Experts tip stress relief, mood health and enhanced cognition as key priorities for nutraceutical consumers

03 May 2023 --- The market for mood and mental health-boosting nutrition supplements continues to grow, aided by increasing consumer interest in mental and emotional well-being and an expanding product offer from nutrition companies.

Innova Market Insights reports that 28% of global consumers expressed concerns over their mental health. In comparison, 36% believe a functional product could benefit them by improving their mood and combating anxiety and sadness.

NutritionInsight speaks with experts from Lubrizol Life Science, Nexira and Roquette about the latest developments in nutraceuticals targeting mental health and well-being.

“The fast pace of modern life places a range of demands on our minds and bodies, so ingredients that support stress relief, mood health and enhanced cognition are key priorities for consumers right now,” affirms Arnaud Verhaeghe, marketing director of Pharma Oral Dosage at Roquette. 

Julie Impérato, marketing and communication manager at Nexira notes that mental health is a significant part of holistic health, with 46% of consumers planning to improve their mental well-being in the next twelve months. 

Impérato states that 46% of consumers plan to improve their mental well-being in the next twelve months.Ingredients for mental well-being 
Cannabis’ compound cannabidiol (CBD), which stimulates relaxation, is the star ingredient within new launches targeting mental health. The body of scientific evidence behind its mental well-being benefits continues to grow, notes Verhaeghe.  

“The quest for mental well-being extends beyond CBD. In the gut health space, we’re seeing a move from claims focusing on digestion and metabolism to mental performance and immunity, especially,” he continues. 

“The post-COVID interest in probiotics and their immune-supporting benefits hasn’t dissipated. Google Trends data shows a consistent level of searches for the topic over the past year.”

Research is highlighting the potential of probiotics as an alternative to antidepressants. 

“From a cognitive health perspective, more consumers have resorted to nutritional supplementation through caffeine,” adds Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager of Nutraceutical Ingredients at Lubrizol Life Science. 

“In hopes of having an extended, slower release effect over regular caffeine, consumers want to boost alertness and maximize their cognitive function and performance on both physical and mental tasks.”

Prioritizing the self 
Verhaeghe notes that there is a prominent desire to ‘invest in the self,’ particularly among millennial and Gen Z consumers. This demographic is most inclined to spend on products that support health, well-being and inner happiness.

“These groups are also far more focused on ‘self-searching’ and introspection than we have previously seen – identifying the best products for their specific health goals, as opposed to industry trends dictating their needs to them,” adds Verhaeghe.

Gómez states that consumers are also increasingly interested in products that help improve sleep quality and reduce stress and anxiety. Product launches with claims about stress, mood and sleep support are increasing. 

“For this reason, we see a growth in the launch of products with claims referring to stress, mood and sleep support, have a steady increase in the share of supplements launch activity, perhaps holding a mirror to the wellness needs of today’s consumers.” 

“When seeking out such products, consumers will emphasize products having shortened ingredient lists, containing only trusted ingredients and product claims being trustworthy and clinically substantiated.”

Research backing 
In addition to focusing on product functionalities, Gómez highlights that consumers are seeking out nutritional supplements that offer sensory appeal. In addition, inclusions of trusted ingredients backed by science provide reassurance over health claims.

Nexira has recently released a new consumer study on mental and emotional well-being, shares Impérato. The company’s ingredient Serenzo – a sweet orange essential oil encapsulated in acacia gum – has shown a “significant improvement on mental load and a better management of ‘all the things that need to be done’,” through a perceived stress scale questionnaire, explains Impérato. 

“Consumers have also reported a perceived boost of mood and emotional well-being after four weeks of consumption. All these results position Serenzo as one of the most substantiated natural solutions for mood and mental well-being.” 

Scientific studies increasingly link food consumption to mood. The research found that diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in inflammatory foods may decrease the risk of developing depressive symptoms or clinical depression. 

By Jolanda van Hal