The rising public awareness of the health benefits of omega-3 and the growing popularity of health supplements have boosted the sales of omega-3 tablets and other omega-3 supplements across the world. Omega-3 is basically a group of essential fatty acids that are found in fish oils, particularly from salmon and various other cold-water fish and in several kinds of nuts and seeds. It is an incredibly important group of fatty acids required for the healthy functioning of the body. Unlike other fats, the human body can’t make omega-3 and so, it must be obtained through the diet.
The regular consumption of these fatty acids prevents the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and depression and reduces the cognitive decline of the body. As a result, the growing incidence of chronic diseases, especially in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is majorly responsible for the surging requirement for omega-3 supplements across the world. As per the findings of the World Health Organization (WHO), “9.6 million people died of cancers in 2018 and out of which around 70% were reported in LMICs”.
In addition to the aforementioned factors, the increasing demand for DHA is also boosting the sales of omega-3 tablets and other supplements. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is extremely essential for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Moreover, this fat promotes the brain development of infants, owing to which, the sales of DHA supplements are soaring all over the globe. Furthermore, the numerous health benefits of these supplements make them very popular among athletes. As omega-3 has anti-inflammatory properties, their regular consumption significantly reduces joint pain and the tenderness usually associated with arthritis.
Because of the above-mentioned factors, the sales of omega-3 supplements and food products are soaring throughout the world, which is, in turn, fueling the advancement of the global omega-3 market. Omega-3 is sold in the form of functional food ingredients, dietary supplements, infant nutrition formulas, pharmaceuticals, and veterinary supplements. Amongst these, the usage of omega-3 dietary supplements was found to be considerably high during the last few years. This is because these supplements are easily available in the market and can be consumed without completely altering the dietary routine.
Globally, the omega-3 market will exhibit huge expansion in both North America and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions in the future years, as per the estimates of P&S Intelligence, a market research firm based in India. This is ascribed to the fact that the people in these regions are increasingly purchasing the omega-3 supplements, because of the innumerable health benefits provided by these fatty acids. In the APAC region, the consumption of omega-3 is rapidly increasing in Australia, India, and China, on account of the rising consumption of fish oil and the growing public awareness of the health benefits of this fat.