Article by Kevin Agrawal
Apart from serious bodybuilders, professional sportsmen and trainers which comprise 23 percent of the shoppers of sports nutrition products, 55 percent of the American population use sports nutrition products to maintain general fitness, according to Datamonitor (a global business provider of information and market analysis).1 Consumer interest in sports nutrition is surging, forcing sports nutrition manufacturers to shift their attention from Mr. Universe to Mr. Average Joe who uses sports nutrition to help him achieve his goals for health and longevity. Mainstream fitness enthusiasts and gym-goers are the biggest target market led by people who want to lead active lifestyles, eat healthy and augment their diets with sports nutrition supplements. There is so much more to sports nutrition these days than building muscle and stamina.Who’s using sports nutrition supplements?In the United States, the sports nutrition and weight loss category is one of the fastest-growing segments with a reported growth of 7.6 percent to .7 billion in sales for 2008.2 Datamonitor forecasts sports nutrition sales to grow to .5 billion by 2013. The 2009 Health & Wellness Trends Database from the Natural Marketing Institute, a market research company based in Pennsylvania, reported 22 percent of the consumers surveyed said they used sports nutrition products (amino acids, protein powders, hydration drinks, creatine and other sports nutrition supplements).3 Who’s using these products? There’s a long list of interested consumers which could include soccer moms, business professionals, baby boomers, morning joggers/bikers, those who pursue sports as a hobby, women who balance a career and home, weight conscious consumers, young moms, teenagers, professional sportsmen, trainers and more!Are your sports nutrition supplements based on reliable science?Sports nutrition science has played a key role in influencing product development and escalating the growth of the sports nutrition market. Research studies and recommendations from experts suggest that nutrient-based supplements may not only help improve stamina and athletic performance through muscle building, but also support a host of healthy functions that optimize physical and mental performance.Using the preponderance of evidence derived from science to formulate their products, sports nutrition manufacturers have been producing a wide array of sports supplements over the past decade to meet the ever-growing needs of consumers,. Each consumer group is different and tailoring a product to meet consumer-specific needs must consider key factors such as performance, age group, health benefits, innovation and ingredients.Here is a list of top ingredients you may want to consider to produce high-quality sports nutrition supplements.Protein: Well-documented studies show that adequate protein intake, particularly post workout, is needed for muscle recovery.5 Protein aids quick recovery by reducing sore muscles after exercise, promoting synthesis of glycogen and increasing muscle mass and strength. Protein also helps promote satiety and enhances energy production in the body.Because whey protein has high bioavailability and an amino acid profile which is more suited to sports recovery, it is one of the most popular forms of proteins used in manufacturing sports nutrition supplements. Hydrolyzed whey protein plays a more functional role in the production of glycogen. (Glycogen is known to assist muscle growth by increasing protein synthesis and decreasing protein breakdown.) A recent innovation in protein manufacturing is the development of clear whey protein isolates which, along with other essential nutrients, can be used in manufacturing energy drinks and beverages.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is also popularly used for building lean muscle mass.Creatine, a natural substance found in muscles, is known to enhance lean muscle mass, increase muscle strength and improve recovery time from a muscle injury.L-Carnitine: About 95 percent of L-carnitine resides in skeletal muscle. Studies show the remaining 5 percent may play a significant role in post-workout recovery, promoting vascular health, decreasing muscle damage due to exercise, in addition to its potential functions as an antioxidant and a fat oxidizer.Eggshell Membrane: Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM®) is a patented ingredient derived from egg membranes. It contains nutrients such as glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, collagen and other proteins that help to support healthy joints.Astaxanthin is abundantly found in small, shrimp-like fish called Krill. It’s an antioxidant that supports healthy joints and tendons, decreases recovery time post workout, improves endurance and protects the skin against UV damage and is therefore particularly useful for those engaged in outdoor sports or training.Branched-chain Amino Acids (BCAAs): About 35 percent of amino acids found in muscles are BCAAs. They help improve both aerobic and anaerobic performance by decreasing the production of lactate, a substance the body creates in response to strenuous exercise. High levels of lactate are associated with painful muscles.Phosphatidylserine is known to support cognitive health improving memory and mental acuity. Research indicates that it may also help lower cortisol levels in the body. Lower cortisol levels are associated with speedy recovery and the ability to cope with exercise-induced stress.Bitter Orange (citrus aurantium) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is believed to be a thermogenic agent, assisting the body to burn calories at a faster rate. The body produces DHEA endogenously, but levels decline by as much as 50 percent by the age of 40.Sustamine L-alanyl-L-glutamine helps to re-hydrate the body and refuel energy stores.Capsaicinoids are derived from red peppers. A study on the supplementary intake of capsaicinoids shows that it may be able to burn calories significantly and as a result support weight management.Other nutrients used in sports nutrition include:
