Medical probiotics market

The medical probiotics market size is expected to reach US$ 62.25 Bn by 2030, from US$ 40.50 Bn in 2023, at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. The growth of the medical probiotics Market is driven by factors such as rising health consciousness, increasing gut and immunity health issues, and rising demand for probiotic fortified foods.

The medical probiotics market is segmented into ingredient type, application, distribution channel, and region. By ingredient type, the market is segmented into bacteria (lactobacilli, bifidobacterium, streptococcus, and bacillus), yeast, spore formers, and others. The bacteria segment accounted for the largest market share in 2022. The high share of this segment is attributed to proven health benefits, stability, and ease of production of bacterial strains such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

Medical Probiotics Market Regional Insights:

• North America is expected to be the largest market for medical probiotics market during the forecast period, which accounted for over 43.2% of the market share in 2022. The market growth in North America is due to the rising awareness about preventive healthcare, increasing health issues like obesity and diabetes, and launch of probiotic functional foods.
• The Asia Pacific is expected to be the second-largest market for medical probiotics market, which accounted for over 23.2% of the market share in 2022. The market growth in this region is due to the growing acceptance for probiotic fortified foods and beverages, especially in China, Japan, and India.

• The Europe is third-largest in the world, which is driven by factors such as a strong healthcare system, high awareness of the benefits of probiotics, and a growing demand for personalized healthcare, which accounted for over 20.3% of the market share in 2022. Germany is the largest market in the region, followed by France and the U.K.

Figure 1. Global Medical Probiotics Market Share (%), By Region, 2023

Analyst View on Global Medical Probiotics Market:

• Rising consumer awareness about the health benefits of probiotic supplements will be a major driver for market expansion. Growing incidence of chronic diseases coupled with increasing demand for preventive healthcare solutions provides a huge opportunity for probiotic products dedicated for medical use. The market is also expected to gain from growing acceptance of probiotics among medical professionals for various therapeutic applications ranging from IBS to improving immunity.
• North America currently dominates the market owing to highly health-conscious population and concentration of key players. However, Asia Pacific is estimated to emerge as the fastest growing region mainly due to rising income levels, growing health expenditures and rapid urbanization in countries like China, India and Japan. Changing lifestyles and dietary patterns have increased digestive ailments in the region, creating strong demand for effective probiotic supplements

Medical Probiotics Market Drivers:

• Increasing product launches for women’s health: There is a growing health consciousness among consumers worldwide, who are becoming more aware of how nutrition affects overall health and wellbeing. For instance, on September 29, 2023, Culturelle, a food ingredient company, commemorating National Women’s Health Day, September 27, 2023, launched its Close the Gap campaign, a multi-year initiative that will advocate for women’s healthcare through improved health literacy, advocacy for policy changes, and building advocacy within the medical community.
• Rising incidences of gastrointestinal and lifestyle diseases: Lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome are rising globally. Probiotics plays an essential role in managing these diseases and improving gut health. In 2022, according to IBD statistics 2022, research conducted by Crohn’s & Colitis U.K., suggests 1 in every 123 people in the U.K. have either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. This amounts to a total of nearly half a million people in the U.K. living with IBD. Therefore, although IBD is not so common, it still impacts a significant amount of people in the U.K.
• Technological advancements in probiotic delivery systems: Advances in probiotic encapsulation and micro-encapsulation technology are enhancing the stability and efficacy of probiotic supplements. Companies are developing delayed-release capsules to protect the strains from gastric acid and deliver them safely to the gut. For instance, in November 2022, researchers at the University of Wisconsin (UW)–Madison announced that they had combined gut-friendly, encapsulated probiotic bacteria with nanoparticle technology to help improve the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Favorable regulatory framework and government recommendations: The regulatory environment is conducive to probiotics market growth with authorities like The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) providing guidelines regarding approval for health claims. Government initiatives are also promoting probiotic usage – for example, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) recommends probiotic curd consumption daily. Such regulations and recommendations increase consumer trust in probiotic products. Government funding for research and development (R&D) related to the microbiome’s role in health also enables new innovations.

