Sports nutrition

US web retailer pumps EU distribution as gym community swells

09-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

US site Bodybuilding.com has opened its first UK distribution centre to better cater to its customer base in Europe - part of a community that includes 25 million unique visitors to its websites each month.

UK blows whistle on sports supplement claims

08-Apr-2015 By Shane STARLING

The UK advertising watchdog has muzzled meal replacement, muscle building, metabolism, L-carnitine, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and other claims being made by a UK based online manufacturer-retailer as it continues its claims crack down based on EU...

Is fast food as effective as sports supplements for recovery?

08-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Burgers and French fries may be just as effective in glycogen recovery and performance as isoenergetic sport supplements, say researchers from the University of Montana.

Protein powders added to UK’s ‘basket of goods’

08-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Protein powders have been added to the UK’s ‘basket of goods’ – a list of staple products and services used to calculate UK inflation.  

Sports supplements hit for six in BBC contamination investigation

02-Apr-2015 By Shane STARLING

Banned steroids and stimulants have been found in muscle building and fat burning sports supplements in the UK, a BBC documentary broadcast this week has found.

GSK: "We spent two years developing this product and as yet are not sure why this is happening.”

Glaxo withdraws MaxiNutrition creatine milk over choking concerns

23-Mar-2015 By Shane STARLING

In-bottle creatine crystallisation is behind a full UK recall of GlaxoSmithKline-owned MaxiNutrition Cyclone Milk products over choking concerns. GSK implemented the recall after customer complaints a spokesperson told us today.

Which protein can help weight loss but keep muscle?

19-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Greater energy from whey protein means greater loss of fat but retention of muscle while dieting, according to research that looked at different protein sources. 

1,600 jobs boost with €200M Glanbia plan

19-Mar-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Glanbia Ingredients has pumped more than €200M into its dairy processing capabilities across Ireland in preparation for the abolition of milk quotas at the end of this month (March).

Spread protein throughout the day for muscle gain and weight loss: Nestlé study

18-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Balancing protein intake throughout the day - rather than having the bulk as part of an evening meal - helped participants in a study to boost muscle gain by nearly 20% and lose weight, Nestlé researchers have found.

‘Energy drinks are not for children!’ says Danish campaign

13-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) is to begin a campaign to stop parents and schools giving energy drinks to children at birthday parties and after sport. 

First Milk appoints former Mars boss as ceo

13-Mar-2015 By Laurence Gibbons

First Milk has appointed Mike Gallacher as its new chief executive, following Kate Allum’s decision to quit the co-operative after five years in the role.

Irish agri firm Aurivo buys UK sports nutrition player

12-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Irish agri-business Aurivo Co-operative Society has acquired London-based sports nutrition company My Goodness Ltd in an attempt to gain access to the protein drinks market.

What will EFSA’s caffeine opinion mean for product formulation?

11-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) safe upper limit for caffeine could mean a de facto ban for 80% of UK males, whose average weight would take them over the body weight referenced in the opinion, according to a food law expert.

5 days until EU caffeine crunch time

Stakeholders win 5 minutes to state final caffeine case

10-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Last week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave six stakeholders five minutes each to present their thoughts on its draft risk assessment on caffeine, which stated 400 mg of caffeine a day from all sources and single doses of up to 200 mg for...

IQ Chocolate: What’s essential to ensure a start-up survives – and thrives?

10-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Four years ago two Scottish women with little experience of the food industry started developing a gourmet chocolate brand. Now they are moving into export markets – so what were the ingredients of success?

Glico builds endurance sports science for Cluster Dextrin ingredient

10-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Formulating sports nutrition products with a highly branched cyclic dextrin may combat the onset of stress factors induced during exhaustive physical activity, says a study from Japan.

Food Vision sneak peeks - Cannes, March 18-20

Ex-World Cup sports scientist: Best carb-protein blend is 3:1

09-Mar-2015 By Shane STARLING

Protein was once thought necessary to fuel sporting activity but evolving research has shown it is better for muscle recovery and short chain carbohydrates (sugars) are the accepted fuel tools. And then there are blends of the two…plus the carb and protein...

Tropical energy. A new kind of category blurring?

09-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Both Red Bull and Lucozade Sport have launched tropical flavours of their sport and energy drinks – something Mintel says is another example of these sectors trying to slurp soft drink market share.

EFSA: "How can it have both an adverse and beneficial effect? It can."

Alert vs insomniac: EFSA says caffeine effect can be both good and bad

06-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

EFSA's draft opinion on caffeine does not contain contradictions since the health effects of caffeine can be both negative and positive depending on the context, the authority has said at a stakeholder meeting.

Sports drinks aren’t enough to boost performance - salt may help: Research

05-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Salt supplementation may improve exercise performance according to Spanish researchers – but health claims for sodium are still not authorised.

Vegetable EPO? Scientists investigate nitrate benefits for blood boosting

03-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Dietary sources of nitrate may activate pathways in the liver and kidneys thus meeting oxygen requirements without increasing red blood cells or thickening blood, researchers have concluded.

Mussels for muscles: Green lipped mussel extract may ease muscle damage during exercise

03-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Extracts from New Zealand green lipped mussels may reduce muscle soreness and fatigue after exercise and reduce markers of muscle damage, says a new study.

