Clasado Biosciences experts predict immune health market boom
24 Jul 2024 --- Prebiotic ingredients developer Clasado Biosciences asserts that the immune health market is on the rise as consumers increasingly explore the potential of immune-boosting products for sports health nutrition and through functional beverages that enhance these benefits.
Dr Frederic Narbel, VP of B2B Sales at Clasado, explains: “Consumer interest in immune health grew at speed in recent years, and we now see more interest in the consistent management of immune health than ever before. Now, it’s about where the category can go next. This is something we’ve had a front-row seat to through the research on our Bimuno GOS prebiotic ingredient. We’ve seen a great deal of innovation, and this isn’t just in concepts at trade shows and expos; it’s in products that are commercialized and available to consumers.”
“It could be that the immune health category crosses more directly into sports nutrition to support availability to compete and train.”
Steven Riley, head of B2B and corporate marketing, adds: “Around the globe, we are seeing a continued shift in consumer attitudes and behaviors. We’re all getting better connected with health. We’re not just solving health challenges when they appear; we want better everyday health and consumers to be more comfortable with fact-finding and evaluating their options. One of the most interesting areas of exploration is in immunity-supporting prebiotic beverages, which are steadily making their way into the market.”
Dr Frederic Narbel, VP of B2B Sales at Clasado (Image credit: Clasado).Sports nutrition and functional beverages
Narbel details how the immune health category is increasingly crossing into sports nutrition. “We have observed, for example, how prebiotics can significantly reduce the duration and severity of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. This results in fewer missed events and training sessions, which is critical for supporting consistent performance.”
“When we look at how the immune health category might grow and evolve in the future, it seems clear that sports health can be a focus. Of course, the research that connects prebiotics and immunity goes far beyond sports health and presents exciting opportunities for developing a wide range of health products that cater to proactive health management.”
Meanwhile, Riley focuses on the growing consumer interest in functional beverages for immune health pointing to a “nutrition plus” trend, “where shoppers expect the functional foods and drinks they buy to do more, they need to contribute to health in some way, this can be either be through added protein or fiber.”
“Functional beverages show this in action; consumers today are not just looking for hydration; they are seeking beverages that can enhance targeted areas of health that align with their health goals. With the increasing consumer interest in proactive health management, brands have a unique opportunity to innovate,” he explains.
He asserts that prebiotics, like Bimuno GOS, can be incorporated into functional drinks, opening up new avenues for immune health products that are effective, convenient and built on a strong scientific foundation.”
“The potential to combine prebiotics with other functional ingredients in beverages is particularly exciting, as it aligns with consumer preferences for holistic health solutions that are easy to integrate into their daily routines.”
VP Narbel concludes: “One of the most exciting aspects of the nutrition sector is how quickly it moves and evolves, and we believe that the next wave of immune health innovations will be driven by a deeper understanding of the gut microbiome. By leveraging the latest gut health science, which of course includes prebiotics, brands can develop products that support overall immune function and are built around the latest scientific understanding.”
By Milana Nikolova
