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Why Evidence Matters More Than Ever: The Real-World Revolution in Medical Nutrition
Dr Volker Spitzer, VP, Global Consumer Health R&D/RWE, IQVIA Consumer Health
Dr Stephanie Krammer-Lukas, Global Director, R&D and RWE Services, IQVIA Consumer Health
Matt Stewart, Associate Director, Global Marketing, IQVIA Consumer Health
Jul 10, 2025

As global health priorities shift toward prevention and personalization, medical nutrition is emerging as a critical pillar of care. Our latest white paper The Growing Importance of Real-World Evidence in Medical Nutrition underscores a compelling truth: the future of medical nutrition hinges not only on innovation but on the ability to prove real-world impact.

Explore the key highlights below:

Aging Populations, Expanding Needs

By 2030, the global population aged 60+ will reach 1.4 billion. This demographic shift, coupled with rising chronic disease prevalence, is fueling demand for specialized nutritional support. But it’s not just older adults driving the growth of medical nutrition. Younger, health-conscious consumers are increasingly turning to medical nutrition to support wellness goals, manage side effects from treatments like GLP-1s, and prevent future health issues.

Whether to address nutrient gaps—such as those linked to GLP-1 use—or to support broader wellness goals, more consumers are turning to medical nutrition as part of a proactive approach to health and self-care.

Specifically, for those using GLP-1 medications, which suppress appetite and slow digestion for weight loss, medical nutrition is crucial to address potential nutrient deficiencies (e.g., protein, B12, D, iron, calcium) and mitigate common side effects like nausea, constipation, and muscle loss, ensuring overall health and sustained results.

The Evidence Gap—and the RWE Opportunity

Despite growing demand, the medical nutrition industry faces a fragmented regulatory landscape. In the EU, stringent FSMP (Food for Special Medical Purpose) regulations demand robust clinical evidence. In the U.S., the FDA’s evolving stance on real-world evidence (RWE) opens new doors for label expansion and post-market validation. Yet, the sector lacks the rich real-world data (RWD) infrastructure that pharma enjoys.

This is where RWE becomes transformative. Unlike randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are often limited in scope and scale, RWE captures how products perform in everyday settings. It reflects patient adherence, quality of life, and long-term outcomes—factors that matter deeply to both clinicians and consumers.

whitepaper
The Growing Importance of Real-World Evidence in Medical Nutrition
Want to dive deeper? Explore how Real-World Evidence (RWE) is transforming medical nutrition into a powerful tool for preventive care, wellness, and treatment support.

What’s Next: Tech, Trust, and Teamwork

The integration of electronic health records, wearables, and AI-powered analytics will accelerate RWE generation for medical nutrition brands. But technology alone isn’t enough. Cross-sector collaboration—between brands, regulators, clinicians, and patients—is essential to build standardized, credible RWE frameworks in the medical nutrition space.

Action points for medical nutrition brands and innovators

  1. Invest in RWE Infrastructure: Prioritize partnerships that enable access to real-world data and support pragmatic study designs.
  2. Champion Data Harmonization:Advocate for standardized methodologies to ensure RWE is credible and comparable across markets.
  3. Focus on Patient-Centric Outcomes:Go beyond clinical endpoints to capture quality of life, adherence, and satisfaction.
  4. Leverage RWE for Market Access:Use real-world insights to support label claims, reimbursement discussions, and global expansion.
  5. Collaborate Across Ecosystems:Engage with academia, tech firms, and advocacy groups to co-create the next generation of evidence-based nutrition.

In a world where health decisions are increasingly data-driven, RWE is not just a regulatory checkbox, it’s a strategic imperative for medical nutrition companies. Embracing this shift is the key to unlocking trust, relevance, and long-term growth.

You can explore these finding in the full whitepaper, which you can download here

Contact us using the button on this page to learn how IQVIA Consumer Health can support your evidence-based nutrition strategy with powerful RWE insight.

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