According to Vision Research Reports, the global medical foods market size is projected to surpass US$ 33 billion by 2027 and is expected to grow at a rapid pace from 2020 to 2027.
Medical foods are a special group of FDA-regulated products that meet the distinctive dietary needs or metabolic defects of a medical illness. The current opinion among the public is that medical foods have the therapeutic potential to prevent and treat a long list of disorders. However, a significant gap has been observed between that assumption and the current evidence in the medical literature. The prevailing belief is that it is mainly young people that use medical food products. Nevertheless, older adults are increasingly using medical foods, and studies show varying incidence, depending on the region, from about 7% to more than one-third. The distinctive nutritional requirements associated with a disease reflect the overall amount a healthy person requires to sustain life or preserve homeostasis, modified for the distinctive changes in the patient's nutritional needs as a result of the disease process's effects on absorption, metabolism, and excretion.
Shift to Enteral Nutrition to Drive Medical Foods Market
The nutrition administration has seen a change in the trend from parenteral feed absorption to enteral feeding (absorption through the gastrointestinal tract) methods such as intravenous administration. Enteral administration is better than parenteral administration due to low chance of contamination and physiological advantages such as retaining small intestine mass and pancreatic function. Nutrients or medical foods can be delivered to the body in various formats such as capsules or tablets instead of sterile liquids or rehydratable powders, owing to technological advances such as the availability of chemical constituents to allow microencapsulation.
Companies Target Nutritionally Complete Medical Foods to Prevent Malnutrition in Individuals
Apart from metabolic disorders, companies in the medical foods market such as producer of functional nutrition solutions SternLife, is acquiring proficiency to produce supplementary medical foods for the prevention of malnutrition. The demand for nutritionally complete medical foods is surging in patients suffering from malnutrition. As such, companies in the medical foods market are increasing their production capabilities in bars, powders, and thickening agents. This is evident since the revenue of powdered products is expected to register aggressive growth in the market for medical foods.
Emerging pharmaceutical companies are collaborating with key market players to help the latter expand their private label clinical nutrition offerings. They are increasing efforts to provide full service assistance by gaining efficacy in the formulation of medical food supplements.
Leniency by FDA for Health Claims to Boost Uptake of Products
Microbes and medical foods are gaining commercial importance in the global market landscape. Companies in the medical foods market are increasing their R&D muscle to develop products that meet requirements of the FDA such as products intended for oral intake or administered enterally. They are innovating in products that cater to distinctive nutritional requirements and are based on recognized scientific principles in order to boost uptake of products. Other opportunities such as leniency by the FDA for health claims in products are helping manufacturers to effectively market their products.
Companies are getting involved in careful planning activities to adequately substantiate the health claims in products. On the other hand, manufacturers are increasing their production capabilities to introduce modified carbohydrate and fat enteral formula that are designed for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or respiratory failure.
Innovative Protein Substitutes Gain High Demand in Pediatrics Domain
The high prevalence of patients with metabolic disorders in the U.K. have become a growing concern for medical insurance companies due to a rise in insurance claims. Hence, companies in the medical foods market such as leading pharmaceutical company Galen announced the launch of PKU EASY Microtabs for patients with metabolic disorders in February 2020. Such product offerings are bolstering the growth for the medical foods market, which is estimated to reach a value of US$ 33.3 Bn by 2030.
The revenue of metabolic disorders is projected for exponential growth in the market for medical foods. Hence, pharmaceutical companies are introducing palatable alternatives to conventional protein substitutes available in the market. These innovative protein substitutes are targeting toward children aged eight and above in order to manage incurable medical conditions such as phenylketonuria. Since high number of babies every year are born with inherited metabolic disorders, companies are increasing their focus to innovate in new protein substitutes.
