Mibelle launches haskap berry powder into sports nutrition market

By Asia Sherman

- Last updated on GMT

The haskap berry, also known as blue honeysuckle or honeyberry, is native to the boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Mibelle Biochemistry sources its haskap from a cultivated source in Europe. © Akchamczuk / Getty Images
The haskap berry, also known as blue honeysuckle or honeyberry, is native to the boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Mibelle Biochemistry sources its haskap from a cultivated source in Europe. © Akchamczuk / Getty Images
Mibelle Biochemistry has its sights set on sports nutrition with a new haskap berry powder marketed as endurance and performance booster.

“EnduBerry Nu allows recreational runners to significantly improve their endurance level within seven days of consumption, leading to better performance,”​ Dr. Torsten Grothe, head of food and health at Mibelle, told NutraIngredients-USA.

The Swiss ingredient supplier will feature the ingredient at the upcoming Sports and Active Nutrition Summit in San Diego, CA from Feb. 15 to 17​.

Powered by ‘the berry of longevity’ 

The Enduberry Nu plant-powder extract is sourced from the haskap berry, a member of the honeysuckle family native to the harsher climes of the Northern Hemisphere. Named by the indigenous Ainu people of Northern Japan (haskap translates to “the berry of longevity”), it is a lesser known but no less powerful superberry rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols.

These phytochemicals, Grothe said, provide synergistic effects that reduce free radicals and inflammation, protecting mitochondria from oxidative stress that leads to muscle fatigue and reduced physical performance. In addition, these compounds are known to help vascular function to increase blood flow, oxygen delivery and exercise efficiency.

“EnduBerry Nu helps to improve cell fitness by upregulating genes involved in cell protection and mitochondrial function,” ​Grothe added. “It also shows strong antioxidant activity, resulting in detoxification of the cells.”

Mibelle presents the EnduBerry Nu as a synergistic water-soluble solution for sports endurance, pre-workout, electrolyte and recovery formulations at a daily dose of 120 mg. 

Superberry science for sports nutrition

Claims are backed by a 2021 clinical trial published in the journal Nutrients​ and funded by Northumbria University, UK-based superfood company Haskapa and Mibelle.

The team of researchers, led by Glyn Howatson, a professor of human and applied physiology at Northumbria University, carried out the study in 30 male recreational runners. Results showed that Enduberry Nu increased running speed an average 21 seconds over 5 km (equating to 0.25 km/h in mean running velocity). Additionally, it extended time to exhaustion running performance by 20 seconds.

“The most significant findings are that haskap consumption can improve endurance performance,” ​Howatson told NutraIngredients-USA. “The application is quite far-reaching and not just of interest for runners, but also has application to cycling, rowing and other sporting events.  The population were recreational, but the ability range of the group was wide and so it seems to be beneficial to moderate and high ability runners.”

While Howatson noted that a single study does not make the results definitive and that the exact mechanisms of action remain unclear, he said that the particularly high polyphenol content in haskap “seems to have huge potential to support improvements in human performance.”

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Brand Owners – Are You Getting the Supplement You Want?

Brand Owners – Are You Getting the Supplement You Want?

Content provided by Gemini Pharmaceuticals, Inc | 01-Nov-2024 | White Paper

Often the balance of “best value” and “best price” walks Brand Owners into a maze, and no industry seems to exemplify that like dietary supplements! However,...

Your Product Innovation Begins Here: Booth 4055

Your Product Innovation Begins Here: Booth 4055

Content provided by Effepharm Ltd | 22-Oct-2024 | Product Brochure

EffePharm will showcase innovative anti-aging solutions, featuring UthPeak™, world’s first self-GRAS approved NMNH, which boosts NAD+ levels by 10X. UthPeak™...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars