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The global brain health market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing awareness of cognitive well-being across all age groups. From students seeking better focus to seniors aiming to preserve memory, the demand for effective brain-boosting ingredients has never been higher. This article explores the most prominent ingredient trends shaping the brain health industry in 2025 and beyond.
DHA & Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Market Position: Accounts for 38.2% of the brain nutrient market with a yearly growth rate of 15.1%.
Core Advantages: Serves as the "structural cornerstone" of neural networks, supporting brain development and neurotransmission.
Innovation Direction: Algal oil DHA, which is free from marine pollution risks and vegetarian-friendly, is gradually replacing traditional fish oil.
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Market Position: Known as the "intelligent nutrient" after DHA, focusing on improving concentration.
Mechanism of Action: Regulates neural signal transmission, enhances synaptic plasticity, and alleviates oxidative stress.
Popular Products: High-concentration PS formulations with a purity of 50%, such as Ziciper Brain Power (400mg/2 capsules).
Phosphatidylcholine Compounds (GPC/α-GPC)
Molecular Characteristics: Has a molecular weight of only 257.22, excellent water solubility, and can efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier.
Core Advantages: High purity (99%), high absorption rate (>90%), and high utilization rate, directly increasing acetylcholine levels.
Market Trend: Recommended as the "new trend in brain health" at the 2025 International Food Safety and Health Conference.
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ)
Breakthrough Discovery: A new type of food ingredient approved by the FDA (2008), EU, and Japan, which cannot be synthesized by the human body.
Core Efficacy: Promotes the secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF), enhances mitochondrial function, and improves memory by more than 20%.
Clinical Verification: "Clinical Nutrition ESPEN" (2024) confirmed its improvement in cognitive function, especially suitable for the elderly population.
Bacopa Monnieri
Traditional Wisdom: A thousand-year-old brain-boosting herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, and a core ingredient in modern cognitive formulations.
Mechanism of Action: Enhances nerve impulse transmission, promotes neurite growth, and protects neurons from oxidation.
Clinical Evidence: Improves memory retention, learning speed, and reduces anxiety, especially suitable for students and professionals.
Lion's Mane Mushroom
Core Value: Stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF), promotes neuroregeneration and synaptogenesis.
Unique Advantage: Dual action - repairing damaged nerves + protecting existing neurons, comprehensively improving cognition.
Ashwagandha
Adaptogen Properties: Balances cortisol, enhances stress resistance, and improves "brain fatigue".
Market Application: Widely added to stress-relief drinks and functional foods to help maintain mental resilience.
Ginkgo Biloba Extract
Historical Heritage: A model combining traditional Chinese medicine wisdom with modern science, increasing cerebral blood flow by 15-20%.
Mechanism of Action: Antioxidant, improves blood circulation, and protects nerve cells from β-amyloid damage.
Neuroacid (Extract from Acer Truncatum Bunge Seed Oil)
Scarcity: Extracted from the fruits of Acer Truncatum Bunge unique to China, with a content of only 5-7%, known as the "golden raw material" for nerve repair.
Core Function: Repairs myelin sheaths, promotes axon growth, and improves nerve conduction velocity.
Market Dynamics: Popular products in 2025 such as Helikangwei and RARESHIN neuroacid preparations.
Ergothioneine
Cell Protection: Selectively enriches in the brain, protects mitochondrial DNA, and is known as the "longevity factor".
Market Boom: A "golden ingredient" with a growth rate of over 600% in the anti-aging market in 2025, added to high-end brain health products.
L-Theanine
Unique Mechanism: Promotes the production of alpha brain waves, relaxes without sedation, and improves concentration and emotional stability.
Market Performance: Sales on e-commerce platforms increased by 47% year-on-year in 2024, becoming a standard ingredient in functional drinks.
"Psychobiotics"
Scientific Breakthrough: It has been confirmed that intestinal flora affects brain function through the vagus nerve and immune pathways.
Popular Strains:
Lactobacillus acidophilus: Improves cognitive performance in patients with cerebral ischemia and reduces neuroinflammation.
Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1238: Regulates the biological clock and repairs cognitive damage caused by staying up late.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus: Enhances synaptic plasticity and improves age-related cognitive impairment.
Multi-Target Synergistic Formulas
Scientific Concept: Adopting a "cocktail"-style compound formula to meet the multi-dimensional needs of brain health.
Typical Cases:
Kound Brain Awakening: A five-fold targeted formula of neuroacid + phosphatidylserine + various plant extracts.
Ziciper Brain Power: The "neural repair iron triangle" of PS (400mg) + DHA (300mg) + neuroacid.
Personalized Precision Formulas
Technological Breakthrough: Customized nootropic solutions based on genetic testing and metabolomics, with a market growth rate of 28%.
Application Scenarios: Differentiated brain health solutions for workplace elites, students, and the elderly.
Raw Material Source Transformation
Rise of Plant-Based Ingredients: The proportion increased from 29.1% in 2020 to 42.6% in 2024, in line with the concept of "homology of medicine and food".
Sustainability Demand: Organic certified, non-GMO, and fair trade raw materials have a premium capacity of over 30%.
Dosage Form Innovation
Liquid Nutrition: DHA liquid drinks, brain peptide drinks, etc., with bioavailability increased by more than 5 times.
Microencapsulation Technology: Protects probiotics and oxidizable ingredients, extends shelf life, and improves absorption rate.
Expansion of Consumption Scenarios
Workplace Applications: Added to coffee and energy drinks to improve work concentration and decision-making ability.
Silver Economy: Cognitive maintenance products for people over 55, with an annual growth rate of over 18%.
Education Market: Brain-tonifying products for students have a growth rate of 25% in the Asian market, relieving exam pressure and mental fatigue.
Summary: Top Brain Health Ingredients in 2025
Ranking | Ingredient Category | Representative Ingredients | Core Efficacy | Target Population |
1 | Basic Structural Lipids | DHA + Phosphatidylserine | Neural development, synaptogenesis, memory improvement | All age groups, especially students and the elderly |
2 | Plant Wisdom Essence | Bacopa Monnieri + Lion's Mane Mushroom | Neuroprotection, promotion of neuroregeneration, antioxidant | Mental workers, people at risk of cognitive decline |
3 | Emerging Synthetic Nutrients | GPC + PQQ | Increase acetylcholine, enhance mitochondrial function, promote NGF | Middle-aged and elderly, people with memory loss |
4 | Rare Special Ingredients | Neuroacid + Ergothioneine | Nerve repair, cell protection, anti-aging | People at risk of neurodegenerative diseases |
5 | Microbiome Modulators | Psychobiotic Mixtures | Regulate gut-brain axis, improve neuroinflammation, enhance mood | People with high stress and digestive system problems |
With the in-depth research in brain science and nutrition, it is expected that more innovative ingredients based on precision nutrition and microbiome will emerge from 2026 to 2030. Personalized brain health solutions will become mainstream, and natural, safe, and efficient compound formulas will continue to lead the market trend.
