Year 2020 augurs well for the health mindful, as Indians are significantly choosing preventive health care to stay healthy rather than waiting on illness to take over and then begin treatment, say specialists.

Nutraceuticals, which consist of vitamins and minerals, protein supplements, energy drinks and growth supplements, have actually clocked greater development than prescription drugs. “Now the pattern is that 60 per cent of physician prescriptions consist of health and nutrient supplements. While pharmaceutical sales are growing in India at simply above 10 percent for the previous couple of years, the wellness and nutraceutical market is growing at near 20 per cent a year, which shows the Indians have actually ended up being more health conscious and awareness is growing,” said Dr RB Smarta, chairman and handling Director, Interlink marketing consultancy and honorary secretary, Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA).

With more non reusable income at hand and increasing awareness on health care amongst the metropolitan neighborhood, many people are choosing a healthy living. The trend of wearable and electronic gadgets to determine health specifications and mushrooming of gym and weight management centres are assisting boost sales of nutraceuticals, he states.

According to a vision 2022 document on the Indian nutraceutical market by market organisation Assocham, in association with its understanding partner RNCOS, the Indian nutraceutical market is poised to grow from $2.8 billion in 2015 to $8.5 billion by 2022. It is poised to become 3 per cent by 2022 if India accounted for a share of around 2 per cent of the worldwide market in 2015. Dietary Supplements, that include vitamins and minerals (40 percent), proteins (22 percent), and others such as natural supplements (32 percent), constitute about 65 percent of the Indian nutraceutical market. That sector is growing at over 16-17 percent per year.

If India accounted for a share of around 2 per cent of the global market in 2015, it is poised to become 3 per cent by 2022. Dietary Supplements, which consist of vitamins and minerals (40 per cent), proteins (22 per cent), and others such as natural supplements (32 per cent), make up about 65 per cent of the Indian nutraceutical market. Practical drinks that consist of functional fruits juices, milk, tea, coffees, and energy drinks are growing at 18 per cent.

Minerals and vitamin supplement sales in India were valued at about $0.7 billion in 2015. It is growing at a compounded yearly growth rate of over 16.8 percent to $1.3 billlion in 2019 and to $2.1 billion by 2022. Prominent dietary supplement makers in India consist of companies such as Himalaya, Dabur, Parry, GSK, Abbott, Zydus Wellness and Piramal. Numerous drug companies now have a different department for selling nutraceuticals or wellness items.

“Many specialists such as diabetologists, gynaecologists, nephrologists and oncologists mainly write minerals and vitamins as part of the treatment procedure,” notes Dr Smarta, as another reason for the development of nutraceutical sales.

Practical foods include foodstuff such as practical biscuits, breads, cereals, grease, nutrition bars, yogurt and others. Practical beverages that include practical fruits juices, milk, tea, coffees, and energy drinks are growing at 18 percent. Popular companies in this sector consist of ITC, Amul, Dabur, Britannia, Kellog’s, Nestle and Coca-Cola, says the report.

It also states in regards to application, nutraceuticals are primarily taken in for nutritional deficiency (51 per cent), bodybuilding (30 percent), weight management (15 percent) and other uses.