Powder Type to Lead Global Market
In terms of product type, the global medical foods market has been classified into pills, powder, liquids, and others. The powder segment is anticipated to dominate the global medical foods market during the forecast period. The availability of a large number of powdered medical foods and new product developments such as nutraceuticals for cancer and diabetes patients to address unmet medical needs drive the segment. Moreover, usage of powdered medical foods as clinical nutrition supplement of various medical conditions such as neurological and psychological disorders, metabolic disorder, pain management, gastrointestinal disorders, and ophthalmology is expected to fuel the growth of the segment.
Diabetes to Offer Lucrative Opportunities to Global Market
Based on application, the global medical foods market has been categorized into diabetes, cancer, neurological & psychological disorders, metabolic disorder, pain management, gastrointestinal disorders, ophthalmology, and others. The diabetes segment is likely to dominate the global medical foods market during the forecast period. High prevalence of diabetes and growing research activities for development of medical foods for management of sugar levels in cancer patients are expected to propel the segment.
Retail Pharmacies to Dominate Global Market
In terms of distribution channel, the global medical foods market has been segregated into pharmacies & drug stores, online channels, supermarkets & hypermarkets, and others. High rate of establishment of retail pharmacies drives the pharmacies & drug stores segment. Increase in approvals for sale of medical foods at pharmacies & drug stores and added benefits provided by the products surely affect sales. These factors are likely to augment the segment during the forecast period.
Medical Foods Market: Prominent Regions
In terms of region, the global medical foods market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America dominated the global medical foods market in 2018, followed by Europe. The U.S. holds the largest market in North America. Increase in customer awareness about health and well-being paired with rise in healthcare cost is driving the demand for medical foods in the region. Additionally, high birth rate is one of the major drivers in the region. In 2017, the birth rate in the U.S. was 13 per thousand people compared to less than 10 per thousand people in several countries in Europe. Moreover, malnutrition is a common problem affecting the lives of millions of people globally, including North America. Malnutrition is a condition that occurs due to the deficiency of essential nutrients in the body. Clinical nutrition is considered the most effective way to treat malnutrition, thereby reducing the overall healthcare cost.
Launch of Innovative Products and M&A by Key Players to Augment Global Market
The global medical foods market is highly fragmented, with a large number of players holding a majority share of the domestic market. Development and commercialization of medical food products is one of the key trends in the global medical foods market. Moreover, companies are engaged in broadening product offerings in medical foods and strengthening positions in the global market. Prominent players operating in the global medical foods market include Nestlé S.A., Danone S.A., Abbott Laboratories, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Targeted Medical Pharma, Inc., Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc., Meiji Holdings and Co., Ltd., Cerecin Inc., and Metagenics, Inc.
Market Segmentation
By Product Type
By Application
By Distribution Channel
By Region
Scope of the Report
VRR’s report on the global medical foods market studies the past as well as current growth trends and opportunities to gain valuable insights of these indicators for the market during the forecast period from 2020 to 2027. The report provides the revenue of the global medical foods market for the period 2016–2027, considering 2020 as the base year and 2030 as the forecast year. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the global medical foods market for the forecast period.
The report has been prepared after an extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research involved bulk of research efforts, wherein analysts carried out interviews with industry leaders and opinion makers. Extensive secondary research involved referring to key players’ literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents to understand the global medical foods market. Secondary research also includes Internet sources, statistical data from government agencies, websites, and trade associations. Analysts have also employed a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches to study various phenomena in the global medical foods market. The report includes an elaborate executive summary, along with a snapshot of the growth behavior of various segments and sub-segments included in the scope of the study. Additionally, the report sheds light on the changing competitive dynamics in the global medical foods market. These indices serve as valuable tools for existing market players as well as for entities interested in participating in the global medical foods market. The next section of the global medical foods market report highlights the USPs, which include drivers & restraints affect analysis, value chain analysis, key mergers & acquisitions, regulatory scenario, disease prevalence, and incidence rate on top players operating in the market for medical foods, and qualitative analysis of medical foods.
