Sports nutrition

Immune health forming larger part of sports nutrition sphere

13-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Immune health is an increasingly large part of the thin edge of the wedge that is sports nutrition, one of the hottest categories in the dietary supplement sphere.

Targeted digital marketing helps company succeed in brick-and-mortar space

12-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

NutraClick, a Boston, MA-based nutritional products company, has found success building its business model on a targeted online advertising strategy. The company was so successful, in fact, that a major chain came to them to request they place their products...

Nutroganics signs deal to bring South African sports products to US

11-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

In another development in the super-heated sports nutrition space, Nutroganics, a firm that specializes in acquiring healthy lifestyle businesses, has signed a deal with South African firm Ultimate Sports Nutrition  to bring USN products to the US market.

New test aims to measure 'wellness' via metabolic state, developer says

03-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Nutraceutical technology development firm Health Enhancement Products Inc. has a new urine test in field trials that will measure a participant’s ‘wellness’ level via biomarkers for oxidative stress, the company announced recently.

Dispatches from #FIE2013

Protein has a big ‘ordinary’ future, says Glanbia

27-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

Irish dairy ingredients specialist Glanbia Nutritionals once filled its sights almost exclusively with the sports nutrition sector, but the explosion of interest in protein means the ‘ordinary’ mainstream food industry is a bigger and bigger target.

Leucine: Where whey protein gets its magic

27-Nov-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

Scientific support for the role of protein in building and maintaining lean muscle, maintaining weight and aging healthy continues to grow, but not all proteins are created equal, according to nutrition and exercise physiology expert Chris Mohr, PhD,...

More woe for OxyElite Pro as Euro ban widens

25-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

Italy, Portugal and Ireland have joined a growing list of nations to ban pre-workout supplement, OxyElite Pro.

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

We don’t see the pre-workout sector going in the right direction post-DMAA: Chromadex CEO

22-Nov-2013 By Stephen Daniells

New ‘suspect alkaloids’ are finding their way into the controversial pre-workout supplement sector, and potentially dangerous products will continue to flourish in the marketplace while there is wider support from the industry, according to the CEO of...

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

Magnesium is 40% of our business and it keeps growing: Albion

22-Nov-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

It has been described as the ‘hottest ingredient in the mineral category’, and leading mineral supplier Albion most definitely agrees as sales of its magnesium ingredients now account for 40.6% of Albion mineral sales.

Hi-Tech sues FDA over 'bullying campaign'

21-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, the Georgia-based company from which FDA seized $2 million worth of products that contained DMAA, has sued the agency in federal court claiming the agency has bypassed standard rulemaking procedures in favor of a “bullying campaign”...

FDA seizes another $2 million worth of DMAA products

19-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

The FDA moved to seize more than $2 million worth of DMAA-containing products from Georgia-based Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc.  US Marshals seized the goods after agency investigators determined they contained 1, 3-Dimethylamylamine HCl (DMAA) or its chemical...

Glico Nutrition targets US sports nutrition growth for novel maltodextrin

12-Nov-2013 By Stephen Daniells

With a successful GRAS status under its belt and a Glico Nutrition and a large-scale human clinical trials set to conclude in early 2014, Glico Nutrition of Japan is eyeing a larger slice of the US sports nutrition market.

UK warns against another USPLabs pre-workout supplement

12-Nov-2013 By Shane Starling

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned consumers off VERSA-1, the second pre-workout sports supplement made by Texas-based manufacturer USPLabs containing the disputed ingredient, aegeline.

Following on Hawaii liver injury reports, USPlabs issues national recall of OxyElite Pro

11-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Sports supplement manufacturer USPLabs has recalled lots of its OxyElite Pro products after receiving a letter directing the action from FDA motivated by reports of liver illnesses in Hawaii associated with the product.  FDA also it directed the recall...

Betaine supplements may support muscle growth and improve body composition: Human data

11-Nov-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of betaine may improve body composition, performance and power of strength-trained men, according to the first human clinical trial to show such benefits.

UK medicines agency issues OxyElite Pro 'no-no'

08-Nov-2013 By Shane Starling

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has joined the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in warning consumers off pre-workout sports supplement, OxyElite Pro.

Conclusion that herbal supplements causing more liver injuries disputed by expert

06-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

The incidence of liver damage caused on by herbal dietary supplements is on the rise, according to information presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.  But those conclusions have been questioned by...

