NutraIngredients NutraCast

From fibermaxxing to genetically engineered probiotics, consumers are embracing products that help them optimize everyday life. As biotech gains traction, a new generation of supplements designed to deliver targeted health benefits is emerging.

Hydration has evolved beyond simply replacing electrolytes. Today’s consumers expect products that are effective, enjoyable and emotionally engaging, prompting brands to rethink how functional beverages are developed and marketed.

Beta-alanine has long been one of sports nutrition’s most established performance ingredients, but it has also carried a challenge: paresthesia—that tingling, itchy sensation many consumers experience after use. While some users embrace the feeling, others find it uncomfortable.

Jordan Brannon, president and co-founder of Coalition Technologies, breaks down why many supplement brands don’t always appear in AI-generated search results despite investing in content creation. He explained how visibility in platforms like ChatGPT differs from traditional SEO and why brands need to rethink how they structure, distribute and reinforce their online messaging.

What started as a military solution for fatigue has evolved into one of the more unexpected formats in performance nutrition: Military Energy Gum (MEG). The chewable delivery system was originally developed for warfighters and has become the first gum product to become NSF Certified for Sport certification.

As India’s nutraceutical sector continues to accelerate onto the global stage, the upcoming Nutrify C-Suite SumFlex Summit in Mumbai is positioning itself less as a traditional conference and more as a high-level working boardroom for industry leaders.

Biotech company Pendulum Therapeutics is expanding beyond probiotics with the launch of Gut Fuel, a prebiotic fiber and polyphenol blend designed to support gut microbiome function and metabolic health.

For years, energy drinks have been built around one simple promise: more stimulation. But as consumers start using these beverages as part of everyday wellness and performance routines, the category is beginning to evolve.

As AI tools reshape how consumers discover dietary supplements, brands may be chasing the wrong signals, according to HALO Comms co-founder Derek De Vette. With more than 30 years of experience advising organizations across technology and consumer sectors, he offers a long-view perspective on how communications strategy is evolving in the age of AI.

Longevity continues to dominate wellness, largely driven by the buzz around peptides, wearables and high-tech interventions. However, Dr. Karan Rajan, founder of prebiotic fiber brand LOAM, says one of the most evidence-backed drivers of long-term health is something far less flashy: fiber.

After helping scale Garden of Life into a category leader, founders Brian Upton and Hank Ramsey are starting over with Elevate Organic—a new supplement brand they founded along with Matt Borden. The brand centers around clinical validation, transparency and regenerative sourcing – something they say sets them apart from competitors.

Dietary supplement brands selling on Amazon face a new compliance hurdle as the platform prepares to roll out an updated policy on March 31 that will increase scrutiny of product listings.

The dietary supplement industry often talks about scaling brands, supply chain pressure and navigating regulatory scrutiny, but the teamwork required to execute it is often left out of the conversation.

When CEO Irene Rojas Stanbury could not find relief for her own perimenopausal symptoms, she decided to create the solution herself. Teaming up with her mother, Dr. Maria Stanbury, a gynecologist with over 30 years of experience, they developed SEASON34, a dietary supplement line specifically designed for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Data science and AI solutions provider Tredence said AI is changing how businesses operate and even think, with retailers going from being ‘just a retail company’ to certified technology companies.

Dr. Oscar Coetzee, VP of education and clinical support at Designs for Health, shared his unconventional career journey from psychology to nutritional science and how he still applies much of his background to his current work.

The biggest barrier to clinical research is not always science, it is often access. Zeenia Framroze, CEO of Alethios, saw the inequity and decided to do something about it.

A new trend report examines why consumers are tapping into functional foods over supplements for fiber, how GLP-1 users are driving prebiotic adoption and why diverse fiber formulations outperform single-prebiotic strategies.

Banned Substances Control Group’s Oliver Catlin recently partnered with the Associated Press to expose something shocking: research peptides marketed as “laboratory chemicals” are flooding mainstream platforms like Amazon and Alibaba.

New research from Chemi Nutra highlights how GLP-1 users want to maintain the benefits of the medication while feeling like their former selves, revealing a significant gap in addressing the broader physiological and psychological impacts of weight loss meds.

Tariffs meant to boost U.S. manufacturing might actually be pushing companies away from American investment. Chase Johnston, vice president of operations at Arjuna Natural, breaks down how rapidly shifting tariff rates are creating chaos for the India-based botanical manufacturer.

Despite nutrition playing a critical role in preventing chronic diseases, the subject is not sufficiently incorporated into medical education. However, a movement is underway to change that.

While bacteria often dominates microbiome discussions, the mycobiome—the fungal community within our bodies—plays an equally crucial role in health, particularly as we age.

Walt Pebley, chief scientific officer at OFD Life Sciences, gives listeners a guided tour of the evolution of freeze-drying. The lyophilization vet has spent more than four decades pushing the boundaries of freeze-drying—transforming it from a preservation method into a platform for scientific and nutritional innovation.

