02.12.15
There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is part of a healthy immune system response. However, chronic, low-grade tissue inflammation may lead to the pathogenesis of a variety of chronic diseases. Chronic inflammation plays an important role in diseases as apparently diverse as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and auto-immune diseases. Moreover, the less dramatic daily discomforts of life, such as chronic pain, depression, memory loss, general cognitive decline, and general muscle fatigue, all seem to be connected in some way to an underlying inflammatory condition.
Important market drivers for anti-inflammatory products include a general increasing consumer awareness of the connection between good nutrition and health, and particularly the notion that there are specific nutrients and food ingredients that have special functional properties needed to improve health.
Prevalence & Opportunity
For example, chronic pain and discomfort is an important public health problem affecting 116 million Americans. To put this problem in some perspective, this is more people than are affected by heart disease, diabetes and cancer—combined. Chronic inflammation is often an important component of the pathology of these pain-producing conditions. Common chronic conditions associated with the use of anti-inflammatory medications include people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.
The opportunity to use nutrients to address inflammation could complement the growing market for anti-inflammatory drugs, which is substantial and is likely to grow in the future. Moreover, with the predicted large increases of the elderly in many countries, and the growing obesity epidemic in both developed and developing countries, there is a huge potential market for products that can deliver efficacious doses of specific anti-inflammatory nutrients and bioactive compounds.
Important market drivers for anti-inflammatory products include a general increasing consumer awareness of the connection between good nutrition and health, and particularly the notion that there are specific nutrients and food ingredients that have special functional properties needed to improve health.
Prevalence & Opportunity
For example, chronic pain and discomfort is an important public health problem affecting 116 million Americans. To put this problem in some perspective, this is more people than are affected by heart disease, diabetes and cancer—combined. Chronic inflammation is often an important component of the pathology of these pain-producing conditions. Common chronic conditions associated with the use of anti-inflammatory medications include people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.
The opportunity to use nutrients to address inflammation could complement the growing market for anti-inflammatory drugs, which is substantial and is likely to grow in the future. Moreover, with the predicted large increases of the elderly in many countries, and the growing obesity epidemic in both developed and developing countries, there is a huge potential market for products that can deliver efficacious doses of specific anti-inflammatory nutrients and bioactive compounds.
