According to Mintel data, the most active segments of female nutrition have shifted. The nutritional focus of products is also expanding beyond prenatal, post-pregnancy, and weight loss to encompass women’s holistic needs.

Key aspects of women’s health that can be targeted with nutritional solutions range from joint health to cognitive function. Digestive health, weight and fitness, and energy needs are well-served by existing female nutrition solutions. However, there could be unmet needs and high demand for products that address other aspects of female health from a nutritional perspective. 

Ankita Singal-Sareen, Senior Consultant at Sagentia Innovation, believes female nutrition is set to become a mainstream food and beverage category. She says products grounded in scientific evidence are most likely to generate interest, trust, and loyalty.

“The specific role of nutrition in female health is finally gaining attention,” Singal-Sareen explains. “Much of the available data about nutrition and health is centred on male physiology, but it’s increasingly clear that women stand to benefit from tailored approaches. Targeted nutrition could support women across various life stages and the associated physiologic, neurologic, and hormonal variabilities.”

Singal-Sareen notes that major players in the female nutrition space include leading nutrition, consumer health and pharmaceutical companies. However, she suggests there is untapped innovation potential and expects a new wave of food and beverage products combined with services that diagnose female nutritional needs to offer tailored support.

“More work is needed to address the full extent of female nutritional needs, promote holistic health, and potentially contribute to risk reduction for chronic disease. Further fundamental and clinical research will generate female-specific data, especially for younger women, and across a range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Science-led developments in female nutrition will help fill these gaps, and we anticipate that they will accelerate over the next 12 months.”

More information on innovation opportunities in female nutrition is available here.