China Clinical Nutrition Market Analysis

China Clinical Nutrition Market Executive Summary

The China Clinical Nutrition Market is at around $2465.5 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $3917.8 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.84% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

Clinical nutrition is the application of nutrition principles to promote health and prevent disease in individuals, particularly in a healthcare setting. It involves assessing patients' nutritional needs, creating personalized nutrition plans, and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve health outcomes. Clinical nutrition centres on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of nutritional changes in patients linked to chronic diseases and conditions primarily in health care. Clinical in this sense refers to the management of patients, including not only outpatients at clinics and in private practice, but also inpatients in hospitals. It incorporates primarily the scientific fields of nutrition and dietetics. Furthermore, clinical nutrition aims to maintain a healthy energy balance, while also providing sufficient amounts of nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals to patients.

Clinical malnutrition refers to a condition that can be treated with clinical intervention by using specialized nutrients that are considered proper medications rather than as supplements. Clinical nutrition products are useful in maintaining the patient's health and enable the improvement of the body's metabolic system by providing adequate supplements, such as minerals, vitamins, and other supplements. The clinical nutrition sector is undergoing a transformation fuelled by progress in medical research and technology. Key trends such as innovative formulations, personalized nutrition solutions, and the use of bioactive ingredients are emerging. Manufacturers are dedicating resources to R&D to produce products that not only fulfil fundamental nutritional requirements but also provide added health advantages. This emphasis on innovation is fostering competition among industry participants, resulting in a constant flow of new products and therapies tailored to various patient demographics.

Clinical nutritionists or registered dietitians work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities to, assess patients' nutritional status, develop personalized nutrition plans, provide nutrition education, manage nutrition-related diseases like diabetes, malnutrition etc, support optimal health and well-being. Some areas of focus in clinical nutrition include, critical care nutrition, paediatric nutrition, oncology nutrition, gastrointestinal nutrition, sports nutrition etc.

China is experiencing a rapid rise in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, affected over 290 million people in China in 2020 and Diabetes, affected over 130 million adults in China in 2020, the highest number of any country in the world. The major drivers of Clinical Nutrition industry in China are, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and metabolic disorders, aging population, increasing awareness of the importance of nutrition for health, product innovations and technological advancements, government initiatives and rising healthcare expenditure, rising incidence of malnutrition especially in paediatric patients.

Some of the major players operating in the China Clinical Nutrition market are CSPC Pharmaceuticals Group, Fancl Corporation, Health Food Company, Amway, Pfizer, Bayer among others.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: China is experiencing a rapid rise in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, affected over 290 Mn people in China in 2020 and Diabetes, affected over 130 Mn adults in China in 2020. This is driving the demand for specialized clinical nutrition products to manage and treat these conditions.

Aging Population: China has a rapidly aging population, with projections indicating that by 2050, nearly a quarter of the population will be over 60 years old. The growing geriatric population has higher nutritional needs, fuelling the growth of the clinical nutrition market.

Government Initiatives: The Chinese government has implemented policies and regulations to systematize the medical foods (or "Foods for Special Medical Purposes") market. This has helped to increase the adoption and usage of clinical nutrition products in the country.

Market Restraints

Regulatory Challenges: The clinical nutrition market in China faces a complex regulatory framework, including registration and approval requirements for products. These regulatory hurdles can pose challenges for market entry and product development.

Competition from Domestic Players: The rise of local Chinese players in the infant nutrition and dietary supplements market has increased competition in the clinical nutrition segment, posing challenges for international brands.

Reimbursement Limitations: Clinical nutrition products are not typically covered by the public healthcare system in China, and consumers often have to pay out-of-pocket. This can limit the affordability and accessibility of these products.

Regulatory Landscape and Reimbursement Scenario

Clinical nutrition regulation in China is primarily overseen by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), formerly known as the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), which operates under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The National Health Commission (NHC) also plays a significant role in setting health policies and standards for clinical nutrition. The regulatory framework is based on the Drug Administration Law and the Food Safety Law, with clinical nutrition products classified either as drugs, health foods, or special medical foods. Drug-classified products undergo a rigorous approval process through the Centre for Drug Evaluation (CDE) under the NMPA, including clinical trials and comprehensive safety and efficacy evaluations. Health foods and special medical foods follow a notification or registration process with the NMPA, depending on their ingredients and claims. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) is responsible for post-market surveillance and enforcement of regulations.

Reimbursement for clinical nutrition products is managed through the national basic medical insurance system, overseen by the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA). Coverage varies by region and product classification, with essential drugs more likely to be reimbursed. Recent regulatory developments include the implementation of a new classification system for health foods, stricter requirements for clinical trial data, and the introduction of a special approval pathway for innovative drugs and medical devices. The Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS) provides expert guidance and influences policy decisions related to clinical nutrition. Local health authorities often have significant influence on the implementation of national policies, leading to variations in practice across different provinces and cities. China's regulatory environment for clinical nutrition continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on product quality, safety, and efficacy, as well as efforts to streamline the approval process for innovative products while maintaining rigorous standards.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Here are some of the major key players in the China Clinical Nutrition Market:

• CSPC Pharmaceutical Group
• Biostime
• Beingmate
• Fancl Corporation
• Health Food Company
• Shanghai Pharmaceuticals
• Yunnan Baiyao Group
• China National Medicines
• GNC (General Nutrition Centers)
• Amway
• Pfizer Inc
• Bayer AG