Sports & Energy

Exploring nootropic opportunities in sports nutrition.

A look at the diversifying sports nutrition market

The sports drinks market is continuing to diversify, with consumers driving demand for healthier sports drinks products. This demand for healthy drinks-coupled with growing niches that have very specific functional needs-is likely to open up new opportunities for brands that fine-tune their formulations and marketing in response.

At last week’s Natural Products Expo West trade show, representatives from Lonza Consumer Health and Nutrition discussed how acquiring Capsugel’s delivery-systems portfolio empowers Lonza to provide comprehensive, clean-label solutions to the nutraceutical industry.

Aker BioMarine (Oslo, Norway) debuted promising new pilot-study data at last week’s Natural Products Expo West trade show, examining the benefits of the company’s Superba Boost krill oil concentrate for recovery of triathletes following high-intensity exercise.

According to Nutrition 21, Nitrosigine’s ability to boost nitric oxide levels, thus increasing blood flow to muscles during exercise, makes it an ideal addition to pre-workout supplements like Evertrain Pre.

The study found that supplementation with a commercially available adaptogenic mushroom blend including Cordyceps militaris may improve endurance performance in healthy young adults.

Results from the newly released pilot study demonstrated that supplementation with curcumin delivered via a proprietary lecithin-based system may be a safe means of maintaining musculoskeletal function during intense, high-impact physical activities, even over a short course of supplementation.

Results of the study showed that supplementation with MSM, as a source of rapidly absorbed sulfur, can help spare the body’s stores of the amino acids cysteine and methionine.

According to the company, Enhanced Mobility is a supplement designed to address not only joint support, but exercise recovery and improved mobility, as well.

The #SARMsCanHarm toolkit for fitness organizations includes customizable flyers, newsletter material, and social media content featuring educational information on SARMs and how athletes can protect themselves from products containing the illicit ingredients.

Supported by mounting cognitive-health research, magnesium and zinc are the minerals to watch this year. 

NSF International said that the newly designed app and website support its Certified for Sport testing program and help athletes and consumers avoid potentially harmful ingredients and banned substances in dietary supplements.

Caffeine's myriad benefits for body and brain make the alkaloid a consumer favorite. 

The study found that Deep Ocean Minerals-a preparation extracted from desalinated minerals and trace elements collected in seawater approximately 200 meters below the earth’s surface-can improve both cerebral hemodynamic response during exercise and recovery afterward.

The most unexpected supplements sales trends from last year, according to SPINS.

According to the study authors, this is the first study to “comprehensively characterize the physiological responses to slowly digestible starch…in in vitro and in vivo studies.”

In the study, researchers used chemical analyses to demonstrate that of 44 products claiming to contain SARMs and sold online, only slightly more than half contained the ingredient and many more were inaccurately labeled.

The associations, along with the U.S Anti-Doping Agency, said that they support FDA’s recent efforts to crack down on the unlawful manufacturing of body-building products containing selective androgen receptor modulators.

The latest research on brain health ingredients indicates products are meeting consumer needs and offer significant opportunity for category growth.

Making the case for dairy proteins in a plant-protein era.

The number of global sports nutrition product launches has increased significantly, particularly over the past three years or so, according to Innova Market Insights data.

The study showed improved joint mobility, comfort and functional capacity following supplementation with Natreon's AyuFlex.

The clinical study found that the polyphenol-rich blend of botanical extracts can alleviate muscle soreness and shorten athletes’ time to recovery.

Recent studies show whey protein’s benefits in cases of sarcopenia, high blood pressure, and more.