by Jeff Taylor
The health and nutrition industry often looks to technological innovations in sports nutrition for novel formulation solutions to specific ingredient challenges. Liquid technologies in supplement form are one of the ways performance-based sports nutrition has moved the needle in innovation. Part of the challenge of creating liquid or lipid-based formulations is to provide a means of optimizing delivery while maintaining stability. Here are four examples of formulation innovations from sports nutrition designed to do just that:
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a critical nutrient involved in the production of energy within cells. An endogenous cellular constituent present in the mitochondria, it is a mediator of electron transport and energy production.1 It also is a co-antioxidant with vitamins E and C because it maintains both vitamins in their reduced state.2 CoQ10’s antioxidant activity can offer preventive benefits to heart conditions,3,4,5,6 angina,7,8,9 blood pressure modulation10,11,12 and immunity.13,14
CoQ10 is a powder with almost no solubility in water and a melting point of 48° to 50°C. This means absorption is low. To overcome the issue, many formulators have increased the amount of CoQ10 per dose; but, an innovative solution is to use a self-emulsifying delivery system to increase solubility and bioavailability instead. That is done using a liquid natural emulsifier and other natural solvents previously shown to improve the gut absorption of compounds with low-water solubility.
In a clinical test, this formulation was compared to the bioavailability of three different commercially available formulations—effervescent tablets, powder in hard gelatin capsule, and a liquid dispersion in a soft gelatin capsule.15 Twenty four volunteers were given a single dose of 60 mg of CoQ10 in a randomized, single-dose, four-way crossover study, with a seven-day washout period. Plasma levels of CoQ10 following administration with the liquid capsule formulation indicated a 30-percent higher in vivo bioavailability relative to the other three. The study concluded the better bioavailability of the Licaps® capsule CoQ10 formula was due to its complete dissolution in a lipid matrix based on lecithin and vegetable oils that enhance permeation for poorly soluble products.
Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine. Scientists hypothesize that resveratrol activates an enzyme, SIRT1, in the cell. SIRT1 produces fresh mitochondria, a key component of cells that generates power in muscles and other tissues. The presence of new mitochondria burns sugar more slowly to release energy—which in turn enhances endurance and boosts the metabolic rate.16
The resveratrol molecule is prone to degradation if exposed to oxygen, heat or light. By using a liquid-filled, hard gelatin capsule that is flushed with nitrogen before it is fused shut, the oxidative action can be reduced while protecting the contents from light through an opaque shell. Stability data collected over time proves this is an excellent strategy for stabilizing resveratrol.17