Key Questions Answered in Medical Foods Market Report
Research Objectives and Research Approach
The comprehensive report on the global medical foods market begins with an overview of the market, followed by the scope and objectives of the study. The report provides detailed explanation of the objectives of the study and health care compliances laid down by accredited agencies in the purview of research in the global medical foods market. It is followed by market introduction, market dynamics, and an overview of the global medical foods market, which includes the VRR analysis of market drivers, restraints, and trends affecting the growth of the global market. Moreover, Y-o-Y analysis with elaborate insights has been provided to understand the Y-o-Y trends of the global medical foods market. For reading comprehensibility, the report has been compiled in a chapter-wise layout, with each section further divided into smaller ones. The entire report comprises an exhaustive collection of graphs and tables that are appropriately interspersed in the entire compilation. Pictorial representation of actual and projected values of key segments is visually appealing to readers. This also allows comparison of the market shares of key segments in the past and at the end of the forecast period. Revenue generated by key medical foods manufacturers has been mapped to ascertain the size of the global medical foods market in terms of revenue. The forecast presented here assesses the total revenue generated by medical foods.
The report also delves into the competition landscape of the global medical foods market. Key players operating in the global medical foods market have been identified, and each one of these has been profiled for distinguishing business attributes. Company overview, financial standing, recent developments, and SWOT are some of the attributes of players profiled in the global medical foods treatment market report.
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1. Research Objective
1.2. Scope of the Study
1.3. Definition
Chapter 2. Research Methodology
2.1. Research Approach
2.2. Data Sources
2.3. Assumptions & Limitations
Chapter 3. Executive Summary
3.1. Market Snapshot
Chapter 4. Market Variables and Scope
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Market Classification and Scope
4.3. Industry Value Chain Analysis
4.3.1. Raw Material Procurement Analysis
4.3.2. Sales and Distribution Channel Analysis
4.3.3. Downstream Buyer Analysis
Chapter 5. Market Dynamics Analysis and Trends
5.1. Market Dynamics
5.1.1. Market Drivers
5.1.2. Market Restraints
5.1.3. Market Opportunities
5.2. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
5.2.1. Bargaining power of suppliers
5.2.2. Bargaining power of buyers
5.2.3. Threat of substitute
5.2.4. Threat of new entrants
5.2.5. Degree of competition
Chapter 6. Competitive Landscape
6.1.1. Company Market Share/Positioning Analysis
6.1.2. Key Strategies Adopted by Players
6.1.3. Vendor Landscape
6.1.3.1. List of Suppliers
6.1.3.2. List of Buyers
Chapter 7. Global Medical Foods Market, By Route of Administration
7.1. Medical Foods Market, By Route of Administration Type, 2020-2030
7.1.1. Oral
7.1.1.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
7.1.2. Enteral
7.1.2.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
Chapter 8. Global Medical Foods Market, By Product
8.1. Medical Foods Market, By Product, 2020-2030
8.1.1. Pills
8.1.1.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
8.1.2. Powder
8.1.2.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
8.1.3. Others
8.1.3.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
Chapter 9. Global Medical Foods Market, By Application
9.1. Medical Foods Market, By Application, 2020-2030
9.1.1. Chronic Kidney Disease
9.1.1.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.2. Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
9.1.2.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.3. Chemotherapy-induced Diarrhea
9.1.3.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.4. Pathogen Related Infections
9.1.4.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.5. Diabetic Neuropathy
9.1.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.6. ADHD
9.1.6.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.7. Depression
9.1.7.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.8. Alzheimer's Disease
9.1.8.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.9. Nutritional Deficiency
9.1.9.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
9.1.10. Orphan Diseases
9.1.10.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
Chapter 10. Global Medical Foods Market, By Sales Channel
10.1. Medical Foods Market, By Sales Channel, 2020-2030
10.1.1. Online Sales
10.1.1.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
10.1.2. Retail Sales
10.1.2.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
10.1.3. Institutional Sales
10.1.3.1. Market Revenue and Forecast (2016-2030)
Chapter 11. Global Medical Foods Market, Regional Estimates and Trend Forecast
11.1. North America
11.1.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.1.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.1.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.1.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.1.5. U.S.
