Nutraceutical Trends 2022

The field of nutraceuticals and related research has been growing very rapidly over the last several years. What started as optimizing nutritional value has turned into a research industry that looks at everything from nutrition to general health care.

A quick definition before we continue: Nutraceuticals are any supplement that can be taken along with a daily diet to promote good health or boost vitamin & mineral levels. Things like vitamins and supplements represent part of the nutraceutical supplement category.

COVID-19 helped illustrate how nutraceuticals can be used for immune system health, among other healthcare-related issues. Being able to strengthen the human immune system against other viruses and diseases has become an important issue for many nutraceutical research institutions.

Let’s take a look at some of the popular nutraceutical research & development trends happening in 2022 and the potential benefits these trends could yield.

Nutraceutical Ingredients of Interest

Not too much has changed when it comes to specific nutraceutical ingredients research. The top areas of research and development still include:

• Probiotics
• Fiber & digestive aids
• Amino acids
• Peptides & proteins
• Polyphenols & flavonoids

Research with these ingredients in nutraceutical compounds is looking to improve many health conditions, especially those related to aging. Popular areas of nutraceutical research on health conditions include:

• Lowering bad cholesterol
• Diabetes and blood sugar management
• Blood pressure regulation
• Immunity support
• Healthier sugar substitutes
• Natural flavoring (same taste, different formulas)

Areas of research focus on how ingredients (like probiotics or amino acids) can be used to optimally deliver positive nutraceutical effects in supplements, like pills, capsules, bars, and drink mixes. Food substitution research is looking at how to improve ingredients to be healthier for human consumption without losing popular tastes.

Nutraceutical Applications

Making food healthier while still being palatable is a challenge. When it comes to nutraceutical application, three fields of research & development are the most prominent:

• Foods
• Beverages
• Vitamins & Supplements

Most of this research is currently focused on adding nutraceuticals to a dietary plan by means other than food or drink supplementation. When used as supplements in this way, nutraceuticals are in the forms of:

• Tablets, capsules, gel/liquicaps, etc.
• Powder to add to any food or drink
• Liquid supplements (e.g., shots- not a drink or beverage)
• Gummies or similar chewable supplements

The areas of application are important, as most people prefer things that taste good. Supplement applications like nutraceutical gummies are not just popular with children–many adults also find them easy on the palate.

Another emerging area of research that has gained some traction in 2022 is the field of cosmeceuticals–nutraceuticals in cosmetics. While some oral supplements are being researched for skincare and health, some research is being put into developing nutraceutical cosmetics. Optimizing certain ingredients in traditional cosmetics may be able to help products promote skin health and beauty simultaneously.

Research at Biofortis

Biofortis is dedicated to protecting consumer health throughout the world by delivering a wide range of testing and consultancy services to the food, supplement, and nutrition industries. Biofortis supports this mission in two ways—through clinical trials and sensory and consumer insights testing. We specialize in clinical research targeting foods, ingredients, and dietary supplements that affect body structures, function, and overall health. Contact us with any clinical trial or scientific consulting needs.