Gelita’s new PeptEndure is a protein ingredient for the endurance athlete: 2023 SupplySide West Report

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Gelita has launched what it is calling a first-of-its kind protein designed for endurance athletes, called PeptEndure. Research by the company showed that supplementation with the collagen protein ingredient at 15 grams per day (in conjunction with cardio and strength training) was able to significantly improve running performance during a one hour time trial. In that study, men were able to run for 660 more meters compared to control, and women were able to run for 330 more meters compared to control.

So, why is this unique from other sports nutrition products on the market that tout endurance? Well, Martin Walter, category manager, Healthy Aging and Sports Nutrition for Gelita, explained to Nutritional Outlook that many of those products target short term energy supply with carbohydrates and electrolytes which is important to keep your energy level up during the race. What PeptEndure does, says Walter, is maximize your training effects for the long-term. PeptEndure is promoting adaptive changes in the muscle where preclinical investigations have shown that it can increase the number of mitochondria in your muscle. Mitochondria are the cells' power plants that produce energy.

Mitochondria burn oxygen to produce energy.¹ The mitochondria consume oxygen to burn carbon intermediates such as glucose to create energy in a process called cellular respiration.² During endurance exercise, such as running, when the body can’t keep up with the supply of oxygen needed for your muscles to produce energy, the body resorts to lactic acid production, which creates muscle pain and soreness.³ This can make recovery difficult and during competition, can cause athletes to hit a wall. With PeptEndure, athletes may not hit that wall as fast, and may also recover faster from training.

While protein is typically understood as beneficial for muscle building, PeptEndure is a protein that can be positioned more uniquely to support muscle health and endurance without necessarily building muscle. This attracts a different subset of athletes as well as the casual fitness minded consumers. Obviously, long-distance marathon runners will benefit from PeptEndure, supporting their ability to run longer and reducing muscle soreness. For the casual fitness minded athlete, protein is a well-recognized and trusted ingredient, but not everyone is interested in bulking. PeptEndure can therefore be positioned as a muscle-supporting protein that doesn’t build muscle mass. This could be particularly attractive to women who want to stay in shape, but are not looking for an overly muscular physique.

References

1. Oxygen deficiency rewires mitochondria. Max-Planck-Gesellschaf. November, 6, 2019. Accessed November 14, 2023. https://www.mpg.de/14102743/1106-balt-110438-oxygen-deficiency-rewires-mitochondria#:~:text=Mitochondria%20burn%20oxygen%20and%20provide,under%20depleted%20oxygen%20and%20nutrients.)
2. Muoio, D.M. Metabolic Inflexibility: When Mitochondrial Indecision Leads to Metabolic Gridlock. Cell, 159 (6): 1253-1262. DOI: 10.1016%2Fj.cell.2014.11.034
3. Yusuf, S. Why Do We Accumulate Lactic Acid In Our Muscles When We Exercise? ScienceABC. October 2, 2021. Accessed November 16, 2023. https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/why-do-we-accumulate-lactic-acid-in-our-muscles-when-we-exercise.html