Medical Probiotics Market Opportunities:

• Innovative probiotic product development: There are abundant opportunities for food, beverage and supplement manufacturers to innovate probiotics and create new functional and therapeutic products. For instance, on January 24, 2023, Evonik, a healthcare company launched a new category of nutraceuticals called IN VIVO BIOTICS. These next-generation synbiotics combine probiotics – healthy gut bacteria – with other health ingredients.

• Facility expansion: Developing economies in Asia, Latin America and Middle East represent strong growth opportunities. Growing disposable incomes, health awareness, and adoption of western lifestyles are driving demand for probiotic products. Local manufacturers can expand their probiotic portfolios which are catered to regional preferences. For instance, on July 2, 2023, ADM, a nutrition company, announced that they had opened a new production facility in Valencia, Spain to help meet growing demand for probiotics, postbiotics, and other products that support health and wellbeing.
• Development of personalized probiotics: Advances in genomic testing allows identification of an individual’s unique microbiome fingerprint. This creates scope for bespoke probiotics that are tailored to correct dysbiosis and restore gut homeostasis which are based on the consumer’s gut microbiome profile. PrecisionX by Biomic Sciences, a biotech company, is an example of microbiome-targeted probiotics. Such personalized nutraceuticals represent the new frontier in probiotics. For instance, on July 26, 2023, Viome, a healthcare company, announced the oral health intelligence test with personalized oral probiotics and supplements. Viome’s VRx My·Biotics Oral Lozenges include a personalized formulation featuring pre, pro, and post-biotics along with amino acids and minerals that promote a healthy oral environment

Medical Probiotics Market Trends:

• Shift toward preventive and functional nutrition: Consumers are focused on preventive rather than reactive healthcare. There is increased willingness to spend on functional foods and supplements that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Probiotics fit well into this preventive nutrition trend. Consumers are proactively adding probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha to their diets and taking supplements for overall wellbeing. This supports long-term category growth.
• Plant-based and dairy-free probiotic innovation: A growing vegan population along with lactose intolerants is driving demand for plant-based dairy alternatives. Food manufacturers are innovating with probiotic offerings like almond milk kefir, coconut yogurt, cashew cheese, and others that are plant-based, lactose-free, and high in probiotics. Non-dairy probiotic chocolate, ice creams, and smoothies are also popular. The plant-based trend will continue complimenting the probiotics market.
• Probiotic supplements gaining prominence: Probiotic supplements offer controlled dosages and targeted delivery compared to food sources that are appealing to consumers who are looking for efficacy. Favorable clinical trial results, celebrity endorsements, and gut health trend have bolstered the popularity and trust in probiotic supplements. Consumers are increasingly willing to spend on supplements for therapeutic uses like immunity, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), relief
• Mainstreaming through large retailers and e-commerce: The availability of probiotic supplements and foods has expanded from niche health stores to mainstream pharmacy chains, supermarkets, and discount general retailers. Increased shelf space and promotions are improving consumer access and awareness about probiotics. Many consumers are also discovering probiotics online via e-pharmacies and direct-to-consumer (D2C) supplement brands. Omnichannel expansion has allowed probiotics to go mainstream.

Medical Probiotics Market Restraints:

