Innovation in the dietary supplement industry appears to be on the rebound following pandemic disruptions. Opportunities to deliver general preventive health solutions as well as precise, indication-specific, and experiential benefits are plentiful in the U.S., where public health has suffered from poor nutrition and lifestyle habits.
 
Demand for dietary supplements has leveled off after Covid-induced sales peaks, but the market has a healthy base. Long-term prospects are bright considering young people in particular have demonstrated a clear interest and strong investment in nutrition products and non-pharmaceutical options.

Influence and content are more than buzzwords and will continue to play sizable roles in brand strategies. Who do people trust and where do they go for information about health trends and products?
 
Increasingly, social media platforms are the venue and registered dietitians, nutritionists, and researchers are seen as impartial resources unbound from credibility issues or conflicts of interest that plague government institutions.
 
Struggling to carry out its mandates, FDA is attempting to restructure its human foods program, which will have yet-unknown implications for the dietary supplement industry. At the same time, technologies like AI are accelerating into uncharted territory.
 
Transparency yields trust and it’s incumbent upon industry to develop a single lexicon in order to communicate with consumers honestly and openly, particularly about how products are made.
 
Reasonable and responsible industry players understand the stakes, as well as the benefits of open collaboration. Competition can be healthy, except for when it’s not. It is critical that stakeholders work together to call out dishonest and dangerous industry practices, to push the bar higher, and to develop safe, effective products that are supported by unimpeachable clinical research. Lead with (your own) science.
 
Especially as a community centered around health and nutrition, we all have a vested interest in the wellbeing of society. We are also all stakeholders in and caretakers of planet Earth.
 
We all need to factor for a changing world, in business and otherwise. Whether you are sourcing herbs and other raw materials, or deciding where to build a new factory, climate must be a consideration in your analysis.
 
The world today presents a complex and challenging environment to navigate. So don’t take my word for it. Hear from the thought leaders and subject matter experts who offered extensive commentary for our State of the Industry review, which we’ve divided into six parts.
 
Part 1: FDA Restructuring and FTC Activity
Part 2: Supplement Access, Safety, and CBD
Part 3: Communication, Education, and Trust
Part 4: Advanced/Advancing Technologies and Research
Part 5: Advocating Best Practices
Part 6: Business Trends and Innovation
 
Thank you for choosing to direct your attention here. We know how competitive that space has become too. If there’s a topic you’d like to see us cover, or if you have perspective to share, please send us a note. We always value the engagement of our audience.