Market Challenges And Opportunities
Digestive Enzyme Market Drivers:
- Growing health consciousness and gut health awareness: The growing focus on preventive healthcare and rising health consciousness among consumers is a major factor driving the growth of the digestive enzymes market. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of gut health and its impact on overall wellbeing. The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in immune function, metabolism, vitamin synthesis and more. This has led to increasing demand for products that support digestive health and gut function. Consumer preference is shifting towards digestive supplements as a means of improving nutrient absorption, managing digestive disorders, and maintaining overall wellness. For instance, on August 31, 2023, Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc., a leading commercial-stage company focused on developing and commercializing novel enzyme-based products, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared expanded use of RELiZORB to children ages 2 to 5 years. RELiZORB is a digestive enzyme cartridge designed to mimic the function of pancreatic lipase.
- Increasing geriatric population and age-related digestive issues: The expanding geriatric population across the globe presents significant opportunities for the digestive enzymes market. Age-related digestive issues such as slower transit times, reduced stomach acid production, and decreased enzyme secretion lead to impaired digestion and nutrient absorption in the elderly. This drives the demand for digestive enzyme supplements to improve gut function. For instance, in October 2022, according to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2050, the world's population of people aged 60 years and older will be 2.1 billion. The rising susceptible aging population is expected to drive the adoption of digestive enzymes.
- Advancements in enzyme engineering technologies: Advances in biotechnology and enzyme engineering are enhancing the stability, specificity, and efficiency of digestive enzymes. The use of recombinant DNA technology and protein engineering has led to the development of improved enzyme formulations. Novel delivery mechanisms like enzyme microencapsulation are being used to protect enzymes from degradation. These advances are overcoming challenges like enzyme inactivation and are enabling the development of highly potent and targeted digestive enzyme supplements, thereby driving the market growth.
- Innovation in enzyme extraction processes: Manufacturers are developing innovative extraction and purification processes such as ultrafiltration, chromatography, and cold extraction to obtain enzymes in their most active forms. These advanced enzyme extraction techniques yield highly concentrated and purified enzyme formulations. Manufacturers are deriving enzymes from new sources such as fungi and yeast using fermentation technology. Such innovations in enzyme extraction and processing are improving enzyme quality and enabling the launch of novel products.
Digestive Enzyme Market Opportunities:
- Growing demand for plant-based and probiotic enzymes: The increasing consumer preference for plant-based and natural alternatives and increasing product launch presents significant opportunities for plant-derived digestive enzymes. Plant enzymes like papain, bromelain, aspergillopepsin are gaining traction due to their efficacy and safety. Growing research on probiotic bacteria as a source of digestive enzymes has expanded the application potential of probiotic enzymes. These possess added digestive and immune benefits. The development of plant-based and probiotic enzyme supplements catering to changing consumer preferences will widen market prospects. For instance, in June 2020, Enzymedica, a company that produces high quality natural digestive products, launched its new Kiwi Regularity chewable with 3X more enzyme activity for occasional constipation.
- Applications in food processing and animal feed: Enzyme usage in food processing for functions such as coagulation, tenderization, flavor enhancement, is fostering the growth of digestive enzymes in the food industry. Moreover, the supplementation of digestive enzymes in animal feed to boost nutrient absorption and gut health is gaining increasing traction. The growing use of enzymes for food quality enhancement and feed optimization will drive the market growth. For instance, on April 27 2023, according to a report published by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Bromelain is widely used in the food industry for meat tenderization, baking, cheese processing, seafood processing, and others.
- High costs associated with enzyme extraction and processing
- Side-effects and allergenicity concerns
Counterbalance: The side-effects, like allergenicity, that are associated with the digestive enzymes needs to be controlled thus reducing the apprehensibility among the consumers regarding the long-term use of enzyme supplementation.
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