Nutrients + Functional Ingredients Lead The Way

　　Amino acids are used to enhance the taste of food, to adjust the body's physiological status and to restore the growth and developmental effects of depletion. As research into the physiological functions of various amino acids continues to progress, amino acids continue to play a role as a "nutrient + functional ingredient" and are being explored in functional food applications such as sports nutrition and immune health. In recent years, the market for dietary supplements to supplement dietary deficiencies in amino acids, or to provide functionalities of amino acids themselves, has been growing.

　　Fuji Economy has released "Recent Trends in Food Ingredients Related to Immune Function Enhancement", in which BCAA, L-Arginine, L-Carnitine and L-Theanine with relaxation functions are used as functional ingredients in various applications such as sports dietary supplements. According to the Japan Sports Agency's "Social Survey on the Status of Exercise 2020" released in February this year, the proportion of adults who exercise more than once a week is 59.9%, with a 10% year-on-year increase for women aged 20-49 and a 10% year-on-year increase for men aged 30-39 by age group. Against the backdrop of reduced opportunities to go out and insufficient exercise due to the new crown epidemic, there has been a huge increase in the number of people taking the initiative to exercise and maintain their bodies.

　　Supporting the Japanese sports nutrition market are protein and amino acids. According to data released by Meiji, the protein powder market will be around JPY 77 billion in 2020, a threefold increase compared to five years ago. In terms of amino acids, the market is dominated by creatine, citrulline and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutane (HMB), with new ingredients such as beta-alanine also making their way onto the market. The "amino VITAL" series from Otsuka Pharmaceutical, the "VAAM" series from Meiji, the PB brand "amino acid x taurine GOLD" from drugstore chains, and the "HMB 8" series from Matsumoto HMB 85500" by Kiyoshi are among the best-selling amino acid functional foods in Japanese pharmacies.

　　"BCAA showed a growing trend" "EAA and HMB increased in demand compared to the previous year" "Citrulline and ornithine were in higher supply" "Higher orders for mixtures of beta-alanine and protein powder" "Positive market for arginine as an ingredient for energy drinks" are some of the feedbacks from Japanese ingredient suppliers that also show the strong growth of the amino acid health food market in Japan.

　　Ageing is also driving sales of HMB, which is very popular in the Japanese market, with 67 HMB products having been registered as functional labelled food products as of 2 September this year, currently claiming to maintain muscle strength, with HMB applications focused on three main areas: sports nutrition, muscle health for the elderly and weight and body shape control.

　　In China, HMB has been approved as a new resource food in 2011 and expanded its application in 2017, and can now be used in beverages, milk and dairy products, cocoa products, chocolate and chocolate products, confectionery, baked goods, sports nutrition foods and special medical use formulations.

　　However, at present, most amino acids in China can only be used as food additives, and the market and consumer awareness of amino acid functional foods is not yet complete. In the future, the amino acid functional food market will need to be further developed.