Food is a significant part of any culture. Current cultural shifts and views are generating not only more health conscience consumers but ones that increasingly demand foods and supplements produced in environmentally sustainable ways.
Around the world, there is a significant rise in choosing to live a vegan lifestyle and forgo consuming or purchasing products acquired from animals. That includes meat, eggs, or dairy products.
The demand for vegan supplements is growing. If you want to produce a creative and highly-successful supplement, designing a vegan supplement is a great place to start!
Why do Vegans need dietary supplements?
The demand for vegan supplements is driven partially by the effects of the vegan diet. Although veganism has many positive impacts, such as a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and strokes, it is also associated with certain nutrient deficiencies.
Some nutrients are not as bioavailable in plant-based foods as they are in animal ones. A OnePoll survey of vegan adults in the U.K. found that nearly 30% of vegans had some type of nutrient deficiency.
Although vegans can survive without supplements, many health experts recommend that vegans take dietary supplements to prevent deficiencies.
The Growing Market for Vegan Supplements
According to Allied Market Research, the global vegan supplement market was $6.3 billion in 2019. They project the vegan market size will more than double by 2028.
There are several reasons for the increasing demand for vegan supplements.
More people are choosing to live a vegan lifestyle. Plant Proteins.co reports that since 2014 there has been a 500% increase in the number of vegans in the United States.
Even though vegans make up a small portion of the U.S. population, vegetarians and vegans are more likely than omnivores to use dietary supplements. New Hope Network reports vegetarians are 27% more likely to buy supplements than non-vegetarians.
Vegan athletes are especially interested in supplements. A study on endurance runners found that 66% of the vegan runners consumed supplements, whereas only 30% of omnivores took supplements. Well-known vegan athletes include Fiona Oakes, Serena Williams, and Kendrick Farris.
People are becoming more health-conscious. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 62% of surveyed USA citizens indicate that their health was more important to them now.
Cultural trends have also increased non-vegans interest in vegan supplements given vegan supplements are made of high-quality sustainable ingredients.
What Supplements Meet Vegan Nutritional Gaps?
The supplements best for vegans will be the ones that contain nutrients that are hard to obtain following a vegan diet. The most common nutrient deficiencies for vegans are vitamin B12, vitamin D, long-chain omega-3s, iron, calcium, and zinc.
Vitamin B12
Protein metabolism, red blood cell formation, nervous system function, and other body processes call for vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is so crucial that the Institute of Medicine recommends EVERYONE over age 51 consider taking B12 supplements to prevent a deficiency.
Studies show that vegans have a higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency than the rest of the populace. Vegans must either take B12 supplements or eat B12 fortified foods. Vegan B12 supplements are made from either cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is crucial for immune function, calcium and phosphorus absorption, and muscle recovery.
Most foods do not naturally contain vitamin D (and those that do are animal-based), and Vitamin D fortified foods do not provide enough vitamin D to meet the daily requirements. Thus, vitamin D deficiencies are common.
Sun exposure produces vitamin D. However, vitamin D production will be low for those who live in northern latitudes or spend little time outside. These people, especially those on a vegan diet, are highly recommended to take vitamin D supplements. Vegan-friendly vitamin D supplements are algae-based.
Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The structure of the brain and eyes requires long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Most sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are animal products.
Some people argue that eating enough essential omega 3-fatty acids will meet the need for long-chain omega-3s because the body can convert them from the essential fatty acids.
However, this conversion can be as low as 2% and is no higher than 10%.
Research shows that vegans have up to 50% lower blood and tissue levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids than people with a more typical diet. Researchers recommend vegans either double their consumption of essential omega 3-fatty acids or take supplements.
Iron
The synthesis of DNA and oxygen transport depends on iron.
There are two forms of iron: heme and non-heme. Only animal products have heme iron. Although non-heme iron is in plants, studies show that non-heme iron is more difficult for the body to absorb than heme iron.
For this reason, vegans should eat more than the RDA of iron or take supplements.
Calcium
Calcium is crucial to maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Muscle contraction and nerve signaling cascades also depend on calcium.
Most people get their calcium from dairy products. That’s not an option for vegans.
Although there are plant-based sources of calcium, such as kale and broccoli, many vegans are calcium deficient. Research shows that vegans who consume less than 525 mg of calcium daily are at a greater risk of bone fractures. Vegans should strongly consider calcium supplementation.
Zinc
Zinc is required for the body to heal itself, fight illness, metabolism, and more.
Very few plants contain high levels of zinc. Additionally, the phytate concentration in many plants limits zinc absorption. For this reason, vegetarians (and particularly vegans) have lower levels of zinc than the typical human omnivore. Vegetarians should consume 1.5x the recommended daily amount of zinc.
The above is not an exhaustive list of possible vegan supplements. For example, many vegans take protein supplements to help build muscle. The options for vegan supplements are truly endless.
Origin Nutraceutical
As a top-of-the-line supplement manufacturer, Origin Nutraceutical has the experience you need to create a sustainable, high-quality vegan supplement. Origin operates with third-party NSF-GMP (good manufacturing practices) certification.
In addition, you can rest assured consumers will know your brand can be trusted with our organic certification. Organic certification requires all ingredients and processes conform to the USDA’s organic requirements.
Now is the time to take advantage of the growing demand for vegan supplements. Contact us today to get started on developing your vegan supplement!
The content of Origin Nutraceutical’s website is for information only, not advice or guarantee of outcome. Information is gathered and shared from reputable sources; however, Origin Nutraceutical is not responsible for errors or omissions in reporting or explanation. No individuals, including those taking Origin Nutraceutical products, should use the information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnosis or self-treat any health-related condition. Origin Nutraceutical gives no assurance or warranty regarding the accuracy, timeliness or applicability of the content.
Sources:
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Petre, Alina. “7 Supplements You Need on a Vegan Diet”. Healthline. 2019. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-supplements-for-vegans#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
Chan, Jacqueline et al. “Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status of vegetarians, partial vegetarians, and nonvegetarians: the Adventist Health Study-2.” The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2009. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677010/
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