OTC Probiotics Supplement Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027

The global OTC probiotic supplements market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.79% over the forecast period to reach a total market size of US$23.367 billion by 2027, increasing from US$9.462 billion in 2020.

OTC probiotic supplements include all types of supplements available in various distribution channels and are often called non-prescription probiotic supplements. The increasing popularity of probiotic supplements, coupled with rising health awareness, is expected to drive the market's growth during the forecast period. In addition, the expanding scope of probiotics application is anticipated to boost the demand in the coming years. Furthermore, there is a favourable outlook of people toward medical nutrition in developed countries like the United States and Germany on account of the growing prevalence of digestive diseases and problems. Rising health awareness has resulted in the increasing expenditure on probiotic supplements, and factors such as changing lifestyle and eating habits have further increased the consumption of high-sodium-based foods which is contributing to the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders. All such factors are expected to boost the demand for probiotic supplements over the forecast period. However, the availability of substitutes remains a major challenge to the widespread adoption of pharmaceutical probiotic products.

The growing scope of application is widening the growth opportunities for manufacturers and vendors

Currently, the application of probiotics is limited to a few health problems. However, with the growing research and development activities, the scope of probiotics application is expected to expand during the forecast period. Also, in the coming years, the OTC pharmaceuticals probiotics may replace other pharmaceutical agents. With rising consumer awareness about health benefits, the market is expected to witness exponential growth. Furthermore, growing product launches of advanced and new flavoured probiotic products coupled with the growing popularity of OTC pharmaceutical probiotic products are further expected to widen the scope of growth opportunities for manufacturers and vendors.

The availability of substitutes is expected to restrain the growth of the market

Probiotics supplements are widely used to treat bowel problems such as diarrhoea and irritable bowel, among other forms of infections. All such problems and issues are also resolved through alternative ways such as herbal remedies. The availability of substitutes leads to consumers quickly switching to an alternative, even if there is a fractional price change. Also, due to this, the industry has become more competitive because consumers can choose to purchase substitutes like digestive remedies instead of OTC pharmaceutical probiotics. The growing popularity of OTC pharmaceutical probiotics alternatives such as healthier drinks like kombucha tea that contain probiotics that can help gut flora is further expected to restrain the market's growth over the forecast period.

By form, capsules are holding a significant share in the market

By form, the OTC probiotics supplement market is segmented as capsules, tablets, powders, and syrups. Capsules and tablets were expected to be the most popular categories, constituting a substantial share in the market cumulatively in 2019. The capsule format has gained favor in recent years, owing to probiotics manufacturers' increased efforts to ensure optimal delivery of probiotics in the proper place. It is considered that the delivery of supplements and drugs that contains sensitive compounds can be optimized with a hard-shell capsule that degrades under a specific condition. Simultaneously, the powder format is primarily preferred by the younger population. However, without any form of an outer coating, as in the case with capsules, the ingredients are vulnerable to stomach acid, which reduces its effectiveness. However, there has been a steady increase in the R&D investment to improve the efficiency of the powder format

By ingredient, yeast is expected to grow exponentially over the forecast period

By ingredients, the OTC probiotics supplement market is segmented as bacteria and yeast. The bacteria segment is estimated to hold a significant market share owing to the increasing demand for probiotics due to growing health awareness in developing countries like India and China. Additionally, new players are entering the market, opening the growth potential for the yeast segment over the forecast period. Lactobacillus has been one of the most commonly used probiotic strains. It can be found in supplements, and due to the health benefits of reducing cholesterol and preventing diarrhoea, it is widely accepted as a digestive supplement around the globe. Due to technological advancements in probiotic supplements, Lactobacillus is anticipated to witness exponential growth in the coming years. Besides, in recent years bifidobacterium probiotics have exploded popularity due to growing product launches. However, due to limited research activities, it has slowed its growth compared to lactobacilli. Streptococcus thermophilus-based probiotics are gaining popularity for promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the intestines. Studies have shown that they are widely used in combination with other probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

Recent Developments

Probi, a probiotics startup, and Perrigo an over-the-counter health and wellness company collaborated to launch immune and digestive health probiotics in Europe in 2021. They've agreed to provide premium probiotic digestion and immunological health concepts to 14 European nations on a semi-exclusive basis.

HOWARU Calm probiotic strain was introduced by DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences in January 2021. HOWARU Calm can be found in dietary supplements aimed at improving mental well-being and lowering stress levels.

Probi teamed with Oriflame to create probiotic supplements in June 2021. The new formula will include a scientifically validated probiotic strain that improves overall gut health and is based on Probi's Probi Digestis concept.

COVID-19 Impact

COVID-19 has a substantial economic and business impact. The pandemic led to a significant increase in the consumption of immunity-boosting foods and supplements, and the industry has seen a jump in demand for immune-boosting products, which has positively influenced the otc probiotic supplements market. As a consequence, a slew of new products has been introduced to suit the rising demand. Probiotics are well-known for their immune-boosting qualities, as they provide effective protection against gastrointestinal infections while also promoting the body's natural antibody synthesis.

Competitive Insights

Prominent key market players in the OTC probiotics supplement market include DuPont, Danone, Probi AB, Lifeway Foods, Inc., Kibow Biotech, Pharmavite LLC, Osmotica Pharmaceuticals Corp, Dietary Pros, Inc., and Royal DSM. The number of players in the OTC probiotics supplement market is large and growing, with the opportunity to generate significant revenues because of growing demand. The players in the global OTC probiotics supplement market are implementing various growth strategies to gain a competitive advantage over their competitors in this market. The company profiles section in the report details the business overview, financial performance (public companies) for the past few years, key products and services being offered, along with the recent deals and investments of these important players in the global OTC probiotics supplement market.

Segmentation:

By Form

• Capsules
• Tablets
• Powder
• Syrups

By Ingredients

• Bacteria
• Lactobacilli
• Bifidobacterium
• Streptococcus Thermophilus
• Yeast

By Distribution Channel

• Online
• Offline
• Drug stores and pharmacies

By Geography

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Europe
• Germany
• France
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel
• Asia Pacific
• China
• Japan
• India
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Taiwan