The medical foods market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The size of the medical foods market has seen robust growth over the recent years. The market is expected to expand from $22.8 billion in 2024 to $24.6 billion in 2025, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%.
The significant growth during the historic period can be linked to heightened instances of chronic diseases, advancements in medical and nutritional science, a rising elderly population, increased awareness of nutrition's role in managing health, and regulatory support towards medical foods.
The medical foods market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• The market for medical foods is predicted to experience significant expansion in the coming years, with a projected growth to $33.61 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%.
The reasons for this anticipated rise during the forecast period include an increase of preventative healthcare awareness, a growing requirement for tailored nutrition, expanded use for metabolic disorder treatments, the evolution of nutrigenomics and custom medicine and a boosted interest in functional foods from consumers. Moreover, the forthcoming trends will revolve around the creation of medical foods specifically designed for certain conditions, a partnership between the food and pharmaceutical sectors, growth of distribution channels, including e-commerce, digital technology incorporation for personalized nutrition, and a stress on clean-label and natural ingredients in medical foods.
The escalation in the number of aging individuals plays a substantial role in the expansion of the medical foods market. Aging, on a cellular and molecular level, is a result of the accumulation of biomolecular damage over time. This culminates in a progressive decrease in functional capacity, heightened risk of disease, and eventually, mortality. The relationship between these changes and chronological age remains loosely connected, contrasting the common misconception that they are linear or constant. As individuals age, their reliance on specific nutritional foods including medical foods used to maintain health against chronic and age-related diseases, intensifies. For instance, a report issued in October 2022 by the World Health Organization (WHO), a Switzerland-based agency charged with global public health, predicts that by 2030 one out of every six people globally will be aged 60 or over. Moreover, by 2050, the global population of people aged 60 and over is projected to reach 2.1 billion. Consequently, the growth in the elderly population is anticipated to give a substantial boost to the medical foods market.
The medical foods market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Type: Pills, Powder, Other Types
2) By Application: Alzheimer's Disease, Diabetic Neuropathy, Nutritional Deficiency, ADHD, Other Applications
3) By Sales Channel: Retail Sales, Online Sales, Institutional Sales
Subsegments:
1) By Pills: Tablets, Capsules, Softgels
2) By Powder: Nutritional Powders, Fiber Powders
3) By Other Types: Liquid Formulations, Ready-To-Drink Products, Functional Bars And Snacks
Leading enterprises in the medical foods market are venturing into innovative product development, such as foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), with an aim to reach a wider consumer demographic, boost sales, and augment revenue. Foods for special medical purposes (FSMP) constitute a distinct class of products specially designed for those grappling with specific medical conditions, ailments, or diseases. For instance, Nestle, a Swiss-based food corporation, launched a product named Si Yi Su in July 2022. Si Yi Su is a special medical purpose food devised for individuals battling tumor-related health conditions. The distinguishing attribute of Si Yi Su lies in its composition, encompassing arginine, omega-3 from fish oil, nucleotides, and other critical nutritional constituents. This precise mix is curated to specifically target inflammation and strengthen the weakened immune system of patients.
Major companies operating in the medical foods market include:
• Nestlé SA
• Danone SA
• Fresenius Kabi AG
• Mead Johnson & Company LLC
• Primus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Abbott Nutrition Inc.
• Accera Inc.
• Ajinomoto Cambrooke Inc.
• Applied Food Sciences Inc.
• Cambrooke Therapeutics Inc.
• Danone Nutricia North America Inc.
• Health and Happiness (H&H) Group Limited
• RFI Ingredients LLC
• Solace Nutrition LLC
• Targeted Medical Pharma Inc.
• VAYA Pharma Inc.
• Baxter Healthcare Corporation
• Braun Melsungen AG
• DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences
• Enteral Nutrition Holdings Inc.
• Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA
• Nutricia North America Inc.
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
• Koninklijke DSM NV
• Total Parenteral Nutrition Solutions Inc.
North America was the largest region in the medical foods market in 2024.Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the medical foods market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa