Finding Nuance in Energy Products

There is no shortage of energy products on the market, but success in the energy category today demands more from manufacturers than a caffeine boost and good flavor.

“Ten to 15 years ago, there were only a couple of sources of energy for consumers. They were thinking about caffeine, and sometimes a mix of caffeine and sugar, but now they realize that those are not necessarily good for their health,” says Sébastien Bornet, vice president of global sales and marketing for Horphag Research. “A lot of people now are looking for natural solutions.”

James Roza, chief scientific officer of Layn Natural Ingredients, echoes this statement. “The energy category has evolved to a place where now it’s much more than just providing some additional energy in a form of caffeine; it’s now incorporating other ingredients, functional ingredients, that help to modulate some of the caffeine, like L-theanine, for example, which helps to temper it…just so that they have that sustained energy throughout the day and they’re able to focus and perform at a higher level,” he explains.

Energy, focus, and performance: More than the types of ingredients, consumer expectations around energy are also becoming more targeted. This can be achieved in a number of ways.

The Benefits of Natural Caffeine

While there are concerns about the overconsumption of caffeine among consumers and certain negative effects like jitters or crashes, the problem is not so much the caffeine itself as the sources and how these products are formulated. Roza points out that the vast majority of energy drinks use caffeine anhydrous, which is absorbed very quickly and felt immediately. Unfortunately, these effects are also short-lived. This is where sourcing natural forms of caffeine and complementing caffeine with other actives comes in, giving consumers better options for energy that also improve performance.

“Caffeine will always be king in the energy market, but today’s consumers are becoming more sophisticated in the type of energy experience they want and the types of ingredients they are willing to select,” explains Steve Fink, vice president of marketing for PLT Health Solutions. “When we reach for an energy supplement or beverage, we’re all coming from a different place, depending on time of day, what we’re going through, and how we want to perform. All of these can factor into being the right energy product at the right time.”

Natural sources of caffeine, such as green coffee beans and green tea, contain other compounds other than caffeine, such as catechins and polyphenols, that help slow the digestion and absorption of caffeine to sustain its effects over time, says Roza.

There are also specialty caffeine ingredients designed for sustained release. For example, PLT Health Solutions offers an ingredient called zümXR, which, in a pharmacokinetic study, showed a 300% longer Tmax and a 64.5% longer half-life than caffeine anhydrous.¹

“Conventional caffeine drops a spike into blood plasma all at once and then diminishes rapidly. It stands to reason that a smoother curve of energy release will help to avoid some of the jitters and crashes that an all-at-once ingredient will deliver,” says Fink. “Beyond this, though, our ingredient offers longer-lasting energy, which is something that everyone wants.”

Physical vs Mental Energy

Sustained energy is great, but manufacturers can make a greater impact by using complementary ingredients that add an extra layer, such as cognitive performance or mood support. L-theanine, mentioned previously by Roza, for example, has been shown in research to support short-term sustained attention and overall cognition, while also reversing “task-related mind-wandering and improved inhibitory control” in subjects with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.²

A mango leaf extract from PLT Health Solutions, called Zynamite S, was shown in a recent study to significantly improve cognitive function tasks involving selective attention, processing speed, and executive function, while also reducing negative emotional states such as confusion and tension.³ Such ingredients can stand alone or be combined with caffeine to give energy products more dimension or nuance. The energy requirements for someone trying to perform in school or at work, executing on projects under tight deadlines, are much different from those of an athlete, though even athletes benefit from cognitive health and long-term energy.

One study investigating the effects of combining adaptogenic herbs with caffeine found that compared with caffeine alone, the combination had the same effects on cognition, mood, and blood pressure, but a more gradual effect over a longer period, indicating that the adaptogens modulated the acute effects of caffeine. More work still needs to be done to determine the specific mechanisms at work here, but it’s informative for formulators.⁴

Speaking of adaptogenic herbs, ginseng is a popular option, but Roza notes that the type of ginseng one uses can have a rather different impact on the end consumer. He explains that if you want a more stimulating effect that works well in active nutrition formulations, Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a good choice, while the effect of the milder American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) may have better mass appeal, as it not only supports sustained energy but also promotes cognitive function and calmness, which is a winning combination for most consumers.

