Highlights
- Aging populations and proactive aging are creating opportunities in senior nutrition products.
- Asia is the fastest-growing region for clinical nutrition products.
- Ingredient trends range from amino acid inclusion to plant-based options.
Senior Health and Clinical Nutrition in Asia
The Asian senior nutrition market is growing fast. Here, we look at the top drivers and trends in a specific area—clinical nutrition for seniors—plus emerging opportunities.
Growing Senior Population Drives Need for Nutrition Products
As the aging population expands in many Asian countries, companies seek new opportunities to address their nutritional needs. At the same time, more seniors are taking a proactive role toward healthy aging—not only to prevent disease but also to stay active and feel their best.
Senior Population in Select ASPAC Countries
| Country | Percentage aged 65 and older |
|---|---|
| Japan | 29.79 |
| South Korea | 16.65 |
| Australia | 16.57 |
| New Zealand | 15.93 |
| Thailand | 14.51 |
| Singapore | 14.13 |
| China | 13.15 |
| Vietnam | 8.75 |
| India | 6.80 |
| Indonesia | 6.78 |
Source: World Bank, Population ages 65 and above, 2022
Top Senior Nutrition Needs
Market research firm Mintel identifies the key nutrition needs for seniors today are:1
- Nutritional balance
- Preventive health
- Active lifestyle support
Achieving the recommended balance and amount of nutrients is the foundation of wellness at any age, while using nutrition to help prevent disease and maintain an active lifestyle are of special importance to seniors. Today’s seniors are interested in a wide range of benefits from food and beverage products.
Trends in Senior Nutrition
1. Healthy Aging Now
A new trend driving the category is an interest in healthy aging that is showing up across all age groups. For example, about half of older Gen Z consumers have taken steps toward aging healthily at age 20.2 Brands can use messaging around proactive aging that is ageless, rather than senior-focused, to appeal to a wider audience, including middle-agers.
2. Managing Mobility
Seniors today want more than just their health—they also want to continue enjoying the active lifestyles they’re used to. This means mobility is a priority. Globally, bone or joint health benefits rank as the third most desirable function in food (after heart and immune health) for those over 55.3 However, managing mobility must also address muscle maintenance for strength and balance, which protein can help support.
3. Cognitive Health
The role of food and beverages for cognitive support is becoming increasingly important. Maintaining an active mind is the top healthy aging concern reported by Boomers globally.4 In Asia, nearly one in ten beverages launched between 2018 and 2022 made a cognitive/emotional health claim,5 indicating the high potential of functional beverages to address this need. Ingredients with science-backed cognitive health benefits range from vitamins and minerals to botanicals.
Clinical Nutrition Plays Key Role in Senior Nutrition
The high prevalence of chronic disease and the need for healthcare that often comes with aging means clinical nutrition has a significant role in meeting the nutrient needs of seniors. Clinical nutrition products are used in and outside healthcare facilities to support surgery recovery, nutrient malabsorption common with aging, loss of bone and muscle, and many other conditions. In Asia, the growing senior population and expanding healthcare infrastructure point to a strong future for the clinical nutrition market.
Overview of the Clinical Nutrition Market
The Asian market is the fastest-growing region worldwide for clinical nutrition products.6 Asia’s clinical nutrition market is forecast to grow at an 8.9% compound annual growth rate from 2019 to 2024 (compared to 8.4% globally), to reach an estimated $21.9 million in 2024.7
At this time, the Asian market will account for nearly one-third of the $68.9 million global clinical nutrition market.8 China has a 7% share of the global market, making it the fifth-largest clinical nutrition market in the world.9
Top Clinical Nutrition Needs
According to research firm Innova Market Insights, the most important needs for clinical nutrition intervention today include:10
- Malnutrition
- Digestion
- Dysphagia
- Health benefits
- Surgery recovery
Those at risk of malnutrition make up the largest consumer base for clinical nutrition products, with seniors in a high-risk group due to reduced nutrient absorption with age, medical conditions, and dietary deficiencies. Digestion issues like malabsorption, as well as dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), are both issues that disproportionately affect seniors and often require clinical nutrition intervention.
Clinical nutrition is also prescribed for specific health benefits, such as improving immune, muscle, or bone health—all critical needs for seniors. Surgery recovery is another key segment and one that includes enteral (administered orally) and parenteral (administered intravenously) nutrition products. While 56% of the global clinical nutrition market is enteral nutrition, the need is growing for parenteral nutrition, particularly for preterm babies and the elderly.11
Trends in Clinical Nutrition
1. Amino Acid Focus
Trends underway in the clinical nutrition category include the use of specific amino acids (especially leucine, glutamine, and arginine) to support those with malnourishment or muscle loss. New science-based uses are also showing up, such as Nestle’s post-surgery Oral Impact powder (Singapore), which includes nucleotides, omega-3s, and the amino acid arginine for immune support.
2. Bone Health
Bone health claims are on the rise in launches of clinical nutrition products.12 These products typically feature calcium and phosphorous (in the proper ratio), as well as vitamins D and K2. While demand for bone health products is high among seniors, one in four recent product launches targets children.13
3. Diabetes Management
Globally, diabetes has become a serious public health concern, with the prevalence of adult diabetes quadrupling in the past four decades.14 Since many of those with Type 2 diabetes are not currently being treated with nutrition therapy, clinical nutrition for diabetes management is a potential high-growth area.
Looking Ahead
Emerging innovations in clinical nutrition products offer insight into what lies ahead for the category. These include more personalized nutrition solutions, exciting flavors, and plant-based product lines, such as Kate Farms ready-to-drink medical nutrition products (US).15 We can also expect more over-the-counter products and, with the recent scrutiny of ultra-processed foods, a shift toward more natural ingredients by some clinical nutrition brands.16
Expanding, improving, and diversifying clinical nutrition options for seniors is an important public health and business opportunity. Companies interested in exploring this growing category will find Glanbia Nutritionals’ ingredient portfolio has everything they need to get started—including high-quality dairy protein ProvonTMCFM, bioactives, amino acids, essential vitamins and minerals, and premixes for bone health, cognitive health, immunity, and more.
Contact us to learn more about our nutritional ingredients for healthy aging and the clinical nutrition market.