Dietary/health supplements can help reduce your risk of various health issues or boost your overall physical well-being.
Ireland’s minerals and vitamins market is expected to grow at a rate of 4.7 percent between 2025 and 2029. The country’s growing health-conscious population primarily drives the growing demand for these supplements in the over-the-counter pharmaceuticals market.
This article explores the main factors behind the growth of Ireland’s health supplement industry outlined by MyCore Supplements.
What are Health Supplements?
Dietary or health supplements can be defined as products like minerals and vitamins that are said to promote physical well-being. Healthcare providers normally recommend these products to people who lack various nutrients in their diets, are at risk of some conditions, or are suffering from specific health issues.
Commonly sold over the counter, health supplements include products like amino acids, minerals, herbs, enzymes, and vitamins. Examples of supplements include probiotics, fish oil, calcium, Vitamins D and C, life powders, and iron, among others.
These products can be sold in various forms, including nutrition bars, tablets, candies, capsules, energy drinks, powders, gummies, teas, and more.
Benefits of Health Supplements
Health/dietary supplements can be a good source of nutrients. They can be used to reduce a person’s risk of certain health issues and/or boost their overall physical well-being. Physicians may recommend supplements to people with various deficiencies. For instance, healthcare professionals may recommend:
Folic acid to pregnant women to reduce the risk of various birth defects
A mixture of copper, zeaxanthin, vitamins E and C, lutein, and zinc to people suffering from AMD (age-related macular degeneration)
Vitamin D and Calcium to strengthen weak bones
These benefits are fuelling the growing demand for health supplements in Ireland.
Factors Behind the Growth of the Health Supplement Industry in Ireland
The consistent growth of Ireland’s health supplements industry is attributed to the following factors.
Special Circumstances
A variety of special circumstances are contributing to the growing demand for health supplements among people living in Ireland. For starters, Ireland receives a limited amount of sunlight as a result of its geographical location. As such, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the population.
Secondly, Ireland’s focus on fitness and sports results in a high demand for health supplements that promote performance and boost recovery. Lastly, a significant proportion of Ireland’s population is aging. This means that more and more people are looking for minerals and vitamins known to boost the health and wellness of the elderly.
Consumer Needs
Ireland’s health supplements industry is experiencing upward growth as an increasing number of consumers become more health conscious. As they realize the importance of consistently consuming a balanced diet, more people are actively looking for products that can help them meet their nutritional requirements.
Consumers are moving towards natural supplements, which are considered to be healthier and more nutritious. A growing section of consumers is also leaning towards personalized nutrition. This means that more people are looking for specific nutrients that are in line with their personal wellness goals.
Market Trends
The growth of online shopping is also driving Ireland’s dietary supplements market. Due to the rising popularity of e-commerce platforms, consumers are finding it easier to purchase all sorts of supplements from the comfort of their homes.
The supplements market has seen tremendous growth as online retailers offer a wider variety of products. These retailers also offer a host of accompanying information covering ingredients, usage directions, and benefits of each product.
The use of supplements has also skyrocketed thanks to the marketing efforts of social media influencers. These popular personalities have a huge influence on consumer decisions. Many social media influencers have been promoting health supplements through their platforms, drawing the attention of consumers.
Macroeconomic Influences
The overall growth of Ireland’s economy has also had a positive impact on the health supplement market. To begin with, more and more people are willing to spend more money on health and wellness-related products thanks to increasing disposable income levels. Furthermore, many international companies focusing on the production and marketing of health supplements have entered the market. This means that consumers have a wide selection of options to choose from – making it easier for everyone to find exactly what they are looking for.
Preventative Healthcare
Instead of waiting for diseases to occur, preventative healthcare emphasises taking proactive measures to prevent health problems. Many people in Ireland are also taking health supplements as a means of preventing health issues before they arise. This results in greater demand for these products, which makes the market more attractive to investors and companies operating in the sector.
Existing Hurdles
Although the above factors fuel the growth of the supplements market, some hurdles remain.
Market constraints are slowing the growth of this market sector. It is true that Ireland’s population is healthier and lives longer than many countries in Europe. However, a huge proportion of the population still struggles with malnutrition. Depending on the size of the household, low-income earners can spend up to a third of their income on a decent bag of groceries. On top of this, behavioural risk factors like obesity and smoking also present a significant health-related risk.
Such factors may make the market seem a bit unappealing for new market entrants.
Final Thoughts
Ireland’s health supplements industry has grown steadily in recent years and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Various factors are fuelling this market segment’s growth. Changing consumer tastes, consistent economic growth, favourable market trends, and special local factors are pushing demand for dietary supplements upwards.
However, lifestyle factors like obesity and smoking may be a hurdle for greater growth. Limited budgets may also make it harder for some households to afford these supplements. To offset the negative impact of these factors on the performance of the supplements industry, the government has been actively pushing for healthier lifestyles and overall wellness.
For instance, the Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority—which oversees dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals, among other products—is focusing on ensuring that retailers only stock top-quality supplements. The National Health Fund is also willing to pay for health supplements in specific cases. In the long run, these policies may push the industry to greater heights.
