The accumulated demand for self-care products in pharmacies has experienced an increase of 5 percent in the last year, according to the latest report from the Cofares Trends Observatory, released on the occasion of World Self-Care Day.
Cofares emphasizes that, currently, the pharmacy has consolidated itself as a reference point for those who want to manage their health actively. "Its specialized advice provides the differential value that the population needs in the search for effective, preventive, and tailored self-care solutions," the entity points out.
In this scenario, the sports nutrition category in pharmacies has recorded a spike of 36 percent in the last twelve months. This advance is especially driven by the protein subcategory, which grows by 15 percent, although the largest volume still corresponds to pre-competition products, such as creatine, which represent 70 percent of the total.
The Observatory also notes that pharmacies are contributing to changing physical care habits: it is no longer limited to the summer period. Demand is spreading throughout the year, and in 2026, the peak in sports nutrition was reached in March.
At the same time, the over-the-counter digestive health category has recorded an accumulated growth of 5 percent in the last year. The population is leaning towards microbiome care, placing probiotics as the most demanded item, accounting for 37 percent of sales in this area.
At the same time, pharmacies are responding to a greater concern for digestive discomfort and sensitivities, reflected in a 27 percent increase in the demand for products for intolerances and allergies related to the digestive system.
Madrid and Comunidad Valenciana, at the forefront of self-care
The Community of Madrid and the Community of Valencia generally lead the increase in demand and gather the largest weight in all the well-being categories analyzed by Cofares.
Alongside these autonomous communities, specific dynamics are observed in other regions, driven by local pharmacies. In Catalonia, for example, sports nutrition has seen an increase of 37 percent in the last year; while Andalusia consolidates itself as a key area in digestive health care, accounting for 12 percent of the national volume of this category by itself.