Vitamin Shoppe: ‘Private label is an important growth opportunity for us’

06-Nov-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Growth in private label and one of its recently launched MyTrition products already a top selling product, Vitamin Shoppe is planning more new product introductions by year end, said the company’s CEO.

Kyowa Hakko's Sustamine continues market penetration with energy gel launch

05-Nov-2013 By Hank Schultz

Kyowa Hakko’s Sustamine sports nutrition ingredient continues to gain traction in the US marketplace with its latest launch in an energy gel.

Beetroot juice supplementation may boost time trial performance

04-Nov-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice for four days prior to a running time trial may boost performance, according to results of a study with trained female runners.

Durbin sends USPLabs letter about OxyElite Pro liver injury issues

31-Oct-2013

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, has sent a letter to USPLabs, maker of the OxyElite Pro product that has been associated with cases of liver injury in Hawaii, seeking information on the company’s business practices and ingredients.

Are bael and its aegeline content set for intense analytical & safety scrutiny?

25-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

It’s a sacred tree to Hindus and the dried fruit is used in teas, but could Bael (Aegle marmelos) soon be the center of intense scrutiny from the herbal community, analytical experts, and regulatory authorities?

Australia and NZ add to OxyElite Pro’s global woes

23-Oct-2013 By Shane Starling

Australia and New Zealand have jointly issued a warning against pre-workout sports supplement OxyElite Pro following its links to an outbreak of acute non-viral hepatitis in Hawaii that killed one person and affected 29.

UK, Denmark, Spain follow US and warn consumers off OxyElite Pro

22-Oct-2013 By Shane STARLING

British, Danish and Spanish authorities have warned people not to consume OxyElite Pro, following a similar US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning issued to manufacturer USPLabs after a Hawaiian outbreak of hepatitis linked to the pre-workout supplement.

Craze manufacturer disputes NSF's discovery of drug tainting

17-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The news that NSF and two collaborators have found a methamphetamine-like compound in the popular pre-workout sports supplement Craze is being disputed by the product’s manufacturer, Driven Sports.

USPLabs gets warning letter for Oxy Elite Pro and VERSA-1, but claims aegeline ingredient has a long history of safe use

16-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a warning letter to Dallas, Texas-based USPLabs for its OxyElite Pro and VERSA-1 products, claiming the ingredient aegeline is not a lawful dietary ingredient, but the company says the ingredient is a...

Probiotics (Bl-04) may reduce common cold risk in active adults: Clinical trial

14-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis subsp lactis Bl-04 may reduce the risk of the common cold (upper respiratory tract infections or URTIs) in active adults, says a new study from Australia.

Science, certifications drive export potential of US-made sports nutrition products, experts say

11-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The sports nutrition market continues to expand, and with global demand rising, experts say opportunities are growing, too, for US made products in export markets.

Myth busting: Soy supplements are not an issue for bodybuilders, say researchers

11-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Short-term supplementation with soy and whey protein does not lead to pro-estrogenic or anti-anabolic effects in bodybuilders, according to new research.

The ‘shady supplements industry’ vs ‘legitimate medicine’: A tragic tale often told

10-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Acute non-viral hepatitis is tragic, whether it’s potentially linked to a product labeled as a dietary supplement or not. It is also tragic when critics of supplements use it as a stick to beat the entire industry with, despite there being many unanswered...

FDA investigating liver damage reports potentially linked to products labeled OxyElite Pro

08-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

A federal investigation is underway into reports of acute non-viral hepatitis in Hawaii, with many of the cases being linked to a dietary supplement product labeled as OxyElite Pro.

GNC buys UK's top online sports nutrition supplements retailer

03-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

GNC Holdings, Inc. is continuing its push into the high growth sports nutrition space with the purchase of A1 Sports Limited, the leading multi-brand sports nutrition e-commerce retailer in the UK doing business under the name Discount Supplements.

Dr Oz effect's dark side: Booming demand opens door for adulterated, synthetic astaxanthin

02-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

The Dr Oz Show has been a boon for the natural products and dietary supplements industries. It has brought awareness to many less well-known ingredients, boosting usage and sales and, if the efficacy of the ingredients matches the claims, presumably positively...

