Stress is a common experience that can negatively impact health, leading to anxiety, sleep disturbances, and a weakened immune system.1Stress management. Mayo Clinic. Aug. 10, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2024 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987. In fact, according to Gallup, the most recent data show that almost half of all Americans, or 49%, report frequent stress, which is up 16 points over the last two decades2Fioroni S and Foy D. Americans sleeping less, more stressed. Gallup. April 15, 2024..
Stress supplements assist the body in managing stress and promoting overall well-being. As the market for these supplements grows, there are new opportunities for supplement brand owners to tap into this expanding sector.
This article will examine the rise of supplements for stress relief, common stress support supplements, the process of manufacturing stress support supplements, and additional considerations for new and current supplement business owners.
The Rise of Supplements for Stress Relief
In today’s fast-paced society, stress has become increasingly prevalent. Factors such as demanding work schedules, financial anxiety and 24/7 digital connectivity contribute to heightened stress levels.
Statistics indicate a growing demand for natural stress relief solutions, with many consumers turning to supplements as a convenient and accessible option. Unlike therapy, which may not be available to everyone, or medications that can have undesirable side effects, supplements for stress provide gentle and safe natural support that fits easily into daily routines.
Consequently, it is no surprise that the stress supplement category is growing. According to Future Market Insights (FMI)3https://finance.yahoo.com/news/increasing-prevalence-cognitive-disorders-amid-123000914.html#:~:text=The%20stress%20relief%20supplement%20market%20is%20expected%20to%20reach%20a,US%24%20108%20million%20in%202034., the global stress relief supplement market is expected to grow from $605 million in 2024 to $1.03 billion by 2034. The market is projected to surge at 5.5% CAGR from 2024 to 2034. Likewise, Fact.MR4https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mood-support-supplements-market-hit-170000831.html reports that the mood support market was estimated at $656 million in 2022 and is expected to reach 1.3 billion by the end of 2033, with a CAGR of 6.4%. There is some overlap in these numbers since mood support supplements are considered by some to help in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
Common Stress Support Supplements
There is a broad range of nutraceuticals that can be used to help in stress management. These include herbs, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and probiotics.
Herbal Supplements
Herbal supplements for stress management are becoming increasingly popular. Common examples include:
- Panax ginseng root – Shown to improve mental and physical performance, reduce stress, and improve fatigue.5Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Single doses of Panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity. J Psychopharmacol. 2005 Jul;19(4):357-65.6Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained ‘mentally demanding’ tasks. J Psychopharmacol. 2006 Nov;20(6):771-81.
- Rhodiola rosea root – Shown to increase physical endurance, work productivity, and help reduce fatigue and moodiness and promote sexual health.7Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue–a double-blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71.8Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):85-9.9Shevtsov VA, Zholus BI, Shervarly VI, Vol’skij VB, Korovin YP, Khristich MP, Roslyakova NA, Wikman G. A randomized trial of two different doses of a SHR-5 Rhodiola rosea extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10(2-3):95-105.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus root – Shown to profoundly increase stamina and endurance.10Wagner H, Nörr H, Winterhoff H. Plant adaptogens. Phytomed 1994;1:63-76.11Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Edinburgh:Churchill Livingstone; 2000:534-541.12Farnsworth NR, Kinghorn AD, Soejarto DD, Waller DP. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): Current status as an adaptogen. In Economic and Medicinal Plant Research, vol 1, ed. Wagner H, Hikino HZ, Farnsworth NR. London: Academic Press, 1985, 155–215.13Asano K, Takahashi T, Miyashita M, et al. Effect of Eleutherococcus senticosus extract on human working capacity. Planta Medica 1986;37:175–7.
- Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) root – Used for mental and emotional well-being, supports immune function, sexual health, and helps promote calm.14Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Malvi H, Kodgule R. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 Sep;98(37):e17186.15Provino R. The role of adaptogens in stress management. Aust J Med Herbal. 2010;22:41-916Tharakan a, Shukla H, Benny IR, et al. Immunomodulatory Effect of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) Extract—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial with an Open Label Extension on Healthy Participants. J Clin Med. 2021; 10(16): 3644.17Dongre S, Langade D, Bhattacharyya S. Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract in Improving Sexual Function in Women: A Pilot Study. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:284154.
- Saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.)– Helps protect the brain against oxidative damage and neurotoxicity, while promoting a healthy mood in multiple studies.18Khazdair MR, Boskabady MH, Hosseini M, Rezaee R, Tsatsakis AM. The effects of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents on nervous system: A review. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2015 Sep-Oct; 5(5): 376–391.19Is Safr’Inside™ efficient on mood in only 15 days? Proprietary consumer study. Customer Technical Support. CTS-0138. Active Inside. Update 01 from 03/05/2018. Elaboration date 18/10/2017: 2 pgs.20Akhondzadeh S Tahmacebi-Pour N, Noorbala AA, Amini H, Fallah-Pour H, Jamshidi AH, Khani M. Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2005 Feb;19(2):148-51.21Modabbernia A, Sohrabi H, Nasehi AA, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Jamshidi A, Tabrizi M, Ashrafi M, Akhondzadeh S. Effect of saffron on fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment in men: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Oct;223(4):381-8.22Akhondzadeh S, Fallah-Pour H, Afkham K, Jamshidi AH, Khalighi-Cigaroudi F. Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a pilot double-blind randomized trial [ISRCTN45683816]. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004 Sep 2;4:12.23Shahmansouri N, Farokhnia M, Abbasi SH, Kassaian SE, Noorbala Tafti AA, Gougol A, Yekehtaz H, Forghani S, Mahmoodian M, Saroukhani S, Arjmandi-Beglar A, Akhondzadeh S. A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patients. J Affect Disord. 2014 Feb;155:216-22.
