Across the shows, exhibitors highlighted ingredients and botanicals reflecting these trends. Key examples include advanced collagen peptides for skin and joint health, prebiotic fibers and postbiotics for digestion and immunity, adaptogenic nootropics for stress and focus, and natural antioxidants and peptides for skin radiance and hair health. Below, we survey the top ingredients making waves in 2025 and explain why each is in the spotlight.
Healthspan and longevity ingredients
Healthy aging has become a key innovation theme, with ingredient development increasingly aimed at extending healthspan rather than just lifespan. Throughout the exhibition floor, suppliers showcased bioactives targeting cellular senescence, chronic low-grade inflammation, mitochondrial function, and age-related nutrient deficiencies – crucial biological processes linked to functional decline over time.
Antioxidant systems, mitochondrial-support compounds, and agents that promote joint and bone health are foundational elements of longevity-focused formulations. Multiple companies introduced integrated solutions targeting inflammatory burden and cellular resilience. In contrast, others highlighted lipid-based bioactives such as tocotrienols, geranylgeraniols, and cetylated fatty acids for musculoskeletal and skin support in aging populations. Prebiotic fibers and immune-modulating ingredients were also prominently featured, reflecting the increasing recognition of the gut – immune – metabolic axis as a key factor in healthy aging. Additionally, carotenoids and beta-glucans were highlighted for their roles in supporting visual, cognitive, and immune functions throughout life.
Collagen peptides remain a key area of innovation, with their role evolving from just providing structural protein support. Emerging clinical data increasingly highlight specific collagen fractions as metabolically active compounds. Notably, collagen-based ingredients are now backed by evidence showing they stimulate incretin hormones such as GLP-1 and GIP, suggesting a potential role in postprandial glucose regulation alongside their traditional benefits for connective tissue health. Undenatured collagen types remain recommended for joint health in both human and companion animal markets.
Overall, these developments underscore a broader industry shift toward positioning nutrients as components of integrated longevity toolkits. For ingredient suppliers and formulators, differentiation is increasingly driven by clinically substantiated mechanisms, multi-system benefits, and relevance to age-related metabolic and inflammatory pathways – signaling a maturation of the healthspan category from general wellness claims to biologically targeted, evidence-informed solutions.
Metabolic health and GLP-1–driven innovation in nutrition
GLP-1 receptor agonists have emerged as a significant external driver of innovation in the metabolic health and weight-management sectors. At SupplySide Global, GLP-1–related discussions extended beyond pharmaceuticals, influencing ingredient positioning, formulation strategies, and product development priorities across the nutrition value chain. As noted by SPINS analysts, GLP-1–associated weight-loss solutions currently dominate industry attention, prompting ingredient suppliers to reassess how nutritional interventions can align with this therapeutic paradigm.
Instead of positioning supplements as direct alternatives to pharmacological treatments, many ingredient developers are increasingly emphasizing complementary roles – targeting glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, satiety, stress regulation, and maintaining lean mass. Ingredients such as berberine, tocotrienols, citrus flavonoids, and collagen-derived peptides are presented within this framework, often supported by delivery technologies designed to enhance dispersibility, bioavailability, or consumer adherence. This reflects a broader shift toward formulation-driven differentiation, where functionality and compatibility with GLP-1 therapy are key value propositions.
Adaptogenic botanicals and stress-modulating compounds also featured prominently, underscoring the growing recognition of the interplay among neuroendocrine stress pathways, sleep, and metabolic regulation. From a product development perspective, these ingredients are increasingly positioned as part of multi-mechanistic solutions rather than single-claim actives, aligning with the complexity of metabolic dysfunction in real-world populations.
At a strategic level, the emergence of GLP-1–specific nutritional use cases is reshaping portfolio development across both supplement and functional food categories. Major food and nutrition companies are already exploring nutrient-dense, protein-forward, and fiber-enriched formats tailored to GLP-1 users, while supplement brands are integrating glucose – modulating and gut-hormone – supporting actives into existing weight-management platforms. This convergence suggests that future growth will favor products designed to support metabolic health across pharmacological and lifestyle interventions, rather than relying on traditional “weight loss” positioning alone.