B vitamins are vital to metabolism.Choline is essential for fat metabolism.Chromium helps regulate healthy insulin levels, increases metabolism and thereby helps burn fat more quickly.Zinc plays an important role in metabolic functions.The combination of multiple ingredients in one product not only eliminates the need for taking multiple supplements, but may also have the potential to produce a synergistic effect.Do you deliver your sports nutrition in convenient, easy-to-use systems?Effervescent powders or quick-dissolve tablets are a great on-the-go delivery system for sports nutrition supplements. All nutrients are easily ingested and absorbed by the body with very minimal, if any, gastric disturbances. Other convenient delivery systems include dissolvable stick packs, powders, chewables and gummies. Energy gels can be packed with carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients. Though new in the market, energy gels are extremely popular since they are very convenient to use and travel-friendly. Conventional systems such as tablets and capsules are still popular being cost-effective and convenient to use.Is your brand building consumer trust?Building consumer trust is a key factor to sustaining brand loyalty. Science-based formulations are important, but a breach of trust can occur at various stages of the manufacturing process. Stringent enforcement of GMP regulations is required right from acquisition of high-quality raw materials to the precision manufacturing of your formula. Quality controls and SOPs must be in place to ensure maximum preservation of all bio-active components in order to produce products that have full potential for efficacy. Trust can be guaranteed by building a partnership with suppliers and manufacturers who are GMP certified and have a proven track record for placing an emphasis on high-quality.Can your sports nutrition manufacturer exceed quality expectations?To sell specially formulated sports nutrition supplements designed to perform well and meet the ergogenic needs of your target market, you need to partner with a quality sports nutrition manufacturer, such as Nutricap Labs. All of their products are manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, which means that their products not only meet, but exceed quality standards mandated by the FDA. You can choose from a range of customizable, high-quality manufacturing solutions that meet your manufacturing requirements and fit within your budget! In addition to manufacturing services, they also provide in-house packaging, labeling and order fulfillment services, saving you both time and money.For more information on how Nutricap Labs can help you get your sports nutrition product line started, call (800) 494-6154 to speak with one of their product advisors or submit a request to receive a free quote from them in 48 hours or less.References:DataMonitor. Weight Management Trends & Behaviors: Beyond Dieting & Obesity. Sept 2010 (datamonitor.com)2009 Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss Report, Nutrition Business Journal newhope360.com/2009-sports-nutrition-weight-loss-report NMI 2009 Health & Wellness Trends nmisolutions.comJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: a new era begins, J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007; 4: 1.Exercise, protein metabolism, and muscle growth, Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Mar;11(1):109-32.Source: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise, J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007; 4: 8.The combination of dietary conjugated linoleic acid and treadmill exercise lowersgain in body fat mass and enhances lean body mass in high fat-fed male Balb/Cmice. J Nutr. 2005 May;135(5):1124-30.Can the use of creatine supplementation attenuate muscle loss in cachexia and wasting, Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009 November; 12(6): 623-627. Carnitine: The Science behind an Essentially Conditional Nutrient, National Institutes of Health, ods.od.nih.gov/news/carnitine_conference_summary.aspx Eggshell membrane: A possible new natural therapeutic for joint and connective tissue disorders. Results from two open-label human clinical studies, Clin Interv Aging. 2009; 4: 235-240. Astaxanthin improves muscle lipid metabolism in exercise via inhibitory effect of oxidative CPT I modification, Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Feb 22;366(4):892-7.Branched-chain amino acids supplementation enhances exercise capacity and lipid oxidation during endurance exercise after muscle glycogen depletion, J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2011 Mar;51(1):82-8.Effects of phosphatidylserine supplementation on exercising humans, Sports Med. 2006;36(8):657-69.Citrus aurantium as a thermogenic, weight-reduction replacement for ephedra: an Overview, J Med. 2002;33(1-4):247-64.Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial, JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2243-8.Examination of the efficacy of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion during hydration stress in endurance exercise, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:8Effect of oral intake of capsaicinoid beadlets on catecholamine secretion and blood markers of lipolysis in healthy adults: a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, cross-over study, Lipids Health Dis. 2010; 9: 72.
About the Author
Nutricap Labs is a full service sports nutrition manufacturer. We primarily manufacture nutritional tablets, capsules, powders, liquids and creams, but we also offer label and packaging design services and order fulfillment services to our customers.
