No one can deny the dramatic impact COVID-19 has left on all our lives. Everything has changed—from the way we work, educate our children, socialize, and shop, including what we shop, too.
While some markets remained unchanged, a lot of them were hit hard by the pandemic. Others, on the other hand, saw unprecedented growth—the supplements market being among them. It’s only natural people turn to supplements to boost their immune system when health hazard is present.
Read our article to find out about what the global number one supplement is and learn some more surprising facts about supplements.
What Is the Number 1 Supplement in the World?
(ConsumerLab) (Companies Market Cap)
According to a survey by ConsumerLab, Vitamin D was the most sought-after supplement in 2020, with 66% of respondents purchasing the vitamin.
As far as brands go, BellRing Brands is the leading supplement company by market cap, with $3.21 billion. It’s followed by Herbalife ($2.17b) and USANA ($1.12b).
Breathtaking Facts and Stats About Supplements Everyone Needs to Know
(NIH)
Currently, it is estimated that a third of the US adult population is actively consuming supplementary products, and a quarter of adolescents and children are doing the same.
Below you will find more astonishing facts:
The supplement industry saw a 14.5% increase in 2020, the highest in over two decades.
(Nutrition Business Journal) (Statista)
It further grew 7.5% in 2021, reaching $59.91 billion. The global supplement market is predicted to surpass the $185 billion mark by 2025.
COVID-19 has largely affected the demand for immune health supplements.
(Market Research)
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the global supplements market has observed consistent growth. Immunity-boosting supplements, in particular, have had higher demand, with over 50% of people increasing their consumption.
Collagen was the highest-growing supplement in popularity in 2019.
(ConsumerLab)
Among other popular supplements are magnesium and CBD, which also had the highest absolute growth between 2019 and 2020. On the other hand, turmeric and curcumin, cinnamon, CoQ10, and coconut oil have all declined in popularity.
The FDA is not responsible for the safety of any supplements.
(FDA)
The manufacturers and distributors of any supplement are responsible for ensuring their products are safe before going to market.
Furthermore, the FDA does not approve structure-function claims on dietary supplements, and companies with such claims have to notify the FDA.
About 23,000 emergency room cases in the US are related to adverse effects from dietary supplements.
(The New England Journal of Medicine) (FDA)
According to FDA, side effects from supplements may come in light rashes or itchings but also life-threatening illnesses, like throat swelling, chest pain, and even stroke.
This is why the FDA advises always to consult a doctor before deciding to take any supplement.
Supplements may help reduce the risk of being diagnosed with cancer.
(NIH)
Certain nutrients in supplements have been researched to possibly reduce the risk of cancer.
Specifically, research conducted on 776,902 men and women who have been taking one multivitamin or multi-vitamin mineral per day showed they had an 11% lower risk of dying of colon cancer.
However, other studies showed taking multivitamins and multi-vitamin minerals increased the risk of various types of cancer, so further research is needed on this topic.
Conclusion
According to the prognosis, the demand for dietary supplements is only going to continue to grow in the coming years.
We’ve seen that classics like vitamin D and magnesium are still dominating the market, but there is also a rise in the popularity of collagen and CBD.
Always remember dietary supplements are not FDA-approved. As much as they can be beneficial to our health, supplements may also have serious side effects, so you are advised to take them cautiously.
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