Sports nutrition

Algatech enters deal to boost astaxanthin production with thin-walled tubes

23-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Algatechnologies Ltd. has announced an R&D deal with German company SCHOTT AG to boost the productivity of its closed-tube cultivation system at its plant in the Negev region of southern Israel. 

Polyphenol blend shows metabolic and ‘quality of life’ improvements

23-Sep-2014

Daily supplementation with a blend of polyphenol-rich extracts from grapefruit, grape, green tea, guarana and black carrot may boost metabolic functions, says a new study using Fytexia’s Fiit-ns branded ingredient.

NutraIngredients Sports Nutrition 2014 round-table debate

Pro team nutritionist: We can’t get the sports nutrition products we need

19-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

The nutritional needs of professional athletes and the general sports playing population are clearly not the same but does the broad sports nutrition market reflect that diversity of need? The Arsenal FC nutritionist and other experts argued the toss...

Special focus: Curcumin goes mainstream as science and consumer awareness build momentum

16-Sep-2014

It has been a good year for curcumin and turmeric with market growth of 26%, new studies supporting its potential health benefits, and increasing consumer awareness. In this special focus on curcumin, we look back at some of the hottest developments and...

Nordic Naturals boosts offerings for 'niche' sports market

12-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Nordic Naturals has extended its line of omega-3 supplements that are NSF Certified for Sport with a liquid form of its Omega-D3 Sport line, which the company says is the first liquid omega-3 product to be so certified.

Coffee genome sequenced: Researchers drink to greater caffeine control

12-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

Reducing, enhancing or even eliminating caffeine content in coffee plants will be possible in the near future researchers are saying after completing the genomic map of the coffee plant Coffea canephora.

Glanbia buys sports nutrition firm Isopure for £94M

12-Sep-2014 By Rod Addy

Glanbia has agreed to acquire US sports nutrition business The Isopure Company for $153M (£94.1M).

Blackcurrant nectar shows exercise benefits for college students: Study

12-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily consumption of blackcurrant nectar for eight days may reduce muscle damage and inflammation after exercise, according to a new study from scientists at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

SPORTS NUTRITION 2014: FOCUS ON CREATINE SCIENCE

‘Get ripped like Rambo and smart like Picasso!’ VPX rips up sports drink rulebook

11-Sep-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

VPX/Redline CEO Jack Owoc tells Sports Nutrition 2014 delegates how to create a creatine-based sports/energy drink that’s 'omnipresent enough to crush Red Bull, Powerade and Monster'.

SPORTS NUTRITION 2014: A STARK WARNING FOR ENTREPRENEURS

‘You think Red Bull’s just gonna roll over? It’s not gonna happen!’ Expert warns wannabes

11-Sep-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Beverage brand development guru James Tonkin has warned wannabe entrepreneurs that going up against established brands such as Red Bull and Coca-Cola without some kind of ‘silo vertical’ protection is fruitless.

Nutegrity launches mangosteen ingredient for sports nutrition/ joint discomfort markets

08-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Nutegrity has launched new mangosteen-derived ingredient to support a healthy inflammatory response and possibly provide temporary relief of minor muscle pain associated with strenuous activity.

'Intriguing': Fish oil supplements linked to improved exercise economy

08-Sep-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of an EPA-rich fish oil may boost exercise economy, a predictor of endurance exercise performance, says a new study from Japan.

Fast milk proteins better than slow for muscle fatigue, find French researchers

04-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

Quickly digestible milk proteins are better for reducing post-training muscle fatigue than casein and placebo, according to French researchers.

Nestlé files patent for kids’ ‘protein balance’

03-Sep-2014 By Anne Bruce

Nestlé has filed for a worldwide patent for a protein balancing product aimed at children aged 5-15.

Arla pours €38m into facility to meet whey demand

01-Sep-2014 By Shane STARLING

Dairy giant Arla's ingredients business is building a new whey processing facility for €38m to meet rising demand for the dairy fraction in infant, sports and clinical nutrition.

NBTY sued over allegedly pumping up protein claims for whey product

29-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

As observers of the class action lawsuit game had predicted, lawsuits based on alleged protein spiking are starting to pile up, and an initial target is one with deep pockets: NBTY.

Sports Nutrition 2014 delivers business ammunition

27-Aug-2014 By Shane STARLING

It’s free, jammed full of sports nutrition sector insights – and it’s just days away: Sports Nutrition 2014 .

