Regulatory Update: Upcoming National Standard for Sarcopenia-Specific FSMPs Opens New Horizons for CaHMB Applications

In April 2026, the National Health Commission of China released the draft of the “National Food Safety Standard for Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) — Complete Nutritional Formula Foods for Sarcopenia” [1] for public consultation.

 

The release of this draft standard fills the regulatory gap for sarcopenia-specific FSMPs in China, establishing a clear framework for the research, development, and compliance of nutritional intervention products targeting muscle health in older adults. Notably, calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (CaHMB) has been included in the list of permitted functional ingredients with defined dosage requirements, officially positioning CaHMB as a key ingredient for sarcopenia nutritional intervention and creating new opportunities in this emerging market segment.

 

New Regulatory Framework: Establishing a Dedicated FSMP System for Adults with Sarcopenia

This draft standard is developed specifically for individuals aged 18 years and above with sarcopenia, and the corresponding products can serve as a sole source of nutrition, meeting patients’ daily nutritional requirements and supporting overall health maintenance. These products are classified as Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs).

 

Sarcopenia is commonly associated with aging and chronic diseases, with typical manifestations including reduced muscle mass, declining muscle strength, and impaired physical performance, making it a prevalent health concern among older adults [1].

 

Compared with the general FSMP standard GB 29922, this dedicated standard sets a clearer objective, focusing on maintaining muscle mass and improving physical function. It specifies requirements for key macronutrients, including energy density, high-quality protein, leucine, carbohydrates, and fats, further refines the permitted ranges of added vitamins and minerals, and introduces a dedicated list of optional functional ingredients, among which CaHMB is identified as a key functional ingredient.

 

Enhanced Regulatory Compliance: CaHMB Meets Dedicated Dosage Requirements for Sarcopenia Applications

The draft standard explicitly identifies CaHMB as an optional functional ingredient for complete nutritional formula foods for sarcopenia and establishes a dedicated and precise dosage range for its use.

 

With this development, CaHMB has achieved a dual compliance framework, supported by both its status as an approved new food ingredient [2] and the upcoming sarcopenia-specific FSMP standard. Unlike the general FSMP standard, this new regulation represents China’s first dedicated standard for a specific disease-related population, with dosage requirements specifically aligned with the physiological characteristics and muscle health needs of individuals with sarcopenia. It provides a clear and reliable regulatory pathway for brands in formulation development and compliant product commercialization.

 

*(Based on available safety data, CaHMB is currently not recommended for infants, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women.)

 

Reshaping the Market Landscape: CaHMB Unlocks New Opportunities in the Silver Economy FSMP Market

Previously, China’s FSMP market was primarily dominated by general complete nutritional products, while sarcopenia-specific solutions remained limited. The industry faced challenges including product homogenization and insufficient functional differentiation. With the implementation of the new standard, the market is expected to move toward greater standardization and specialization, while significantly expanding the application scenarios of CaHMB.

 

1. Breaking Population and Application Boundaries: Unlocking New Growth Opportunities in Elderly Nutrition and Rehabilitation

Previously, domestic demand for CaHMB was mainly driven by fitness and muscle-building consumers, resulting in a relatively narrow target population and limited market potential. The draft standard applies to adult populations with sarcopenia, creating two major new growth opportunities: First, it addresses the growing population of age-related primary sarcopenia among older adults driven by global aging trends, supporting daily muscle maintenance in home care and elderly care settings. Second, it expands into secondary sarcopenia populations among younger and middle-aged adults, including individuals undergoing post-surgical recovery, those with cancer or chronic diseases, people with sedentary lifestyles or restrictive diets, and patients experiencing prolonged immobilization or bed rest.

 

These emerging applications are clearly differentiated from the traditional fitness market, creating an independent growth segment and opening long-term expansion opportunities for the industry.

 

2．Breaking Formula Similarity: CaHMB Supports Differentiated Product Innovation

Before the introduction of the new regulation, many elderly nutrition products in the market relied mainly on basic combinations of protein, vitamins, and minerals, lacking targeted functional ingredients for combating muscle decline.The inclusion of CaHMB provides brands with a key opportunity to develop differentiated FSMP solutions. Currently, the industry is increasingly exploring scientifically designed formulations combining high-quality protein + leucine + CaHMB + vitamin D to optimize nutritional strategies and address muscle loss and declining muscle strength among older adults. This shift is driving the market from basic nutritional supplementation toward a more advanced stage of precision functional intervention and targeted health management.

 

Advantages of L&P Foods

1.State-Owned Enterprise Background and Strong Technical Expertise

As a high-tech enterprise under Guangdong Environmental Protection Group, L&P Food Ingredient Co., Ltd. (L&P Foods) has been deeply engaged in the food ingredients industry for 40 years. Built on the foundation of the former Guangdong Food Industry Institute, the company has established a provincial engineering technology research center and a postdoctoral workstation, reflecting its strong R&D capabilities and solid technical foundation. Since 2024, L&P Foods has showcased CaHMB at major domestic and international industry exhibitions. Its technical specifications are benchmarked against international standards, demonstrating the company’s commitment to high-quality ingredient innovation.

 

2.Reliable In-House Production and Quality Control

Self-owned production base: Located in Wengyuan, Shaoguan, L&P Foods manages the entire process in-house, from raw material production to finished product packaging. The company is also among the few enterprises in China holding a CaHMB production license.

 

High purity and low impurity profile: The product offers a high level of purity, while heavy metals and impurity residues are strictly controlled to standards beyond national requirements. This makes it suitable for compliant applications across multiple scenarios, including sports nutrition, dairy products, and foods for special medical purposes.

 

3.Policy-Aligned Solutions with Full-Service Support

After China raised the daily intake limit of CaHMB to 6 g in 2025, L&P Foods quickly optimized its ingredient solutions to help customers upgrade their products accordingly. The company also has mature nutritional premix technology and can provide customized formulations, along with one-stop support covering formula design, process optimization, and label compliance guidance, helping customers reduce R&D and production costs.

 

4.Diverse Product Portfolio and Reliable International Certifications

In addition to CaHMB, L&P Foods has also developed a range of functional ingredients, including phosphatidylserine and oat β-glucan, enabling the company to offer diversified nutrition solutions. Its products are supported by multiple international certifications, including BRC, ISO, and Halal, and comply with relevant domestic and international standards. They have also been incorporated into the supply chains of several leading food companies.

 

The draft national standard for sarcopenia-specific FSMPs establishes CaHMB as a key muscle health ingredient for elderly nutrition. Driven by the combined forces of accelerated population aging, evolving regulatory standards, and supportive policy developments, CaHMB is transitioning beyond its traditional role in sports nutrition toward broader applications in everyday health nutrition. It is becoming a critical ingredient for supporting healthy aging and capturing new opportunities in the silver economy.