ATP supplement may boost muscular adaptations after resistance exercise: Study

02-Oct-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Combining resistance training with supplements formulated with the branded ingredient Peak ATP may prevent declines in performance and boost muscle mass and strength, say results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Berry-enriched protein matrices (Nutrasorb) help athletes burn fat while asleep

01-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Soy protein enriched with blueberry and green tea compounds in combination with exercise prolong the metabolic spike after exercise, says a new metabolomics study from the North Carolina Research Campus.

New supplement targets magnesium deficiency as side effect of diuretics

30-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

Althos Pharma is targeting a new market—patients taking diuretics —with the release of its Magnitria supplement, which features powder form magnesium citrate to address the deficiency of this mineral that can accompany this treatment.

Special edition: Amino Acids and Protein

Plant or animal: A global protein snap shot

19-Sep-2013 By Shane STARLING

From gym powders and shakes to German ‘evening’ breads to ‘brogurt’ – high-protein yoghurt marketed at men – to the rise of Greek yoghurt in the US, protein bars, meat substitutes and good ol’ ‘trad’ dairy – protein is powering right now.

Special Edition: Amino Acids and Proteins

BCAAs take center stage in targeted sports nutrition products

19-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

Protein as a driver of sports nutrition products is an old story.  The newer twist, however, is the use of individual amino acids, and specifically the branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine, to deliver targeted benefits for their role...

Sarcopenia: ‘Adhering to the RDA for protein would be like white water rafting without a paddle’

19-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Aging populations and the growing threat of degenerative muscle loss (sarcopenia) will provide a lucrative category for brands to target, say industry experts, but the current recommended daily intakes for protein are simply nowhere near enough.

Special Edition: Amino acids and protein

Specialty peptides, enzymes and probiotics: Options abound for formulators to make the ‘protein we have even better than it is already’

18-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

While much has been said and written about different protein sources, complimentary ingredients like enzymes and probiotics allow consumers to make the ‘protein we have even better than it is already’.

Increased protein protects against muscles during diet and weight loss, say researchers

13-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

Doubling the recommended daily allowance of protein intake could help to protect against muscle loss during dieting and exercise related weight loss, say researchers.

OptiMSM broadens footprint, gains traction in sports nutrition market

13-Sep-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

On the heels of last week’s distribution agreement with American International Chemical to distribute its branded methlsulfonylmethane (MSM) into the Canadian market, Bergstrom Nutrition is looking to grow existing relationships and uncover new sources...

Pre- vs post-workout for creatine? Post exercise leads to greater strength gains, says new study

12-Sep-2013 By Stephen Daniells

The timing of creatine supplements can influence gains in strength and lean body mass, with post-workout supplementation yielding better results, says a new study from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

Planning needed to ensure health of US wild ginseng stocks in face of huge Chinese demand, experts say

11-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

A recent TV news segment on the subject of ginseng poaching raised the specter of the plant’s possible extinction in the United States.  While that fear may be overblown, there’s little doubt that a number of factors (including overharvesting) are working...

Wellmune may maintain immune health for athletes: RCT data

10-Sep-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of the baker’s yeast beta glucan ingredient Wellmune may reduce the number of cold/flu symptom days that runners experience post-marathon by 37%, says a new study.

Special edition: Amino acids and protein

Will canola protein ever take off? BioExx still hopes to scale up in Europe, but hangs ‘for sale’ sign over front door

05-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Plant proteins are all the rage - at least that’s what the market researchers are all saying - from pea and soy to algae and rice. But what about protein from canola, the second largest oilseed crop in the world?

Energy… minus the caffeine? PepsiCo explores Chinese herbal extracts for fatigue relief, patent application reveals

03-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

PepsiCo is exploring the potential of natural energy drinks containing Chinese herbal extracts that can alleviate fatigue and enhance sports performance without a big dose of caffeine, a patent application indicates.

Relora supplement shows stress management potential for athletes

29-Aug-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements containing extracts of Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) and Phellodendron (Phellodendron amurense) barks – branded as Relora – may reduce stress in moderately stressed healthy subjects, says a new study.

Healthy subjects study kickstarts sales of UC-II ingredient, InterHealth says

29-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

A question is sometimes raised whether consumers are swayed by positive studies. Whether science sells, in point of fact.  Speaking from recent experience, the answer for InterHealth Nutraceuticals is a resounding yes.

Hybrid algae producer Heliae quietly approaches full scale production

22-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Early stage algae company Heliae has taken a quiet approach to business development.  While the Arizona-based company is close to coming to market with a range of nutraceutical ingredients, not much has been said about them in the marketplace or the press,...