Kohjin presents evidence of blood uptake of its glutathione

15-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Kohjin Life Sciences says new information now published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry proves the blood plasma uptake of its glutathione dervied from torula yeast.

Youngevity records strong growth in both multilevel supplement marketing and coffee roasting segments

14-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Youngevity International, a multilevel marketer of nutritional supplements as well as a bulk coffee roaster, reported big increases in net revenue and gross profit in its second quarter of 2014, driven mostly by organic growth aided by acquisitions.

FitLife Brands maintains impressive growth with strong second quarter

13-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

FitLife Brands, maker of nutritional supplements sold under several brand names, has bucked the headwinds that have afflicted the dietary supplement sector in recent quarters, notching an 18% rise in revenue in its second quarter 2014 results. The company...

Does sporting activity improve gut function?

13-Aug-2014 By Anne Bruce

Improved diversity of the intestinal microbiota in sports people could be due to gut barrier function, experts have suggested.

Settlement offers injunctive, but not monetary, relief (Coke required to amend labels but consumers won't get any money)

Coca-Cola agrees to settle 'copycat' Vitaminwater deceptive advertising lawsuits, but CSPI still on the warpath

13-Aug-2014 By Elaine Watson

Coca-Cola has agreed to settle a series of 'copycat' lawsuits accusing it of deceptively marketing Vitaminwater. But the lawsuit that inspired them all - filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest in 2009 - is still pending, as the...

FDA removes another DMAA-containing supplement from market

12-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Like a bad penny, DMAA keeps cropping up in the market.  In the most recent instance,  a company called Regenaca Worldwide has recalled diet capsules that contain the ingredient, which FDA has banned from the market.

High-acid drinks can permanently damage young people’s teeth: Study

12-Aug-2014 By Anna Bonar

Drinks with high acidic content can cause a permanent damage to teeth within the first 30 seconds of consumption, an Australian study has found.

Omega Protein's animal nutrition sector carries it through headwinds that have beset other omega-3 suppliers

08-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

Omega Protein Corporation reported a strong second quarter 2014 with revenue up 72% year-over-year.  The rise was mostly attributable to higher sales of fish oil and fish meal into the animal feed markets.

Europe's largest thin film manufacturer looks to make splash in US market

07-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

BioFilm Ltd., a Scottish manufacturer of thin dissolving films, is expanding its offerings into the US, believing that it has the production and formulation capability to transform what has been a fairly quiescent market, the company’s North American...

MusclePharm signs NFL phenom Johnny Manziel to endorsement contract

05-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

In a sector heavily driven by marketing and celebrity athlete tie-ins, MusclePharm has once again scored big by signing an endorsement deal with Johnny Manziel, the rookie quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Australian institute to study ChromaDex's Niagen ingredient in mitochondrial respiratory conditions

04-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex Corp. announced an agreement to supply its Niagen nicotinamide riboside ingredient to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia to enable researchers there to study the ingredient’s effects in cellular and animal models of mitochondrial...

‘A measureable benefit’: Vitamin C supplements may boost activity levels & reduce colds in young men

04-Aug-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of vitamin C may offer ‘modest benefits’ for boosting the weekly activity levels, and reduce the incidence of the common cold for young men, says a new study.

'Fermentation revolution' transforming amino acid market, supplier says

01-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

The ongoing ‘fermentation revolution’ in the supply of amino acids continues to affect the production and potentially the price of these important nutrients, said Jim Schultz, CEO of GWI, a California company specializing in the import of ingredients...

MYOS Corp. grows market for myostatin inhibitor beyond the gym

31-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Myos Corporation has built the market for its myostatin-inhibiting ingredient Fortetropin beyond the gym and into the offices of physician groups treating elderly patients. To secure the supply for the ingredeint the company has extending a manufacturing...

Coffee may hydrate athletes just like water: Researcher

31-Jul-2014 By Anna Bonar

Caffeine does not have a diuretic effect on regular coffee drinkers and is safe to use, says sports nutrition researcher and consultant in elite sport.

Science builds for Chemi Nutra’s Mediator Phosphatidic acid ingredient for sports nutrition

31-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Sports nutrition supplements containing phosphatidic acid (PA), a lipid messenger, may stimulate increases in muscle size, lean body mass, and strength, says a new study using Chemi Nutra’s Mediator ingredient.

