Brain health is vital for cognition, memory, and quality of life, and the brain nutrition market is growing fast—now over RMB 10 billion in China. Key factors for maintaining brain health include exercise, diet, sleep, and social interaction, but modern stress and poor habits threaten it. Popular ingredients like omega-3s, phosphatidylserine, GABA, and CoQ10 support cognitive function and brain energy. The industry is moving from single-ingredient products to advanced formulations with better delivery systems and diverse formats. This summary reviews market trends, key nutrients, and new opportunities for brands and suppliers in this expanding field.
The Growing Importance of Brain Nutrition
The brain is one of the most important organs in the human body. It controls essential life activities including thinking, memory, movement, perception, and emotional responses. Therefore, brain health directly influences an individual’s quality of life, cognitive performance, and physical and psychological well-being.
The British Medical Journal brain health special series proposed that brain health is supported by six key pillars: physical activity, intellectual exercise, healthy diet and nutrition, social interaction, adequate sleep and relaxation, and control of vascular risk factors. However, modern lifestyle factors, including lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits, are increasingly affecting brain health.
Brain Nutrition: A High-Potential Segment in the Health Industry
With increasing public attention toward brain health and the accelerating aging of populations, the brain nutrition market in China has experienced rapid expansion.
Brain nutrition has become one of the most promising segments within the dietary supplement industry. Its sales have exceeded RMB 10 billion, ranking among the leading categories in the market and becoming the top segment among emerging health markets. The market has achieved year-on-year growth of more than 50%, significantly exceeding the average growth rate of approximately 20% for the overall dietary supplement industry.
In addition, social media discussions centered around “brain nutrition” have increased dramatically, with online engagement rising by 303.4% within one year. The core consumer groups for brain nutrition products include infants, children and adolescents, office workers, and middle-aged and elderly populations. Major consumption scenarios are concentrated around situations such as overtime work, sleep deprivation, staying up late, and fitness activities.
As consumers increasingly prioritize cognitive performance, mental energy, and healthy aging, brain nutrition products are evolving from general health supplements into more targeted solutions designed for different life stages and functional needs.
Key Ingredients in the Brain Nutrition Market
According to the Magic Mirror Insight report, Foodaily Research (FTA) summarized the key ingredients in the brain nutrition market for 2025. These ingredients mainly include:
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Plant oils
- Lysine
- Herbal ingredients
- Phospholipids
- Probiotics
- PQQ
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Proteins and peptides
- Coenzyme Q10
Among these ingredients, Omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, proteins and peptides, and Coenzyme Q10 achieved year-on-year sales growth exceeding 35%. Meanwhile, amino acids, PQQ, and herbal ingredients showed negative growth.
Market Main Ingredients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids remain one of the primary ingredients in brain nutrition products. In 2025, sales of Omega-3 fatty acids reached RMB 8.57 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 35.2% and accounting for 71.9% of the brain nutrition market share.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must be obtained through dietary sources. The main types of Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids play important roles in maintaining cardiovascular health, reducing triglyceride levels, and supporting brain and eye health. Among them, DHA is considered a key functional ingredient for brain health.
DHA, often referred to as “brain gold,” is an essential structural component of brain cell membranes. It participates in brain cell proliferation and development, neuronal axon and synapse formation, and helps maintain normal physiological functions of nerve cells. DHA is also involved in processes related to brain thinking and memory formation.
Natural sources of DHA include deep-sea fish, shellfish, marine algae, and microalgae. Deep-sea fish are traditionally considered one of the major sources of DHA, especially cold-water fatty fish such as salmon, herring, and tuna, which contain relatively high levels of DHA.
In recent years, algae-derived DHA has gradually increased its market share and has become an important source for DHA production. Common microalgae used for DHA production include Schizochytrium, Crypthecodinium cohnii, and Ulkenia species.
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an anionic phospholipid found in eukaryotic cell membranes and accounts for approximately 5–10% of total cellular lipids. PS is mainly located in the inner layer of cell membranes, where it interacts with various proteins and participates in multiple biological processes, including enzyme activation, apoptosis, neurotransmission, and synaptic refinement.
PS is considered one of the most important brain nutrients. It can regulate the activity of receptors, enzymes, ion channels, and signaling molecules, while also participating in the regulation of membrane fluidity. In addition, PS may influence multiple neurotransmitter systems, including acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine pathways.