Amino Acids
Key amino acids in stress support supplements include L-theanine and L-tryptophan. L-theanine, found in tea leaves, promotes relaxation without drowsiness, while tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and stress-induced anxiety.
- Various placebo-controlled human studies have examined the effects of L-theanine on stress and anxiety.24Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol 2007;74(1):39-4525Unno K, Tanida N, Ishii N, et al. Anti-stress effect of theanine on students during pharmacy practice: positive correlation among salivary α-amylase activity, trait anxiety and subjective stress. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2013 Oct;111:128-35.26Yoto A, Motoki M, Murao S, Yokogoshi H. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012 Oct 29;31:28.27Higashyama A, Htay HH, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Kapoor MP. Effects of l-theanine on attention and reaction time response. Journal of Functional Foods. 2011;3(3):171–178. The results showed benefits of L-theanine over placebo, including:
- reduction in some physiological indicators of stress within 15 minutes.
- reductions in heart rate were likely attributable to a reduction of sympathetic nervous activation.
- anti-stress effects via the inhibition of cortical neuron excitation
- suppressing the initial stress response.
- significantly reducing stress-induced anxiety.
- Research has demonstrated that tryptophan intake resulted in:
- less feelings of anxiety.28Lindseth G, Helland B, Caspers J. The effects of dietary tryptophan on affective disorders. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2015;29(2):102-107. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2014.11.008
- mood improvement.29Levitan RD, Shen J-H, Jindal R, Driver HS, Kennedy SH, Shapiro CM. Preliminary randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial of tryptophan combined with fluoxetine to treat major depressive disorder: antidepressant and hypnotic effects. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2000; 25(4):337-46.30Lambert GW, Reid C, Kaye DM, Jennings GL, Esler MD. Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. Lancet 2002; 360(9348):1840-2.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins to reduce stress are important too, as are minerals, both of which play crucial roles in managing stress31hoemaker S and Van De Walle G. The 7 best vitamins and supplements for stress, according to dietitians. Healthline. August3, 2022.:
- B-complex vitamins: These vitamins are intimately involved in the function of the nervous system,32Whitney E, Rolfes S. Understanding Nutrition, Ninth Edition, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning; 2002. and so can play a role in helping to counter some of the negative effects of stress. Research on the use of the B-complex vitamins has demonstrated that they’ve been able to improve measures of stress, vigor, tiredness, everyday mood including fatigue, and cognitive performance during intense mental processing.33Kennedy DO, Veasey R, Watson A, Dodd F, Jones E, Maggini S, Haskell CF. Effects of high-dose B vitamin complex with vitamin C and minerals on subjective mood and performance in healthy males. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2010 Jul;211(1):55-68.34Schlebusch L, Bosch BA, Polglase G, Kleinschmidt I, Pillay BJ, Cassimjee MH. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, double-centre study of the effects of an oral multivitamin-mineral combination on stress. S Afr Med J. 2000 Dec;90(12):1216-23.35Carroll D, Ring C, Suter M, Willemsen G. The effects of an oral multivitamin combination with calcium, magnesium, and zinc on psychological well-being in healthy young male volunteers: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2000 Jun;150(2):220-5.36Scholey A, Bauer I, Neale C, et al. Acute effects of different multivitamin mineral preparations with and without Guaraná on mood, cognitive performance and functional brain activation. Nutrients. 2013 Sep 13;5(9):3589-604.
- Magnesium: This mineral is important for maintaining healthy nerve and muscle function37Wester PO. “Magnesium.” Am J Clin Nutr. 1987;45:1305-12.. Magnesium promotes muscle relaxation and reduces feelings of anxiety38Raman R. What does magnesium do for your body? Healthline. July 14, 2023.. Research suggests that it may help reduce certain reactions to stress39Muir KW, Lees KR. “Dose optimization of intravenous magnesium sulfate after acute stroke.” Stroke. 1998;29:918-23., as well as reducing overall feelings of stress40Song Y et al. “Dietary magnesium intake in relation to plasma insulin levels and risk of type 2 diabetes in women.” Diabetes Care. 2004;27:59-65.41Larsson SC, Wolk A. “Magnesium intake and risk of type-2 diabetes: a meta-analysis.” J Intern Med. 2007:262:208-14. and
- Vitamin D: This vitamin is essential for mood regulation and immune function42Devje S. Your guide to vitamin D benefits. Healthline. May 20, 2024.. Clinical research found that supplementation with vitamin D helped reduce feelings of anxiety.43Eid A, Khoja S, AlGhamdi S, et al. Vitamin D supplementation ameliorates severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Metab Brain Dis. 2019;34(6):1781-1786.
