Original Article By Mike Straus
July 30, 2026
The biotics and enzymes market remains strong thanks to educated consumers
Biotics and enzymes have a long history of use in the supplements space, and for good reason—they’re effective. Historically, these products have been used to improve gut health and help balance bacteria levels in the intestines. Now, though, biotics and enzymes are growing in popularity for both immune health and overall systemic balance. Different strains of biotics and different types of enzymes are showing promise in different areas, giving formulators and retailers flexibility with respect to applications. Here are just some of the emerging trends driving the biotics and enzymes space.
Biotics and Enzymes Market Niches Down
The biotics and enzymes market remains strong, said Aaron Gillam, president of supplement brand Arthur Andrew Medical in Scottsdale, AZ. However, Gillam noted, the market is becoming more educated and more specific.
“For a long time, gut health was treated almost like a single category, and the answer was usually probiotics,” Gillam said. “Today, consumers understand that gut health involves many different tools: probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, digestive enzymes, systemic enzymes and targeted nutrients that support the gut barrier. We’re seeing enzymes becoming a much more important part of that conversation.”
Gillam noted that digestive enzymes are no longer viewed only as something to take for occasional gas or bloating after a heavy meal. Instead, he said, consumers are connecting enzymes to food tolerance, nutrient absorption, aging, high-protein diets, GLP-1 weight-loss medications, and post-gallbladder digestive challenges.
“Systemic enzymes are also gaining interest as consumers look for natural ways to support healthy circulation, tissue recovery, immune balance, and a normal inflammatory response,” Gillam added. “That is a different category from digestive enzymes, but it’s becoming part of the broader whole-body wellness conversation.”
Mark G. Walin, senior vice president of business development & marketing for Bio-Cat in Troy, VA, said that digestive enzymes rank among the top three health supplement ingredients according to Nutrition Business Journal. Meanwhile, he said, the human probiotic market is expected to grow by 7 percent through to 2028.
Pre- and post-biotic offerings continue to grow as well, said Ramona Billingslea, marketing and education manager at supplement retailer Betsy’s Health Foods in Spring, TX. Manufacturers, she said, are now offering more targeted formulations, while parabiotics are an interesting addition to the category that will likely grow.
Ross Pelton, RPh, PhD, CCN, is a pharmacist, nutritionist, health educator and the scientific director of supplement brand Essential Formulas in Farmers Branch, TX. Pelton noted that consumers increasingly look to microbiome support for immune health, nutrient utilization, skin health, mood, metabolic health and overall wellness.
“Probiotics remain the most familiar segment, but postbiotics are gaining significant attention because they help explain how beneficial bacteria influence the body,” Pelton explained. “In our view, the most exciting development is the growing recognition that the benefits of fermented probiotic products are not only tied to living organisms themselves, but also to the beneficial metabolites and compounds produced during fermentation.”
HealthAid America National Sales Manager Nitesh Khakhar in Sunnyvale, CA noted that consumers are increasingly connecting gut health to mood, energy and overall wellness, which is behind the market’s strength. Demand, Khakhar said, is shifting toward targeted solutions for areas such as women’s health, travel, healthy aging and gut-brain support.
Precision Products Emerge
Gillam said that the most substantial improvement in the biotics space is precision. Companies, he explained, are now moving away from generic enzyme blends and toward formulas built around a clear purpose.
“A digestive enzyme product meant for general meal support shouldn’t look the same as a formula designed for high-fat meals, gluten and casein support, protein digestion, or people using GLP- 1 medications,” Gillam explained. “Each of those situations has a different digestive challenge.”
Gillam said formulators are also now paying more attention to activity levels and not just ingredient names. With enzymes, the milligram amount doesn’t tell the whole story—what matters is activity. A label may list multiple enzymes and their weight, but consumers and retailers are getting better at understanding the importance of activity units.
“Manufacturers are also improving products by thinking beyond traditional category formulas,” Gillam said. “In the past, many formulas were built by combining the same well-known ingredients in each category. The next level of formulation is asking how to make those ingredients work better in the body.”