Gut and microbiome innovations
Gut health remains a central innovation platform in the nutrition industry, increasingly recognized as a foundational determinant of immune, metabolic, and neuropsychological outcomes. Industry analyses, including SPINS data, indicate sustained growth in consumer interest in gut-linked benefits, with dietary fiber remaining a primary entry point. Reflecting this demand, exhibitors at Vitafoods and SupplySide emphasized a broad spectrum of prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic solutions designed to address both digestive and systemic health applications.
Prebiotic innovation emphasizes source diversification and functional specificity. Citrus-derived fibers, soluble β-glucans, and clean-label carbohydrate alternatives are positioned to go beyond digestive regularity, addressing gut barrier integrity, immune modulation, and formulation performance. Several ingredients are backed by emerging clinical data linking selective fermentation profiles to improvements in intestinal permeability and immune markers, highlighting a shift toward evidence-based differentiation in the fiber market.
On the probiotic and postbiotic front, strain specificity and targeted indications were key themes. Ingredient developers highlighted formulations supported by clinical validation for defined use cases, including women’s urogenital health, menopausal support, immune resilience, and stress–sleep modulation. Postbiotics, in particular, were positioned as offering improved stability and regulatory clarity while retaining biologically relevant immune and neuroactive effects.
Polyphenols and fiber–polyphenol combinations also featured prominently, reflecting growing recognition of their bidirectional interaction with the gut microbiota. These ingredients were positioned for applications spanning gut and urinary tract health, inflammatory modulation, and metabolic support, aligning with expanding research linking microbiome composition to systemic inflammation and cardiometabolic risk.
Collectively, these developments illustrate a maturation of the gut health category from generalized digestive support toward targeted, mechanism-based microbiome modulation. For ingredient suppliers and formulators, innovation is increasingly defined by clinically substantiated functionality, regulatory-aligned claims – particularly within established fiber health frameworks – and compatibility with multi-benefit positioning across immune, metabolic, and mental health domains.
Cognitive, mood, and stress support
Cognitive performance, emotional resilience, and stress regulation remain central pillars of mental wellness innovation, with ingredient development increasingly focused on clinically substantiated, multi-functional solutions. SPINS market analyses indicate accelerated growth in nootropic and relaxation-oriented categories, with compounds such as L-theanine, ashwagandha, and magnesium emerging as key drivers. These ingredients are increasingly positioned to address overlapping outcomes, including focus, stress adaptation, sleep quality, and mood stability.
At SupplySide, exhibitors emphasized standardized botanical extracts and optimized mineral forms supported by human clinical data. Fermented or bioenhanced L-theanine formats were presented for stress modulation. At the same time, low-dose botanical blends combining bacopa and ashwagandha were positioned to support dual benefits for stress reduction and sleep parameters. Proprietary ashwagandha extracts with defined withanolide profiles were showcased in endurance and wellness applications, reflecting continued interest in adaptogens with reproducible efficacy and dose efficiency.
Beyond established botanicals, innovation extended to novel plant extracts and differentiated mineral complexes. Mango leaf extracts standardized for polyphenolic content were shown to improve mental processing speed, focus, and mood in controlled trials. Magnesium L-threonate gained attention for its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, supporting cognitive health claims in both beverage and supplement formats. Mushroom-derived ingredients also featured prominently, with extracts rich in ergothioneine positioned for antioxidant support linked to mental function and longevity, alongside vitamin D2 sources produced via fungal fermentation.
Taken together, these developments indicate a convergence toward “mind–body” formulation strategies, in which cognitive, emotional, and stress-related outcomes are addressed through bioactive nutrients that modulate neurochemical balance, oxidative stress, and cellular resilience. For ingredient suppliers and brand owners, differentiation increasingly depends on clinically validated mechanisms, standardized actives, and formulation versatility across multiple delivery formats, signaling continued maturation of the mental wellness category from experiential claims toward evidence-based cognitive support.
Beauty-from-within – skin, hair, and wellness
“Beauty-from-within” emerged as a dominant cross-category theme at Vitafoods and SupplySide, reflecting sustained consumer interest in nutritional strategies to support skin appearance, hair quality, and overall dermal health. Industry data point to continued growth in supplements positioned for complexion, elasticity, and radiance, driving innovation in collagen, bioactive peptides, antioxidants, and plant-derived compounds with documented skin-related mechanisms.