In the parlance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), he explains, Korean ginseng is a warming herb (yang), used for promoting blood circulation and energy metabolism, while American ginseng is a cooling herb (yin), which is used in TCM to treat those experiencing excessive “heat,” which can manifest itself in symptoms like irritability.⁵ He explains further that these impacts are influenced by the dominant bioactives in the herb, ginsenosides, with each variety having a more dominant presence of specific ginsenosides—RG-1 in the case of Korean ginseng and RB-1 in the case of American ginseng.

When it comes to energy and cognitive function, manufacturers can formulate products in a number of ways, each of which can achieve a different result. While there may be overlap, one can achieve nuanced effects, with the differences between Korean and American ginseng being only one example of how similar herbs can work through different mechanisms.

The Value of Cellular Energy

Pushing further into the healthy and active aging space, cellular energy is an important consideration for consumers, particularly as they age. Ingredients like NMN and NAD support adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, which our cells rely on for energy, and without which cells would lack the fuel to perform vital functions.⁶ Roza explains that NMN is converted in the body from its precursor, niacin, and NMN is a precursor to NAD, and that as we age, the body produces less NMN, meaning the body produces less ATP. This means less energy for the cells, impairing their function and leading to cellular senescence, a state in which cells stop dividing and become dormant. This is not atypical for aging, but it does affect the body’s functioning. So, while supplementation with ingredients like NMN or NAD may not be as experiential as caffeine for energy, those taking it often report reduced brain fog and increased overall energy, says Roza.

Another ingredient that operates via a similar mechanism is a French oak extract, Robuvit, from Horphag Research. The “ellagitannins present in Robuvit are metabolized by the body in urolithin A, B, and C, [with urolithin] A helping with mitophagy, so the ability of the body to renew its mitochondria, which is a main power plant for the body, for energy production, ATP production,” explains Bornet. “Urolithin B is good for muscle function, so it helps…to move easily, avoid sarcopenia, and be physically energetic. And then urolithin C is good for detox, or liver health, and we know there is a connection between the ability of the liver to work properly and energy levels.”⁷

In a study with healthy older individuals, the extract was found to improve scores of energy, tiredness, and tension after 4 weeks of supplementation at a dose of 300 mg per day, without adverse events.⁸

Closing Thoughts

Manufacturers can formulate energy products to prioritize specific outcomes relevant to a variety of target populations. While the marketplace is saturated with synthetic caffeine products, the use of natural alternatives with sustained release, combined with complementary ingredients that support mood and cognitive health, can offer more comprehensive and desirable results for consumers.

References

1. Kalman D, Hewlings S, Lee R, Foster R, Morton K. A comparative pharmacokinetic evaluation of caffeine in two different delivery vehicles in healthy adults. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018;15(suppl 1):52:A24. doi:10.1186/s12970-018-0256-5 
2. Sohail AA, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al. The cognitive-enhancing outcomes of caffeine and L-theanine: a systematic review.Cureus. 2021;13(12):e20828. doi:10.7759/cureus.20828 
3. Castellote-Caballero Y, Beltrán-Arranz A, Aibar-Almazán A, et al. Acute supplementation of soluble mango leaf extract (Zynamite S) improves mental performance and mood: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025;18(4):571. doi:10.3390/ph18040571 
4. Boolani A, Fuller DT, Mondal S, Wilkinson T, Darie CC, Gumpricht E. Caffeine-containing, adaptogenic-rich drink modulates the effects of caffeine on mental performance and cognitive parameters: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(7):1922. doi:10.3390/nu12071922 
5. American vs Korean red ginseng: benefits, usage and differences. Wing Joo Loong. Accessed May 15, 2026. https://www.wjl.com.sg/blogs/health/american-vs-korean-red-ginseng-benefits-usage-differences 
6. Bergland C. What is ATP? how the body uses this important molecule. March 7, 2026. Accessed May 17, 2026. https://www.verywellhealth.com/atp-6374347 
7. Weichmann F, Avaltroni F, Burki C. Review of clinical effects and presumed mechanism of action of the French oak wood extract Robuvit. J Med Food. 2021;24(9):897-907. doi:10.1089/jmf.2020.0165
8. Országhová Z, Waczulíková I, Burki C, Rohdewald P, Ďuračková Z. An effect of oak-wood extract (Robuvit) on energy state of healthy adults—a pilot study. Phytother Res. 2015;29(8):1219-1224. doi:10.1002/ptr.5368