This, Gillam said, is where enzymes get interesting. Systemic enzymes like nattokinase, serrapeptase and other proteolytic enzymes may help support circulation, healthy tissue function, and normal inflammatory balance, which can result in much more effective formulas when combined with targeted herbs or condition-specific ingredients.
Targeted Formulations Replace “Kitchen Sink” Products
Biotics and enzymes are becoming increasingly benefit-specific, said Cori Lorts, PhD, RDN, senior nutrition scientist at supplement producer Piping Rock Health Products in Bohemia, NY.
Formulas are now calling out specific benefits like support for gas and bloating rather than just overall health support.
“As consumer awareness of probiotics grows, we’re seeing probiotics added to more supplement categories outside of the digestive space,” Lorts explained. “The gut microbiome is becoming a platform for innovation across the supplement aisle, not just within the digestive segment.”
Another emerging trend in biotics and enzymes is supplements that support the GLP-1 community, explained Jay Levy, director of sales at Wakunaga of America in Mission Viejo, CA. Levy said that while there are no direct studies on the benefits of digestive enzymes in GLP-1 patients, research does show that supplementing with digestive enzymes can ease dyspepsia, which affects some GLP-1 users.
“Another trend is the growing popularity of chewable probiotics geared specifically for children,” Levy said. “Studies suggest that a daily probiotic can support a child’s cognitive and immune health. Other research suggests that routinely supplementing with probiotics can help prevent seasonal allergies in kids.”
Levy cautioned, however, that the gut health supplement market is expanding at a pace that far outstrips the science meant to validate it. New prebiotic, probiotic and digestive enzyme products are flooding retail shelves and e-commerce platforms by the month, many touting novel strains or “breakthrough” formulations with little more than marketing claims to support them.
“In this environment, it becomes critically important not to overlook formulas that have earned their credibility through rigorous, peer-reviewed study,” Levy said. “There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different strains that live in the gut microbiome.
Science is still working to figure out how these different strains impact human health.” Levy noted that Wakunaga’s own branded Kyo-Dophilus line is an example of a science-first product development. Each formula in the line is built around three biocompatible human strains that have been subject to clinical studies documenting their efficacy in supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
Delivery Mechanisms Present Challenges
Biotic and enzyme delivery systems are rapidly diversifying. Walin noted that gummies have become one of the most popular supplement delivery formats due to their superior taste, texture and consumer appeal compared with traditional tablets and capsules. However, he said, gummy formulations present unique technical challenges because only certain ingredients can withstand the high temperatures and processing conditions required during manufacturing.
“For example, Bacillus probiotics are highly heat-stable and can survive gummy production, whereas many Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains cannot,” Walin explained. “Enzymes present a different challenge: Because they are biologically active catalysts, they can become active within the gummy matrix and begin degrading structural components, potentially compromising product stability and texture before consumption.”
As a result, Walin said, formulators seeking to combine probiotics, enzymes, and other sensitive ingredients should consider delivery formats like capsules, powders or tablets, which offer greater formulation flexibility and improved stability.
Lorts noted that powders offer a unique advantage among delivery systems: They can deliver higher amounts of active ingredients, such as fiber. One example of this is Rainbow Light Daily Probiotic + Prebiotic Powder, which includes 20 billion CFUs of probiotics per serving to support regularity and gut health, along with 4.4 g of prebiotic fiber to feed good bacteria.
“Like powders, chewable tablets allow for the inclusion of a variety of probiotic strains, creating many opportunities for innovation,” Lorts said. “Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids Probiotic Chewable Tablets offer 3 billion CFU of probiotics per tablet, and include the most studied strain, L. rhamnosus GG.”
Liquids, Lorts noted, are another innovative delivery system, especially for babies and very young children. Rainbow Light recently launched its USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Certified Organic Baby Probiotic Liquid Drops, which offer 2.5 billion CFU of L. rhamnosus GG in liquid form.
Consumer Preferences Influence Production
Khakhar said that today’s consumers are looking beyond potency claims, focusing on specific strains, targeted formulations, ingredient quality and transparency. Pelton, meanwhile, explained that consumers want products they can understand and trust.
Retailers can help consumers by moving the conversation beyond “more CFUs must be better.” Instead, Pelton noted, consumers benefit from learning that strain selection, fermentation, metabolites, survivability and product quality are all part of the value equation.