Collagen-based ingredients remained central, with positioning extending beyond structural support to encompass broader aspects of skin aging and metabolic health. In addition to their roles in joint and connective tissue integrity, specific collagen fractions are emerging as influencing postprandial glucose regulation and gut–hormone signaling, indirectly linking metabolic balance to skin aging. Alongside traditional animal-derived collagen sources, suppliers highlighted sustainability-driven marine collagen sources and animal-free alternatives that replicate collagen functionality through amino acid and peptide profiles.
Antioxidant and botanical actives also featured prominently, aligned with mechanisms that reduce oxidative stress, improve microcirculation, and modulate inflammation in the skin. Polyphenol-rich extracts derived from olive, citrus, berries, and maritime pine bark were positioned to support skin resilience, elasticity, and vascular function, with some supported by clinical data on skin appearance and body composition–related outcomes. Carotenoids such as astaxanthin, including newer fermented or bioenhanced formats, were highlighted for photoprotection, anti-aging potential, and ocular benefits, reinforcing their relevance across beauty and wellness applications.
Hair and nail health innovations were largely framed around micronutrient adequacy and structural protein support. Plant-based keratin alternatives, bioavailable silica sources, and conventional vitamins and minerals were presented as complementary components within holistic beauty formulations. However, fewer high-profile launches were associated with these segments.
Overall, the category’s evolution reflects a growing convergence between cosmetic and nutritional sciences. For ingredient suppliers and formulators, differentiation increasingly depends on clinically supported mechanisms, cross-benefit positioning (beauty, metabolic health, and gut function), and alignment with emerging research on the gut–skin and gut–hormone axes. As a result, “beauty-from-within” is maturing from a trend-driven concept into a more integrated cosmeceutical nutrition platform grounded in systems biology and evidence-based formulation.
Driving forces: science, demand, and regulation
Across all major ingredient categories, scientific evidence and clinical validation have become central to innovation strategies. At recent trade events, many suppliers highlighted new human data to support differentiated positioning, especially in appetite regulation, metabolic support, gut health, immune function, cognitive performance, and beauty-related outcomes. Clinical evidence is increasingly viewed not just as a marketing tool but as a necessary step for credible ingredient launches. This reflects a broader industry shift toward a “nutrients-as-therapy” paradigm, where efficacy expectations align more closely with those traditionally seen in pharmaceuticals or medical nutrition.
Consumer demand is the second major factor influencing innovation priorities. Industry stakeholders consistently emphasize the need to adapt quickly to emerging trends while maintaining scientific rigor. Retail and shelf data continue to show steady growth in categories such as plant proteins, targeted micronutrients, postbiotics, adaptogens, and metabolic health solutions. Weight-management products, in particular, are shifting toward adjunct or complementary roles alongside GLP-1–based pharmacotherapies, while core nutrition categories -including multivitamins, dietary fiber, and protein – are gaining renewed importance. At the same time, beauty and healthy-aging solutions are being embraced by younger consumers, driven by social media influence and a broader self-care mindset focused on prevention rather than correction.
Regulatory dynamics are also playing a supportive role, though cautiously. Updated guidance in both the EU and the US is gradually clarifying acceptable structure – function claims for botanicals, fibers, and microbial ingredients, encouraging more targeted, mechanism-based innovation. Simultaneously, sustainability and clean-label considerations are increasingly influencing ingredient selection, sourcing practices, and delivery formats, boosting demand for traceable, natural, and responsibly produced inputs. Advances in delivery technologies – such as liposomal and encapsulated systems – are being developed with greater focus on global quality standards and safety compliance, reflecting increased scrutiny alongside performance expectations.
Overall, the 2025 trade fair landscape shows a convergence around key innovation pillars. Healthspan and longevity are shifting from niche concepts to main drivers of product development. Metabolic and weight management strategies are being reimagined with GLP-1 therapies, combining traditional botanicals with new peptide-based approaches. Gut and microbiome health have become almost universal, supported by increasingly precise prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic solutions. Cognitive health and stress resilience continue to grow through nootropic and adaptogenic ingredients that often overlap with immune and energy support. Meanwhile, beauty from within has become a well-established category, blending peptides, antioxidants, and micronutrients within holistic wellness frameworks.
For B2B stakeholders – including ingredient suppliers, formulators, and brand owners – the strategic priority is clear: innovation must be rooted in clinical science, aligned with changing consumer expectations, and designed to harness cross-category synergies. The ingredients gaining prominence at Vitafoods, SupplySide, and Hi Europe are those that successfully incorporate all three aspects, pointing to the future of nutraceutical R&D.
