securitize, a leader in tokenizing real-world assets. This Series A round allows accredited investors from the US and international markets to purchase tokens to use toward strategic investments in the synthetic biology and alternative dairy sectors through precision fermentation. This funding aims to enhance EFFV’s presence in the “dairy without the cow” industry and said the tokenization process enables investors to diversify their portfolios with sustainable investments.

Product launches

Biotiful Gut Health, the UK’s leading Kefir brand, revealed it has reformulated its organic drinks range, responding to consumer demand for more organic options. The company introduced two new Kefir flavors — Organic Kefir Drink Blossom Honey and Organic Kefir Drink Vanilla Chai — and reformulated its original flavor offering. These flavors meet current trends, as Chai Tea and Honey were highlighted as key ingredients at Natural Products Expo West. The brand boasted that it has enjoyed a successful year, becoming the fastest-growing yogurt brand and the ninth-largest overall. Biotifiul emphasized that the three products are crafted with whole British organic milk to ensure a creamy texture and clean taste while being high in protein and free from artificial ingredients.

Airborne, a Reckitt brand, introduced its most comprehensive immune support formula yet, in light of recent research showing that nearly 85% of Americans do not receive adequate immune support from their diets alone. The revamped product features reformulated effervescent and chewable supplements and contains increased zinc, vitamin D and vitamin C, along with vitamin A, vitamin E, manganese and selenium. Airborne stated that each ingredient provides daily values of 20% or higher.A recent study reveals that prunes could help reduce the bone density effects in women related to oral contraceptives.

Scientific studies

Lallemand Health Solutions received approval for its double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study targeting Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) patients. The company said the study will evaluate the efficacy of its Bacillus subtilis R0179 strain in alleviating SIBO symptoms. The study will utilize conventional symptom tracking and stool microbiome analysis while introducing the innovative Small Intestine Microbiome Aspiration Capsule to assess the probiotic’s impact on the small intestine, marking a global first. The study will be conducted in collaboration with Nimble Science in Calgary, Canada, and the researchers said they look to enroll 105 subjects and investigate the potential of the probiotic formulation to modulate the small intestinal microbiome, as well as explore associations between SIBO and specific metabolites in various samples.

A recent study, published in Current Developments in Nutrition, indicated that consuming approximately 50 g of prunes daily for a year could help reduce bone loss risk associated with oral contraceptive use among women aged 18 to 25. The research revealed increases in bone mineral density at the ultradistal radius, a site rich in trabecular bone, among those taking oral contraceptives along with prunes. The study emphasized the importance of trabecular bone in preventing fractures due to osteoporosis and noted that, although the exact mechanism behind the “prune effect” remains unclear, it is believed that prunes inhibit bone resorption by reducing osteoclast activity. Prunes are rich in minerals, vitamin K, phenolic compounds and fiber, all of which are crucial for bone health. With approximately 25% of US women aged 15 to 44 using oral contraceptives, the study highlighted an important nutritional strategy to support bone density for this demographic.

By William Bradford Nichols