The issue of iron deficiency among the Indian population is a big concern. According to recent reports of the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) 57% of women and 25% of men belonging to the 15-49 years age group are anemic in India.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the average iron intake for an adult Indian man is 28 mg/day, and for an adult Indian woman, it is 30mg/day. Having the correct amount of iron in body helps in fortification of the immune system and also improvement in sleep quality. It also helps in formulation of haemoglobin in the body, eventually causing enhancement of oxygen carrying capacity of blood. This reduces dizziness and fatigue and improves overall functioning of the body system. Now since only about 1-5% of the total iron requirement is provided through dietary intake, consumption of iron supplements becomes a necessity.
More than 35% of Indians have vegetarian diet base. This poses another significant issue. Plant based iron (non-heme iron) is less readily absorbed by the body in comparison to animal based iron sources. Non ayurveda based iron supplements may include heme based ingredients in their composition. But ayurvedic iron supplements rely on natural herbs and minerals to provide an adequate amount of iron to the body. Inclusion of ingredients like Lauhbhasma, Mandurbhasma, Punarnavadimandur and Navayasalauha as crucial iron sources is the base of such products. Lauhbhasma being one of the primary ingredients in many ayurvedic iron supplements are derived from iron oxide minerals. Without hampering their religious beliefs, vegan Indians can rely on these supplements for meeting their daily iron requirements. This will eventually helps overcome the deficiency in iron intake through diet. The added advantage of using ayurvedic supplements over synthetic ones is the presence of natural absorption boosters in the former. Presence of amla, pippali, black pepper, shunthi, trikatu and other such related ingredients enhance the iron absorption capacity of the body. This ensures that the supplement does not get discarded out of the body without getting absorbed.
Raktda tablets by Maharishi Ayurveda, Nutrela Iron complex natural capsules by Patanjali, dhatrilauha by Sri SriTattva, lohasava syrup and tonic by Baidyanath and Dabur are some of the readily available products in the market. Companies like Elzac, Herbal hill wellness and Gynoveda also have their ayurveda based iron supplements. Thus there is ample amount of choice available to the customers according to their palatability and other preferences. Taking these Ayurvedic iron supplements under the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner can prove to be a healthy habit. Natural basis of these products ensures suitability for common people with negligible chances of developing side effects. These characteristics of Ayurvedic iron supplements makes them appealing and more user friendly over artificially created iron supplements.
Under such circumstances the consumer base of ayurvedic iron supplements is bound to witness expansion. Companies dealing in the manufacturing of Ayurvedic iron supplements should aim to analyze the potential market opportunities and target customers and their preferences accordingly.
At this juncture our organization Vaults Insights aims to provide crucial business related market insights through real-time quality research and help ayurvedic iron supplement producing companies expand their market and witness remarkable growth. With help of dedicated research team, we help businesses target their customers in a more strategic manner. Through behavior analysis, predictive analysis and various other statistical models, Vaults Insights helps analyze the ground reality and provide strategic insights tailored according to the specific need and capacity of individual companies. By this, we at Vaults Insights aim to help these companies grow and also help tackle the iron deficiency issue widely prevalent among Indian people.