Bodybuilders looking for a boost have been chewing on gummy bears for years as they’re sweetened with corn syrup and dextrose. Both these ingredients are fast-absorbing carbohydrates, so they’re utilized by the muscles far quicker than any food that needs to get broken down by the digestive process.
But there’s a new type of gummy that’s been making waves in the fitness and athletic world. Pre-workout gummies, weight loss gummies, keto gummies, CBD gummies and gummies that give you even more extra energy are flooding the market as brands like USN capitalize on their popularity.
Take a look at how gummies are changing workouts and exercise regimes and how the market for these chewables is on the rise.
Table of Contents
8 Gummy Supplement Statistics and Trends for 2023
- By 2028 the total gummies market will reach $42.06 billion
- Energy gummies are one of the fastest growing supplement sectors, expected to hit a CAGR of 8.9% of the next decade
- Asia Pacific is projected to have the fastest-growing gummy demand from 2020 to 2028
- Prebiotic and probiotic gummies experienced 18.7% sales growth in 2021
- Gummy dietary supplement sales grew 23% to $2.63 billion in 2021
- The vitamin nutrition gummies market size was valued at USD 5.5 billion in 2020
- It’s estimated that by 2028, the vitamin nutrition gummy market will reach $13.9 billion
- The global CBD gummies market size is expected to reach $13.9 billion by 2028
Different Types of Gummies (and what they do)
Whether you call them gummies, gummis, chewies, or jelly sweets, they’re all much the same.
The traditional versions were Gummi Bears and Jelly Babies, but they’ve grown up a lot since then. These gelatin-based candies have undergone a makeover. They’re now getting touted as a great way to get extra energy and nutrition, boost endurance, provide pain relief, and help you to achieve your weight loss goals. With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why anyone with an interest in health and fitness would reach for a bag.
We’ve split gummies into 4 categories to take a closer look at what they do for athletes and lifters:
Energy Gummies
Energy gummies are one of the fastest-growing supplement sectors. They’re expected to hit a CAGR of 8.9% over the next decade.
Energy plays a crucial role in exercising and sporting performance. The amount of available carbohydrates in the body influences athletic output, and energy gummies are designed to offer a carbohydrate boost.
These gummies maintain your blood glucose level and complement muscle glycogen to quickly replenish and restore reserves. They can fill the role of a pre-workout supplement, or you can take them during a workout that requires extra endurance.
Many of them include caffeine for an extra shot of energy. There are also gummies with Creatine that are designed to increase the body’s natural ATP production to improve strength and endurance, focus and energy.
Nutritional & Vitamin Gummies
In 2020, the vitamin nutritional gummies market size was valued at a whopping $5.5 billion. Now, it’s projected to reach $13.9 billion in 2028. Created to replace traditional pills, nutritional gummies are the new way to take your vitamin supplements.
You’ll find nutritional gummies with vitamins C, B2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, A, D3 and other numbers, along with those that have biotin, colostrum, calcium, magnesium, melatonin, and iron in them. Essentially, there’s a nutritional gummy to replace every type of vitamin pill.
CBD Gummies
In 2020, the global CBD gummies market was valued at $1.6 billion, and it’s expected to increase at a CAGR of 30.7% in the next 7 years. Originally developed more for recreational purposes, CBD gummies have many benefits for athletes too.
Not only do they promote relaxation, but they also have anti-inflammatory properties that are ideal for support during a recovery period. CGB gummies are great for pre-and post-workout as they can reduce blood pressure and calm nerves while combating inflammation.
Weight Loss Gummies
Sales of gummy dietary supplements grew 23% to $2.63 billion in 2021, and this sector included gummies that promote weight loss. Fat-burning gummies, gummies that curb your appetite or help you to detox, and those that help the body achieve a state of ketosis are becoming increasingly popular.
Whether they have added caffeine, moringa, or apple cider vinegar, they promote weight loss in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise. These gummies can speed up your metabolism and give you extra energy throughout the day and can stop you from overeating by making you feel fuller faster.
How Gummies Work
Gummies work by giving your body an easy-to-digest, fast-acting supplement that benefits in whatever way the ingredients intend. Although gummies may not be as potent as traditional supplements, they tend to have far higher bioavailability due to their chewable consistency.
Higher bioavailability ensures that your body can absorb nutrients, vitamins, and other additives quickly and easily. It also tends to mean that the digestive process is less disruptive and there are fewer side effects, such as nausea, cramps, or an upset stomach.
Essentially, gummies give your body a fast-acting, non-disruptive boost.
Growth of the Gummies Market
As far back as 2017, stats showed that in the US, adult gummy products accounted for 65% of all gummy supplements. Fast-forward to 2020 and the wake of the pandemic, and interest in health and nutrition skyrocketed. As the dust has settled a bit from Covid-19, interest in gummies that offer health benefits is still on the rise.
A recent candy trends poll on LinkedIn revealed that the majority of respondents listed nutraceutical gummies as their current favorite “candy”. And that adults loved gummies for themselves and for sharing with their kids. The fact that these chewables can have health benefits makes them all the more appealing.
Better taste, convenience, health and wellness support for multiple requirements, and the ability to quickly give your body that little bit extra have all contributed to interest in gummies.
A phenomenon known as “pill fatigue” has long plagued the supplements industry. We’ve had gels, dual capsules, and effervescent and vitamin-infused drinks. Now, it’s gummy’s turn. However, these chewables have been around for about a decade, and instead of interest waning in them, it’s growing fast. They clearly tick all the right boxes with consumers and appeal to every age group, both young and old.
Sports-Focused Gummies Facts
The sports-focused gummies market is expanding all the time, with big brands like USN, Biogen, and Nutritech offering several different types of chewables for improved performance. A quick look on Amazon also reveals that there are hundreds of results for “sports gummies” and many of them are sold targeting specific athletes such as runners or cyclists.
A few other pertinent facts about sports-related gummies include:
- Gummies that promote increased energy make up about 32% of the current market
- Vitamin supplement gummies are on the rise with athletes
- The average sports gummies provide 48 grams of carbohydrates
- Most gummies don’t have enough sodium to provide the recommended 300 to 600 milligrams of sodium per hour of exercise
- Energy chews are better suited to longer workouts
- Pre-workout gummies can boost mental alertness, nitric oxide production and reaction time
- Sleep-enhancing gummies are a good fit for athletes too, as they promote proper rest
- CBD gummies or other CBD products are used by an estimated third of cyclists, triathletes, and runners
The Future of Gummies In The Lifting World
It’s easy to see that gummies have a place in the lifting world. In fact, lifters were some of the first athletes to take advantage of the shot of energy they provide long before they were sold by supplement companies. Haribo jelly bears did the trick back in the day, but now, gummies come with so many more benefits.
Gummies take the original jelly bear concept to a new level with lifters. If you look at the growth stats, evidence shows that the gummies market is on the rise, and this is sure to impact lifters too.
Additionally, CBD gummies are completely legal according to the World Anti-Doping Agency. In 2017, the WADA removed CBD (but not other cannabinoids) from its Prohibited List. This allows lifters to safely and in good conscience, enjoy the benefits of CBD gummies without concerns about disqualification.
All in all, gummies look set to grow in popularity with lifters looking for an energy, endurance, or performance boost. Plus, chewing on a gummy can also improve nutritional intake, sleep, and muscle repair and recovery, making them the ideal convenient-to-take, easy-to-digest supplement for just about every sporting need.