The company behind Smart Water Coolers just launched Focus Blend, a functional enhancement that combines caffeine, L-theanine, magnesium and B vitamins for sharper focus. The offering was inspired by the growing focus crisis.

Nutritional maternal health in the U.S. has high rates of nutrient deficiencies, leading to risks like anemia, preeclampsia, low birth weight and significantly higher maternal mortality rates.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition is ringing the alarm on two bills, one impacting pregnant women in California, the other, minors in New York.

Nielsen IQ recently released its The Next Frontier of Wellness Report. The leading global consumer intelligence company identified several trends shaping the industry.

Once dominated by a few established brands that relied on high-sugar, high-caffeine formulas for an energy boost, today’s energy drink market is larger, more fragmented and healthier than that of the early 2000s.

Demand for weight management supplements is on the rise, with the global market size estimated at over 33 billion currently and projected to reach over 71 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. The demand for natural and clinically-backed weight management supplements is largely driven by increasing obesity rates, growing health and wellness awareness and the demand for effective solutions.

Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is a vital nutrient that plays a pivotal role in cell growth and development. The CDC recommends all women capable of becoming pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects in a baby’s developing brain and spine. But what is folate’s role outside of pregnancy?

As awareness of gut health grows, so do more specific areas of the microbiome, such as gut-brain axis, the gut-skin axis and the gut-hormone axis. For women, this hormonal link is the estrobolome, which encompasses the bidirectional communication system between the gut and the endocrine system.

BioLongevity Labs is a health optimization company that focuses on peptides, bioregulators and small molecules. While much of the biohacking community knows about these compounds, general awareness is low, with only 3% of Americans familiar with therapeutic peptides, according to BioLongevity Labs Cofounder Hunter Williams.

Although a large majority of pregnant women in the United States use prenatal vitamins, not all are created equal—and most have not been studied in their final, finished form. In fact, women of ‘childbearing potential’ were banned from U.S. clinical studies until 1993.

Trends are always a hot topic, but what about reasoning behind those trends? What motivations, social dynamics and experiences shape our decisions when we purchase products like creatine or ashwagandha, for example?

It’s no secret that direct sellers and multi-level marketers have suffered in recent years with the rise of social media. Last year Rodan + Fields announced plans to move away from its multi-level direct selling model and earlier this year many were shocked to hear that Modere would shut down after 23 years in business.

Xoted Biotechnology Labs is putting science and sustainability at the forefront by launching a new R&D facility in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Ostia Sciences Inc. and EXPERT’Biome recently announced a new oral care probiotic through contract development and manufacturing organization Lallemand to launch clinical trials.

London-based Zest is offering a Precision Memory Assessment (PREMAZ) test, which aims to detect subtle cognitive changes that may occur decades before dementia symptoms arise.

Evvy, a vaginal microbiome testing and care company, launched in 2021 with a mission to close the gender health gap by leveraging overlooked female biomarkers. Through its platform, the company has built the world’s largest dataset on the vaginal microbiome and is using this novel data to drive better outcomes in women’s health.

Athletes often rely on dietary supplements to take their performance up a notch, but poor quality supplements could also be what holds them back if they’re not vigilant. That’s where certification programs come in.

Kerry Group recently released its Supplement Taste Charts using the latest consumer insights and trend data for the flavors driving demand.

OmniActive Health Technologies has released a new survey, offering insights the company considers essential for guiding the development of future health products that align with evolving consumer needs.

Research in women’s health, mental health, sleep and longevity has long been underfunded despite growing demand for innovation in these vital areas. Susanne Mitschke, co-founder of contract research organization Citruslabs, believes that robust clinical trials are essential to closing this gap.

Phil Vigeant, CEO and cofounder of PlantFusion, says active consumers should consider plant protein.

While women have been historically underserved, the last decade has witnessed a rise in products dedicated to improving women’s health—tackling issues such as fertility, pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, pelvic health, sexual wellness and more.

McKinsey’s ‘Future of Wellness’ report found that nearly one in five consumers and one in three millennials in the U.S. prefer personalized wellness solutions. Pelin Thorogood of Radicle Science says that today, more than ever, advanced technologies like AI are accelerating a seismic shift toward personalization.

Consumer surveys have informed market research since the late 1800s, but traditional methods only scratch the surface—prompting one company to push behavioral research boundaries by accessing the subconscious drivers of ingredient preferences.

Los Angeles-based Axiom Foods recently debuted Oryzatein 2.0, the first patented plant protein with no detectable levels of lead, according to independent lab tests.

The dietary supplement industry relies heavily on other regions for ingredients. With today’s ever-changing geopolitical climate, Craig Koffler, VP of sales at the Freemen Nutra Group says that diversifying the supply chain is no longer optional — it’s essential.