Lorts said that consumer awareness around the connection between gut health and other areas of the body is growing, which means consumers are looking beyond digestive health benefits to find probiotics that offer multiple benefits. When looking at enzyme supplements, consumers want a well-rounded variety of enzymes that will help them digest their meals comfortably.
Emerging Studies Demonstrate Efficacy
Pelton noted that science continues to support the idea that the microbiome plays a major role in human health; however, emerging studies demonstrate that not all products are equal. Benefits, he said, are strain-specific, formulation-specific, and dependent on product quality.
“The growing science around postbiotics is especially important,” he said. “Researchers now recognize that non-living microbial components and the compounds produced through fermentation can contribute to health benefits. This validates what traditional fermented foods have suggested for generations: Beneficial microbes influence health not only by being present, but also by what they produce.”
While much of the probiotic category historically focused on viable cell counts, Pelton said, today’s science is increasingly examining the role of microbial metabolites, cell components and fermentation-derived compounds in human health.
Walin explained that Bio-Cat has developed and published a predictive testing platform based on the INFOGEST static in-vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion. This validated methodology helps Bio-Cat to evaluate custom combinations of enzymes, probiotics and other active ingredients before advancing to human clinical trials, enabling rapid assessment of potential efficacy and formulation performance.
“This approach provides valuable scientific and technical insights early in the development process, helping identify the most promising formulations and informing potential claims, product positioning and clinical study design,” Walin said. “By entering the clinical phase with a stronger understanding of the likelihood of success, our partners can make more informed development decisions while reducing time and resource investments.”
Walin noted that human clinical studies are then subsequently conducted through Bio-Cat’s partner CROs and academic institutions. One example is the clinical work completed on Bio-Cat’s branded OPTIZIOME P3 Hydrolyzer, which enhanced net 0–1-hour plasma EAA and BCAA availability from whey protein by 14 and 15 percent, respectively, compared to placebo.
Retailers Face Consumer Confusion, Market Saturation
As probiotics become increasingly ubiquitous in consumers’ daily wellness routines, the space is now approaching saturation, Walin said. What remains largely unmet is the delivery of an immediate, noticeable benefit that consumers can experience before they abandon a new regimen. Enzymes, Walin noted, are uniquely positioned to fill this role, providing a tangible, near-term benefit that enhances the perceived value of probiotics and strengthens consumer engagement with the category.
“By combining enzymes and probiotics, formulators can create complementary solutions that leverage multiple mechanisms of action to support digestive wellness and overall health,” Walin said. While the biotics and enzymes space is growing, retailers and brands are facing a certain amount of confusion from consumers.
Pelton noted that consumer confusion is the most substantial challenge facing the biotics and enzymes market; the terminology can be overwhelming, and many consumers still judge probiotics based on CFU count. Retailers also must navigate a crowded shelf full of products making similar claims.
“Companies can overcome this through education, transparency and responsible messaging,” Pelton said. “Retailers should help consumers understand what makes products different: strain selection, fermentation process, stability, postbiotic content, research and brand credibility.
Brands also must be careful not to overstate claims. Responsible structure-function communication is essential.”
Biotics Full of Promise
Gillam said that the next generation of enzymes and biotics will focus on personalization and purpose-built formulas. Instead of one probiotic for everyone, or one enzyme blend for everyone, the market will see more formulas designed around specific needs. He predicted that there will be formulas for GLP-1 users, high-protein diets, fat digestion, immune resilience, women’s health, circulation, recovery and more.
“We’ll also see more science around postbiotics, microbial metabolites and next-generation probiotics,” Gillam noted. “Consumers are beginning to understand that the benefits of the microbiome are not only about which bacteria are present, but also about what those bacteria produce and how those compounds interact with the immune system, nervous system and intestinal barrier.”
The biotics and enzymes market is experiencing rapid growth and simultaneous diversification as consumers look for products that can address specific health concerns. Consumers are increasingly seeking out reputable, application-specific products with clinical validation, and suppliers and brands are meeting this demand with validated strains and enzymes designed with particular purposes in mind. As this space grows, expect convenience and proven benefits to drive consumer demand.