Herbalife misses profit estimates, share price plunges

30-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Herbalife's share price dropped sharply yesterday as the company reported second quarter earnings that missed analysts’ estimates.  Shares dropped 11% almost immediately on the news and declined further in early trading today, with a share price...

Supplement market headwinds beset GNC as earnings decline in Q2

30-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

The past year has been a tough one for the sales of dietary supplements, and retailing giant GNC is not immune to those trends.  In the company’s second quarter 2014 earnings GNC reported declines in both overall revenue and net income year-over-year.

Energy shot maker bases product on timed-release caffeine technology

30-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

LXR Biotech has launched a timed-release energy shot using a recently-developed beadlet technology in a bid to capture more of the energy shot market. 

Herbalife bolsters communications team with hiring of PepsiCo exec

28-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Network marketing giant Herbalife has made a high-profile addition to its management team with the hiring of Alan L Hoffman in the newly established role of executive vice president of global corporate affairs.

Caffeine taken during training and even in small doses may boost sports performance: Researcher

24-Jul-2014 By Anna Bonar

Already one of the most widely-used stimulants in sport, recent research suggests there may be greater scope for caffeine to be used in a wider range of sports as well as during exercise, says sports nutrition researcher and consultant in elite sport.

Markets reject Ackman's attack, send Herbalife shares up 25%

23-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Activist investor William Ackman’s much publicized webinar on Herbalife, which he characterized as a ‘death blow’ to the company, turned out to be anything but.  The company’s share price rose 25% yesterday, much of that rise coming during Ackman’s exhaustive...

Beetroot juice may boost aerobic fitness for swimmers

23-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A daily glass of beetroot juice may boost the aerobic fitness of swimmers, reports a new study that supports the sports nutrition potential of beetroot previously reported for cycling, walking, and running.

German border busts reveal banned DMAA still out there (but detection is improving)

22-Jul-2014 By Lynda Searby

Scientists at a German state control laboratory have developed a fast and accurate method of testing whether supplement and sports nutrition products contain the illegal stimulant DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine/methylhexaneamine).

Tart cherry concentrate may combat post-exercise oxidative and inflammatory responses

22-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of a Montmorency tart cherry concentrate may reduce increases in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress after exercise, says a new study with trained cyclists.

Herbalife preempts Ackman's video attack on nutrition clubs

21-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Multilevel marketing giant Herbalife launched a preemptive strike of sorts against the campaign waged by activist investor Bill Ackman, who has taken a short position on the company valued at as much as $1 billion.

Magnesium supplements may boost physical performance for older women: RCT

21-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with magnesium oxide in combination with a mild fitness program may boost the physical performance of healthy older women, says a new study.

Should Argentina's Messi have ditched the sports drink in the second half? Study casts doubt on soccer blood sugar effect

14-Jul-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Drinking a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage before and during a match did not help UK Championship trainee soccer players maintain blood sugar concentrations during the second half according to a new study.

Does Unilever’s Slim-Fast fail signal the end of weight management as we know it?

11-Jul-2014 By Julian Mellentin

Fourteen years after Unilever spent $2.3bn (€1.7bn) to buy Slim-Fast, it has sold up for an undisclosed sum to a private equity player. Analyst and author Julian Mellentin tracks the decline of a mega-brand and considers what he sees as a category in...

NIU's functional foods forum: Sports nutriton, snacks, beverages seen as hottest categories

09-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Functional foods and beverages are the thin edge of the innovation wedge and are growing by leaps and bounds. Panelists in a recent online forum hosted by NutraIngredients-USA laid out the trends in this booming sector.

‘The awareness of the importance of overall immune health has reached critical mass with consumers’: Biothera CEO

08-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumer awareness of the importance of immune health throughout the year is driving significant growth in that category, and there are still plenty of opportunities in the category, says the CEO of Biothera.

Science short

Curcumin reduces muscle soreness: Study

03-Jul-2014 By Shane STARLING

A proprietary curcumin extract can ease post-exercise muscle soreness caused by oxidative stress and inflammation, an Italian study has found.

Could probiotics boost performance and increase power for athletes?

03-Jul-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of a probiotic with a slow digested protein may increase athletic performance in healthy resistance-trained individuals, suggest results from a pilot study.