Probiotics and Gut Health Supplements
The gut-brain axis highlights the connection between gut health and stress. The term “Psychobiotics” was coined to describe probiotics that have a positive influence on serotonin or other active compounds that affect stress and mood44Dinan TG, Stanton C, Cryan JF. Psychobiotics: a novel class of psychotropic. Biol Psychiatry. 2013;74(10):720-726. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.05.001. Probiotics functioning as psychobiotics can influence the gut-brain axis by promoting a healthy gut microbiome, which in turn can address occasional stress and anxiety levels45Appleton J. The gut-brain axis: Influence of microbiota on mood and mental health. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2018 Aug;17(4):28-32.. This has been shown in human clinical research which found a link between specific probiotic strains that induced gut microbiota modulation and alleviation of stress/anxiety feelings in stressed adults, supporting the gut-brain axis in relieving stress-related symptoms46Ma T, Jin H, Kwok LY, Sun Z, Liong MT, Zhang H. Probiotic consumption relieved human stress and anxiety symptoms possibly via modulating the neuroactive potential of the gut microbiota. Neurobiol Stress. 2021;14:100294. Published 2021 Jan 12. doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100294.
The Manufacturing Process of Anti-Stress Supplements
Formulation Development
For brand owners, working with a reputable supplement contract manufacturer is essential for formulating and developing stress-reducing supplements. A good manufacturer will be able to navigate the complexities of creating a detailed product specification sheet that outlines ingredients, dosages, and desired finished product characteristics. Pilot batches and testing will help to ensure product quality, safety, and efficacy before full-scale production.
Production Steps
The best manufacturers source ingredients globally, with an emphasis on strict quality standards to ensure the purity and potency of raw materials. Once tested and released for use, ingredients are first blended into a homogenous mixture. Various drying, encapsulation, and tableting methods are used to produce supplements in powder and solid dosage forms. Rigorous quality control throughout the production process ensures consistent potency and purity.
Packaging and Labeling
Packaging design should target the intended audience with features such as easy-to-open containers and clear labeling. Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for labeling claims, such as those set by the FDA, is essential to avoid legal issues and ensure consumer trust—which is especially important for stress management supplements.
Quality Assurance and Testing
Thorough testing of ingredients and finished products is vital for ensuring safety, efficacy, and purity. A world-class contract manufacturer will have their own in-house laboratories that are certified by independent third parties such as USP and NSF. Independent testing and product certification can help to maintain high standards and consumer confidence in the supplements.
Additional Considerations for Supplement Business Owners
Sustainability in Sourcing and Manufacturing
Consumers are increasingly interested in sustainable practices. Sourcing sustainable ingredients and using eco-friendly manufacturing processes can enhance brand appeal. Certifications such as USDA Organic, NSF-GMP Certification, and FSSC 22000 are a few of the certifications that are relevant for facilities or supplements, including those formulated to address occasional stress and anxiety.
Regulatory Considerations
Understanding FDA guidelines for dietary supplements and ensuring that label claims comply with regulations is crucial. Adhering to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) maintains high standards of quality and safety throughout manufacturing.
Working with a Contract Manufacturer
Manufacturing supplements for stress management involves complexities best managed by a reputable contract manufacturer. Such partnerships offer formulation expertise, quality control and scalable production. Clear communication and understanding lead times are vital for timely product launches. For guidance on finding the right custom supplement manufacturer for your business, check out our CEO Patrick Brueggman’s blog post.
Manufacture High-Quality Stress Support Supplements with Vitaquest
The stress support supplement market presents significant opportunities for brand owners. By understanding the manufacturing steps and working with a reputable contract manufacturer, you can deliver high-quality products that meet consumer needs. As the demand for natural stress relief solutions continues to grow, investing in this market can lead to substantial benefits for your brand. Embrace the potential of manufacturing stress support supplements to contribute to consumers’ overall well-being and to tap into a thriving market.
For over 45 years, Vitaquest has excelled in manufacturing high-quality stress support supplements, with relevant certifications, advanced manufacturing processes and stringent quality control measures. Our commitment to using safe and reliable ingredients ensures that we meet strict quality standards.
To learn how we can help you manufacture exceptional stress support supplements for your customers, call 800-526-9095 to speak with one of our knowledgeable sales executives or request a competitive nutraceutical manufacturing price quote if you already have your project requirements prepared.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stress Support Supplements
Q: Do stress supplements actually work?
High-quality stress supplements have proven to be very helpful. Several vitamins and other supplements, including Rhodiola rosea, vitamin D, and ashwagandha, have been linked to reduced stress symptoms.
Q: What is the best vitamin to combat everyday stress?
B-vitamins have been shown to promote brain health, stress reduction, and reduced feelings of anxiety.
Q: What is the strongest herb for feelings of anxiety?
There are a number of such herbs. Two well-researched examples include Ashwagandha extract which promotes calm while reducing feelings of anxiety, and Saffron extract which has likewise been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety while promoting a healthy mood.