11.1.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.1.5.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.1.5.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.1.5.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.1.6. Rest of North America
11.1.6.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.1.6.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.1.6.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.1.6.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.2. Europe
11.2.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.2.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.2.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.2.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.2.5. UK
11.2.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.2.5.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.2.5.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.2.5.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.2.6. Germany
11.2.6.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.2.6.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.2.6.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.2.6.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.2.7. France
11.2.7.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.2.7.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.2.7.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.2.7.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.2.8. Rest of Europe
11.2.8.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.2.8.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.2.8.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.2.8.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.3. APAC
11.3.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.3.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.3.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.3.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.3.5. India
11.3.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.3.5.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.3.5.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.3.5.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.3.6. China
11.3.6.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.3.6.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.3.6.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.3.6.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.3.7. Japan
11.3.7.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.3.7.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.3.7.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.3.7.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.3.8. Rest of APAC
11.3.8.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.3.8.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.3.8.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.3.8.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.4. MEA
11.4.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.4.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.4.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.4.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.4.5. GCC
11.4.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.4.5.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.4.5.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.4.5.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.4.6. North Africa
11.4.6.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.4.6.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.4.6.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.4.6.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.4.7. South Africa
11.4.7.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.4.7.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.4.7.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.4.7.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.4.8. Rest of MEA
11.4.8.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.4.8.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.4.8.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.4.8.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.5. Latin America
11.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.5.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.5.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.5.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.5.5. Brazil
11.5.5.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.5.5.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.5.5.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.5.5.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
11.5.6. Rest of LATAM
11.5.6.1. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Route of Administration (2016-2030)
11.5.6.2. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Product (2016-2030)
11.5.6.3. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Application (2016-2030)
11.5.6.4. Market Revenue and Forecast, By Sales Channel (2016-2030)
Chapter 12. Company Profiles
12.1. Danone
12.1.1. Company Overview
12.1.2. Product Offerings
12.1.3. Financial Performance
12.1.4. Recent Initiatives
12.2. Nestle Nutrition
12.2.1. Company Overview
12.2.2. Product Offerings
12.2.3. Financial Performance
12.2.4. Recent Initiatives
12.3. Abbott Nutrition
12.3.1. Company Overview
12.3.2. Product Offerings
12.3.3. Financial Performance
12.3.4. Recent Initiatives
12.4. Targeted Medical Pharma, Inc.
12.4.1. Company Overview
12.4.2. Product Offerings
12.4.3. Financial Performance
12.4.4. Recent Initiatives
12.5. Primus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
12.5.1. Company Overview
12.5.2. Product Offerings
12.5.3. Financial Performance
12.5.4. Recent Initiatives
12.6. Mead Johnson & Company, LLC.
12.6.1. Company Overview
12.6.2. Product Offerings
12.6.3. Financial Performance
12.6.4. Recent Initiatives
12.7. Medtrition, Inc.
12.7.1. Company Overview
12.7.2. Product Offerings
12.7.3. Financial Performance
12.7.4. Recent Initiatives
12.8. Fresenius Kabi AG
12.8.1. Company Overview
12.8.2. Product Offerings
12.8.3. Financial Performance
12.8.4. Recent Initiatives
Chapter 13. Research Methodology
13.1. Primary Research
13.2. Secondary Research
13.3. Assumptions
Chapter 14. Appendix
14.1. About Us
Glossary of Terms
Cross-segment Market Size and Analysis for
Mentioned Segments
Additional Company Profiles (Upto 5 With No Cost)
Additional Countries (Apart From Mentioned Countries)
Country/Region-specific Report
Go To Market Strategy
Region Specific Market DynamicsRegion Level Market Share Import Export AnalysisProduction AnalysisOthers