Sports & Energy

Emerging ingredients—from collagen peptides and mitochondrial-supporting compounds to high-growth whey protein—are shaping the future of sports nutrition, with science-backed performance benefits and certification standards influencing consumer trust.

Under the certified program, the branded softgels passed screening in three dosage formats, reflecting a growing demand for third-party verification in sports nutrition.

In the final part of his chat at Natural Products Expo West, Jim Roza, chief scientific officer with Layn Natural Ingredients, shares how 99% purity and flexible formats for NAD and NMN ingredients enable diverse delivery systems—from beverages and gummies to liposomal supplements—while supporting mitochondrial health and longevity-focused nutrition.

The natural caffeine ingredient will be launched at Natural Products Expo West, highlighting supply chain sustainability and transparency.

The company will showcase its new Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) at Natural Products Expo West, adding to its portfolio of cellular energy ingredients.

Interest and expansion in protein continues, as more consumers recognize its benefits and adopt high protein diets.

Creatine continues to see double digit growth as more consumers discover and take creatine. Predominantly used in pre-workout for sports nutrition, creatine is also seeing new life as an ingredient that supports cognitive health, further contributing to its growth.

Nutritional Outlook interviews Scott Dicker, senior director of market insights at SPINS to discuss the 2026 Ingredients to Watch. Dicker unpacks sales trends in the nutraceutical space and what they mean for product formulators and marketers. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation in which Dicker discusses what is driving sales growth of ashwagandha, colostrum, as well as sea moss.

The fava-bean derived PeptiStrong will be featured in an accessible drinkable yogurt format, highlighting the company’s AI platform that identifies bioactive peptides.

Ashwagandha is finding its way into more products as research grows on the ingredient's health benefits, and formulators push the boundaries of alternative dosage formats.

Nutritional Outlook interviews Scott Dicker, senior director of market insights at SPINS to discuss the 2026 Ingredients to Watch. Dicker unpacks sales trends in the nutraceutical space and what they mean for product formulators and marketers. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation in which Dicker discusses what is driving sales growth of creatine and protein.

Nutritional Outlook, in collaboration with market research firm SPINS, provides a deep dive into 2026's top trending ingredients in the nutraceutical space. This year's Ingredients to Watch focuses on ashwagandha, colostrum, creatine, and protein, with expert insights and detailed sales data.

Thomas Druke, senior marketing and business development manager at Balchem, explains why cognition is a crucial factor in sports performance, the opportunity this presents to dietary supplement manufacturers, and why choline is an ideal ingredient for supporting brain health in athletes.

A curated list of top articles from 2025 covering the trends and innovations in longevity and healthy aging.

The new certification program is conducted in partnership with TruShield Certified.

Balchem has announced that it will be debuting its “Premier Ingredients for Premier Athletes” platform for the U.S. market, highlighting how its minerals, nutrients, and other functional ingredients can support health and performance in athletes.

Bioenergy Life Science showcases new ingredients at this year’s SupplySide Global event.

The presentation from Douglas Kalman, PhD, RD, FISSN clinical associate professor in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, co-founder of Substantiation Sciences and the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) focused on nootropics and the relationship between nutrition, cognitive health, and sports performance.

David Trosin, Senior Director of NSF, discussed at The Outlook on Active Nutrition conference, how rigorous, science-backed certification protects consumers and athletes from harmful or mislabeled supplement products.

At "The Outlook on Active Nutrition" conference, Susan Hewlings, PhD, vice president of research affairs at Radical Science and co-founder of Substantiation Sciences, discusses the importance of leveraging clinical validation and evidence to build consumer trust and differentiate your brand.

At "The Outlook on Active Nutrition," Maura McDonald, a medical education specialist for sports nutrition at Thorne, presented “Fueling Optimal Performance: The Fundamental Ingredients of Endurance Nutrition,” highlighting endurance ingredients, their combinations, and how they can be optimized to enhance performance.

At The Outlook on Active Nutrition, Sara C. Campbell, associate professor and director of the Department of Kinesiology and Health at Rutgers University, explored the dynamic interplay between gut health, exercise, and brain function.

At The Outlook on Active Nutrition, registered dietician Katie Salomone and director of sports nutrition at Rutgers University explains how she uses sweat testing and personalized hydration tracking to optimize athlete performance.

The polyphenol-rich sorghum extract ReDaxin helps athletes recover muscle strength faster after eccentric exercise, the study demonstrates.

Building muscle is important, but maintaining it is crucial as one ages. As a result, there is a growing demand for ingredients that help preserve muscle to help maintain an active lifestyle and quality of life.