Page 47 - Malaysian Dietary Supplement Industry Status and Outlook Report 2019-2020 Preview

Part C. Product Subcategories and
Applications

Dietary supplement products are marketed depending on
their chief ingredient, functional application, gender, life
stage, and/or life style. Marketing activities for dietary
supplement products are strictly regulated by the NPRA
against overclaims to ensure safety for the consumer.

Subcategorization by Ingredients
Dietary supplement products can be subcategorized by their
chief ingredient. The following subcategories are more
established compared to others in the Malaysian market:

Non-Traditional Health Supplements

• Vitamin and Minerals. Includes all forms of vitamins
and minerals, multi-vitamins and multi-minerals.
Examples include vitamins A, B, C, D, E, iron, calcium,
magnesium, zinc, and folic acids.
• Omega 3. Commonly derived from fish oils, krill oils,
and flax seed oils.
• Probiotics. Common strains include Lactobacillus
Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Bifidum.
• Coenzyme Q10. An antioxidant that promotes
energy and cardio vascular health.
• Glucosamine. An amino sugar that promotes bone
and joint health.
• Collagen. A protein that promotes a variety of health
benefits, from joint health to skin health.
• Antioxidants. A general class of compounds that
inhibit oxidation (apart from those already listed
above), such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin.
• Royal Jelly. A gelatinous substance produced by
honey bees to feed the queen bees and their young
• Primrose Oil. A natural source of omega-6 fatty acid
and gamma-linolenic acid.
• Spirulina. A type of blue-green algae that is often
considered a superfood due to its excellent
nutritional content.

Other non-traditional health supplements are difficult to be
classified by their chief ingredient as they involve a
combination of multiple ingredients.

Traditional health supplements are more diverse and
fragmented compared to non-traditional health
supplements. Traditional health supplements in Malaysia
include traditional herbs, chicken essence, bird’s nest
products, sea cucumber products, cordyceps, and fruit
essences.

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