Foresight

Sales of dietary supplements in Japan fell by 8%

The dietary supplements market has shrunk by 8% since the hospitalization scare linked to Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. pills.

According to the latest data published by market research company Intage, sales of dietary supplements have contracted by 8% year-on-year, as consumers face growing concerns about these products.

Indeed, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. reported on March 22 that some people had developed health problems after taking dietary supplements designed to reduce cholesterol levels. The brand subsequently announced the deaths of five people who had taken the product.

Declining sales have been observed for products claiming to reduce cholesterol levels.

However, this decline comes after a period of expansion due to growing consumer interest in health issues, following the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, sales rose by 16% year-on-year to 49.1 billion yen.