As athletes are fiercely competing in the Paris Olympics, SRS Nutrition Express has identified the most popular sports nutrition ingredients to help everyone integrate into the fitness community and assist brands in selecting and developing products.
Bright Future for the Sports Nutrition Market
According to Grandview Research, the global sports nutrition market size reached $45.24 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2024 to 2030. The increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets has heightened the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and other conditions. As awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle continues to rise, so does the demand for sports nutrition products.
The sports nutrition market can be segmented based on application into pre/intra-workout and post-workout supplements. These products come in various forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, soft gels, liquids, and gummies. Pre/intra-workout supplements are designed to provide energy and enhance endurance throughout the workout, typically consumed 15-30 minutes before exercise but can also be taken during. Post-workout supplements aim to support muscle growth and recovery.
Popular Ingredients in Pre-/Intra-Workout Supplements:
Taurine
Creatine
Carbohydrates (Glucose, Functional Sugars)
Beta-Alanine
Caffeine
Ashwagandha
Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10®
Trehalose
Betaine
Vitamins (B & C)
Popular Ingredients in Post-Workout Supplements:
Proteins (Whey, Casein, Plant-Based)
Small Peptides (Collagen, Soy, Wheat)
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
Electrolytes
Tart Cherry Extract
HMB
Bacillus coagulans BC30™
Astaxanthin
Curcumin
CBD
Plant-Based Proteins: A New Source of Protein
Proteins enhance the body’s response to muscle training and promote effective post-exercise recovery. While animal proteins have long been considered an essential part of athletes' and fitness enthusiasts' diets, plant proteins have gained popularity due to their positive environmental and health impacts. The overall trend towards plant-based proteins is driven by consumers' interest in sustainable, healthy lifestyles. Popular plant-based proteins in sports nutrition products include soy protein, spirulina protein, pea protein, (brown) rice protein and pumpkin seed protein.
For instance, pea protein is relatively new in the plant protein category, highly favored in the food industry for its abundant supply, cost-effectiveness, high nutritional value, and significant health benefits. The main components of pea protein include protein, fat, carbohydrate in the form of starch, and total dietary fiber. Regular consumption of foods rich in pea protein can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Additionally, pea protein offers health benefits like antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering effects. The abundant protein in pea protein can delay gastric emptying, reduce glucose absorption and concentration, and suppress appetite, aiding fitness enthusiasts in shaping their bodies.
NAKED has launched a pea protein powder that promotes muscle growth, ideal for consumption before and after exercise, mixed into shakes or smoothies.
plant-based protein
Creatine: Enhancing Muscle Strength
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are common in sports supplements. Among the many amino acid derivatives, creatine is well-known for its ability to support muscle growth and strength recovery during high-intensity workouts. According to Future Market Insights, the global creatine supplements market size is estimated to reach $501 million in 2023 and is expected to grow to $923 million by 2033.
Chemically known as non-protein nitrogen, creatine is a nitrogen-containing compound synthesized from amino acids like arginine, glycine, and methionine in the liver and pancreas. About 95% of the body's creatine is stored in skeletal muscle, and it can also be obtained from dietary sources like meat and fish. Studies have found that consuming creatine before exercise can enhance muscle calcium buffering capacity, reduce calcium-activated proteases, and minimize muscle membrane damage and further calcium influx. Moreover, consuming creatine post-exercise can enhance regenerative responses, creating an environment conducive to anabolic processes, reducing severe muscle damage, and improving recovery.
Beava has launched creatine gummies that help athletes quickly enhance strength and muscle mass, prolonging workout time.
creatine gummies
Probiotics: Improving Gastrointestinal Health
According to SkyQuestt, probiotics have dominated the global sports nutrition market since 2021. Probiotics can support athletes' high-intensity physical demands by improving gut barrier function, immune function, and antioxidant defense. These effects can help athletes tolerate training loads and enhance their physical fitness. For example, probiotic strains and multi-strain blends from Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been shown to reduce upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms during high-intensity training.
Although athletes may appear healthy, they can still suffer from various gastrointestinal issues. Research shows that 30% to 50% of athletes and up to 93% of long-distance triathletes experience gastrointestinal problems. These issues can arise before, during, or after exercise or competition. For example, electrolyte imbalances, disrupted sleep, and dehydration can all be caused by gastrointestinal diseases, hindering performance or recovery. Therefore, adding probiotics to sports nutrition products has become a consensus among many brands.
GoLive has launched a probiotic and prebiotic powder blend essential for fat metabolism, amino acid and protein synthesis, vitamin production, and bone and muscle health.
Probiotics
Caffeine: Enhancing Exercise Performance
Caffeine is a core ingredient in many pre-workout dietary supplements, typically consumed about 30 minutes before exercise. Supplementing with caffeine can significantly improve various aspects of exercise performance, including muscle endurance, speed, strength, sprinting, jumping, throwing performance, and various aerobic and anaerobic exercises.
Research has found that caffeine is an effective adenosine receptor antagonist in the central nervous system. It blocks adenosine A1 and A2a receptors, inhibiting the negative effects of adenosine on neurotransmission, arousal, and pain perception. Additionally, caffeine can enhance muscle contraction by mobilizing calcium ions (Ca2+), increasing sodium/potassium (Na+/K+) pump activity to enhance excitation-contraction coupling, and inhibiting phosphodiesterase activity.
Super ENERGY has launched an energy drink containing 200 mg of caffeine, along with collagen and prebiotics, to keep people energized during exercise.
Magnesium: Reducing Lactic Acid Accumulation
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in the body. It is involved in energy metabolism and helps maintain normal muscle function. Animal studies have shown that magnesium may improve exercise performance by enhancing glucose utilization in the brain, muscles, and blood, and reducing/delaying lactic acid accumulation in muscles. It also protects against muscle damage. Some cross-sectional studies have shown a positive correlation between magnesium status and muscle performance, including grip strength, calf strength, knee extension torque, ankle extension strength, maximum isometric trunk flexion, rotation, and jumping performance.
People lose magnesium through sweating and stress. Athletes, especially those with high sweat rates, are prone to magnesium deficiency. As physical activity levels increase, so does the demand for magnesium. Pure Encapsulations has launched magnesium glycinate capsules that activate enzymes needed for neuromuscular contraction, cardiac function, and other processes, supporting musculoskeletal, cardiac, metabolic, and neurocognitive health.
Conclusion
The concept of "Sports for All" is deeply integrated into daily life, leading to increased attention to sports nutrition intake. By combining functional ingredients like proteins, amino acids, and probiotics, individuals can better enhance their exercise performance and recovery. This trend will continue to drive the growth of the sports nutrition market.
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Resources
[1]https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/bcaa-market-100303
[2]https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WeightLoss-HealthProfessional/
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Post time: Aug-15-2024