• High R&D costs and stringent regulations: Developing novel probiotic strains involves intensive R&D efforts thus spanning isolating strains, characterizing mechanisms of action, conducting clinical studies to prove efficacy and safety, and obtaining regulatory approvals. These result in high costs, thereby hindering the entry of small players. Approval delays also restrain the introduction of cutting-edge probiotics. Strict regulatory guidelines especially in developed markets like Europe, U.S., and Canada add complexity.
• Increasing product recall: Despite growing popularity of the probiotics, some consumers remain apprehensive about the efficacy of probiotic supplements and functional foods. Factors like lack of understanding about mechanisms of action, concerns about survival of strains till gut, and skepticism stemming from exaggerated marketing claims limit adoption among such consumer cohorts. This warrants the need of consumer education by manufacturers. Increasing medical probiotics product recall by regulatory authorities. For instance, on October 26, 2023, Abbott, a healthcare company, announced that the U.S. Food and drug Administration recalled Similac Probiotic Tri-Blend, which contains B. infantis (Bb-02), S. thermophilus (TH-4) and B. lactis (BB-12). The product was recalled because that products contained live microorganisms that may present serious risks to preterm infants in hospital settings.
• Competition from prebiotics, post biotics and other supplements: Prebiotics, postbiotics and other supplements like vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 also promote gut and immune health. Consumers may perceive these as cheaper and safer alternatives to probiotics. Manufacturers need a differentiated value proposition which focuses on “live microbes” for probiotics.
• Counterbalance: The high cost of R&D costs of the probiotics needs to be controlled in developing new probiotic strain by the key market players. Also, the probiotics should be manufactured very carefully thereby minimizing its product recall.

Figure 2. Global Medical Probiotics Market Share (%), By Applications, 2023

Recent Developments:

New product launches:

• On August 17, 2023, Design for Health, a nutritional product company, launched two new women’s health formulations which are designed for various life stages. The first product, ProbioMed Women, is a once-daily, highly concentrated probiotic to support a healthy vaginal pH, vaginal microflora, and GI microbial balance. FemGuard-HF features two clinically-studied hormone-free phytoestrogens, genistein and HMRlignan. It also delivers gamma-oryzanol, which is evidenced to support menopausal symptoms, and DeltaGold-branded vitamin E tocotrienols, as well as taurine.
• On May 23, 2023, PanTheryx’s probiotic-supplements brand TruBiotics launched two new supplements for women’s health. Both products contain probiotics, and each address different multiple healths need to support women in different stages of life.

• In September 2020, Lonza, a pharmaceutical company, launched sports nutrition probiotic ingredient, TWK10, which is a unique strain of lactobacillus plantarum isolated from naturally-fermented Taiwanese Kimchi.

Acquisition and partnerships:

• On January 12, 2023, DSM, a health nutrition company, announced a partnership with Sun Genomics, to expand research and commercial availability of precision probiotics around the globe
• In May 2021, Probi and Tervisetehnoloogiate Arenduskeskus AS, Estonia, also known as the Competence Centre on Health Technologies (CCHT), signed a long-term research and development collaboration agreement which is aimed to develop novel products based on probiotic lactobacilli strains. As part of the collaboration, Probi nd Tervisetehnoloogiate Arenduskeskus AS received specific access to a unique and proprietary bacterial strain library.
• In April, 2020, Hansen Holding A/S, a bioscience company, announced the acquisition of HSO Health Care GmbH, a pharmaceutical company, to grow probiotics offering for women’s health

Top Companies in Medical Probiotics Market:

• Probi AB
• Abbott
• Lonza
• Chr. Hansen Holding A/S
• Danone S.A.
• Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.
• Nestle S.A.
• DowDuPont Inc.
• Kerry Group plc
• BioGaia AB
• DSM
• Sun Genomics
• Evonik
• Probiotics International Limited (Protexin)
• UAS Laboratories LLC

*Definition: Probiotics are live microorganisms that are consumed to provide health benefits by improving the gut microbiome. The most common probiotics are bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. Medical probiotics help in managing gastrointestinal conditions, thus improving immunity, urogenital health, oral health, allergies, and respiratory function. They also help to alleviate mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress.

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Medical Probiotics Market Segmentation:

• By Ingredient Type
  • Bacteria
  • Lactobacilli
  • Bifidobacterium
  • Streptococcus
  • Bacillus
  • Yeast
  • Spore Formers
  • Others
• By Application                           
  • Probiotic Food & Beverages
  • Dairy Products
  • Non-dairy Beverages
  • Cereals
  • Baked Goods
  • Fermented Meat Products
  • Probiotic Dietary Supplements
  • Probiotics for Women's Health
  • Infant Formula
  • Others
• By Distribution Channel
  • Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
  • Pharmacies/Drugstores
  • Specialty Stores
  • Online Sales
• By Region
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa