Dietary supplements are non-medical alternatives that benefit the health of consumers, in addition, they provide specific amounts of nutrients to complement what each person needs.

Those supplements that participate in improving people's living conditions are in high demand by users, because, since they do not contain drugs and, to a great extent, are of natural origin, they turn out to be favorite options for the adult age segments, mainly, a segment to which industry leaders aim with different beneficial products for their health.

The living conditions of these segments are affected by different reasons, such as the accelerated pace of life, lack of exercise and poor diet. As a consequence of these bad habits, different ailments are generated among a large percentage of the world's population, such as hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

With high cholesterol, fatty deposits may form blood vessels which, over time, grow and make it more difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries. Sometimes these deposits can break off and form clots that cause a heart attack or stroke. And this is just one of the risks of having high cholesterol, so, many consumers rely on supplements to reduce the risks of high cholesterol levels, and the main alternative to combat such threats is omega-3.

Foods such as fish and flaxseed are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and some dietary supplements such as fish oil also contain them.

The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood. On the other hand, ALA is an essential fatty acid obtained from food products or supplements, as the human body does not produce it. Omega-3 can be obtained from vegetable oils, mainly soybean and canola oils, seafood and flaxseed oil, including shellfish and oily fish.

Fatty acids help in various bodily functions, such as muscle activity, fertility, brain development and function, cell division and growth, digestion, blood clotting, a function that helps keep cholesterol levels level.

Globally, the value of the omega-3 market was estimated at $2.68 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound-annual rate of 7.8% during the forecast period (to 2028).

It was previously mentioned that the adult segment is the main focus for brands producing omega 3 dietary supplements, but increasing geriatric population, lifestyle changes and consumer awareness regarding health, good nutrition, sedentary lifestyles and disease prevalence are also expected to be focuses driving this market.

What do consumers prefer?

For the study, the analysis was divided into the three types of omega-3 fatty acids: DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). The significant omega-3s in marine sources such as fish oil are EPA and DHA, while plant sources provide mainly ALA.

ALA is an essential fatty acid. However, EPA and DHA offer greater health benefits, maintaining cholesterol levels and generating it in a level manner. DHA is necessary for the growth and functional development of the brain in infants and the maintenance of normal brain function in adults. It also improves learning ability and cardiovascular health.

Now, we know that Omega-3, whether obtained naturally or through supplements, participates in different body functions and at different ages, where the young segment (21 - 33 years old) stands out, showing more and more interest in preventing ailments when reaching adult ages (in addition to benefiting physical condition), therefore, it remains within the trends of organic consumption and nutritional sources as natural as possible.

And it's no wonder that the U.S. and Canada will dominate the global omega-3 market in 2020, where over the past few years there has been a growing awareness of weight loss and the benefits of eating healthy, resulting in an increased demand for omega-3.

What about presentations?

The market has seen a significant increase in sales of powdered dietary supplements and ready-to-drink organic beverages, although traditional formats such as softgels or capsules will always be an ideal choice for consumers.