The sports nutrition category has been in the spotlight of late, whether related to concerns about possible adulteration or related to the positive impact of nutrition on athletic performance. In an article for Natural Foods Merchandiser, nutritional consultant Mark Tallon, Ph.D., detailed some of the ingredients with continued potential in the sports nutrition category
One of Tallon’s top choices is the specialty dietary fiber glucomannan, an extract of konjac that delivers mannose and glucose, which has the ability to increase satiety, support body weight reduction and benefit cardiovascular health. He particularly cited LuraLean, a refined form of glucomannan from AHD International that is manufactured using a proprietary process.
Two go-to ingredients in the category—whey and creatine—are also called out for future opportunities. Whey has been faced with pricing challenges; however, suppliers are increasingly isolating bioactives such as colostrum, lactoferrin and growth factor proteins that may promote tissue repair and address inflammation. In the creatine arena, suppliers are developing innovative offerings that bind creatine to another active to enhance solubility and bioavailability, while helping to retain its premium pricing.
Also on Tallon’s radar were alpha-glyceryl phosphoryl choline (A-GPC), a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine; the amino acid beta-alanine, which studies suggest can improve physical performance in the elderly by increasing muscle levels of carnosine; and combination formulas with low-dose caffeine to induce thermogenesis without the concerns related to excess caffeine intake.