The main sources of PS include plants (such as soybeans and sunflower), marine animals (such as deep-sea fish and krill), and microbial fermentation.
In China, phosphatidylserine has been approved by the National Health Commission as a new food ingredient. The recommended daily intake should not exceed 600 mg, and it is explicitly prohibited for use in infant foods.
In the European Union, PS has received an EFSA-approved health claim related to “improvement of memory and cognitive function in elderly people.” Meanwhile, soy-derived phosphatidylserine can be marketed as a novel food ingredient. In the United States, PS has obtained GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status from the FDA.
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a four-carbon non-protein amino acid that naturally exists in the human brain, animals, plants, and microorganisms.
GABA is produced through the α-decarboxylation reaction of L-glutamic acid catalyzed by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). Industrial production methods include chemical synthesis, plant extraction, and biological synthesis. Currently, biological synthesis is the primary production method.
GABA is one of the major neurotransmitters in the brain and plays an important role in behavior, cognition, and the body’s stress response. It can reduce neuronal excitability and help the brain enter a relaxed state.
The National Health Commission of China has approved GABA as a new food ingredient. It can be applied in beverages, cocoa products, chocolate and chocolate products, confectionery, baked goods, and puffed foods.
In the United States, GABA has obtained GRAS approval from the FDA and can be used in snack bars, yogurt, hard and soft candies, chocolate, beverages, and beverage bases. In the European Union, EFSA has approved health-related claims associated with “mental health.”
High-Growth Potential Ingredients
In addition to major ingredients such as DHA and phosphatidylserine (PS), Coenzyme Q10 and protein-derived peptides have demonstrated outstanding growth potential in the brain nutrition market. Both categories have achieved growth rates of nearly 150%, becoming some of the fastest-growing ingredient segments in this field.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is a naturally occurring fat-soluble antioxidant. It mainly exists in two forms: oxidized CoQ10 (ubiquinone) and reduced CoQ10 (ubiquinol).
However, CoQ10 has relatively poor water solubility and high crystallinity, which results in limited bioavailability.
Coenzyme Q10 is present in all human cells and is primarily located in mitochondria. It plays an important role in cellular energy production, accelerating cell renewal, activating cellular functions, and improving the ability of cells to utilize nutrients.
A literature review published in 2025 indicated that the core function of CoQ10 is primarily associated with the mitochondrial electron transport chain. By transferring electrons from Complex I and Complex II to Complex III, CoQ10 plays a key role in the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is the fundamental energy source supporting cellular functions and maintaining energy supply throughout the body. It is particularly important for high-energy-demand organs such as the heart and brain.
Protein and Peptides
Besides Coenzyme Q10, proteins and peptides are also among the fastest-growing ingredient categories in the brain nutrition market.
For example, brain protein hydrolysates derived from animal-based peptides are mainly extracted from animal brain tissues, such as porcine brain tissue, and produced through enzymatic hydrolysis. These hydrolysates are rich in small molecular peptides and free amino acids and possess biological activities similar to neurotrophic factors.
As a peptide-based neurotrophic substance specifically targeting the central nervous system, brain protein hydrolysates may support neurological functions through mechanisms such as promoting nerve cell regeneration, accelerating synapse formation, and helping repair neuronal damage. They have demonstrated potential value in supporting attention, memory, and cognitive function.
Market Functional Demands and Popular Dosage Forms
Traditional brain nutrition products are mainly categorized as dietary supplements and are commonly available in forms such as tablets, capsules, and powders.
With the increasing demand for personalized and diversified health solutions, the industry is gradually transitioning from traditional single-ingredient products toward innovative solutions featuring:
- Combination of core functional ingredients
- Targeted delivery technologies
- Innovative dosage forms
This transformation reflects consumers’ growing expectations for more effective, convenient, and personalized brain nutrition products.
In terms of functional demands, cognitive enhancement represents the largest application area, accounting for 40.1% of consumer demand. This is followed by performance improvement (34.1%) and anti-aging (25.7%).
Regarding dosage forms, capsules remain the dominant format, accounting for 58.5% of sales in 2025.
Meanwhile, convenient and easy-to-consume formats such as tablets and chewable tablets are highly favored by consumers. Functional gummies and ready-to-drink products have also experienced rapid growth, with annual growth rates reaching 28.7%.
As the brain nutrition market continues to evolve, future product development is expected to focus on combining scientifically supported ingredients with advanced formulation technologies to meet the increasingly diverse needs of consumers across different age groups and lifestyles.
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