Border block: Germany stops product with debated aegeline ingredient

02-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The German authorities have blocked a shipment of products containing the unauthorised novel food ingredient aegeline and American firm USP Labs is making inquiries into whether this relates to its recalled OxyElite product. 

Researchers delve into nutrition solutions for illness–prone athletes

27-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

There is a need for greater research into nutrition solutions for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) that are common in athletes, according to the researcher behind a study on the impact of omega-3, vitamin D and protein supplementation.

ESSNA membership: Medix Laboratoires and Smart Nutrition in, HFMA out

26-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) sees two new members – Medix Laboratoires and Smart Nutrition – join its ranks after its associate member Health Food Manufacturers Association (HFMA) bows out. 

BioCell Collagen may improve recovery following weight training exercise: Study

25-Feb-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements containing BioCell Collagen may protect the connective tissue of the musculoskeletal system and enhancing recovery from intense exercise, says preliminary data from a proof-of-concept study.

UK energy bar sales triple and set to rise

24-Feb-2015 By Niamh Michail

Sales in the energy bar and nutrition market in the UK have been growing at a faster rate than the US tripling in the past five years to reach €137m, while the US market doubled in the same period to €2314m.

Special edition: Botanicals

Huge potential for botanicals in energy drinks

19-Feb-2015 By Niamh Michail

Consumers are looking for alternatives to artificial caffeine, meaning even greater opportunities for botanicals in the energy drink market, with small start-ups leading the way.

Too broad vs. too limited: Can the sports nutrition industry climb out of regulatory purgatory?

18-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A European Commission report due in July this year should bring legal clarity to the current regulation obscurity that surrounds the sports nutrition market, according to a paper by the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA).

Cultured views from Probiota 2015 in Amsterdam

Game on: Probiotics & sports performance

18-Feb-2015 By Shane STARLING

Clinical data is building around the role of probiotics to aid athletic performance – from recovery to muscle development to immune defense. We spoke to a leading researcher at Probiota in Amsterdam this month…

Glutathione supplements may delay fatigue during exercise: Mouse and human data

16-Feb-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of glutathione may boost mitochondrial levels in muscle and delay exercise-induced fatigue, suggest data from mice and men from Japan.

FOCUS ON...ENERGY DRINKS

Work hard, play hard: Tough Saudi Arabia energy drink market could reap rewards

16-Feb-2015 By Rachel Arthur

Tough government regulations on energy drinks means the Saudi Arabian market is a challenging one, but it’s also a land of opportunity for US and European brands, says Euromonitor International. 

First things first Europe: Set pan-EU max limit for caffeine

13-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Europe must push for united mandatory upper caffeine limits for all products with added caffeine if it is to counter current member state disparity. 

Sports nutrition specialists eye 'Big Energy' with formula innovations

10-Feb-2015 By Niamh Michail

Specialist sports nutrition firms are using sector knowledge to compete in the energy drinks space that is dominated by the 'Big Energy' beverage giants.

Weight loss and meal replacement markets are the Wild West, says newbie

09-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Weight loss and meal replacement markets are the Wild West of the nutrition industry and it is right to regulate them, says a crowd-funded start-up of organic drinkable meal manufacturer Ambronite.

EU handed protein intake recommendations; no DRVs

06-Feb-2015 By Shane STARLING

Europe’s central food science agency says European adults require on average 0.83 g protein/kg body weight each day from “high quality protein and to protein in mixed diets” in a just-issued opinion.

Measuring the immeasurable? The challenges of researching mood and nutrition

04-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Mood is often assessed in nutrition research but it is ‘hard to define’ and ‘inherently subjective’, according to the researchers behind a review of mood-measuring methodology.

“The authorisation of these claims would see a major boost for sports men and women”

European sports nutrition sector backs EFSA caffeine opinion

30-Jan-2015 By Shane STARLING

The European sports nutrition sector says the recent EFSA opinion that backed daily caffeine intakes up to 400 mg per day, will lift the sector – if it makes it into EU law books.

Probiotic industry value set to reach £29bn

30-Jan-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of probiotic food, drink and supplements are set to reach £29bn by 2018, as consumers seek food-based answers to health issues, according to one expert commentator.

Astaxanthin may extend endurance by boosting mitochondrial action: Study

28-Jan-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The pinkish-orange carotenoid astaxanthin – one of the hottest ingredients in dietary supplements – may enhance endurance and slow fatigue by boosting mitochondria antioxidant defenses, says a new study from Brazil.

Probiota 2015, February 3-5, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

6 days to go! Probiota 2015 unveils game-changing innovation in pre- & probiotics

28-Jan-2015

Probiota 2015 in Amsterdam is less than a week a way - a rare place where business leaders and leading researchers gather to transfer knowledge and innovation in the dynamic field of prebiotics and probiotics. 

Supplement industry has changed and now our advice reflects that: Sweden

27-Jan-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Swedish National Food Agency (SLV) has released its first manual on best food supplement practice – something it says responds to the increasingly complex nature of the growing sector.

Green tea extract may boost ‘metabolic efficiency’ and help endurance training: Human data

27-Jan-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of green tea extract may enhance performance in active men by improving metabolic efficiency and economy, says a new study.

Fucoidan boost performance and slows tiring during exercise: Mouse data

26-Jan-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplementation with fucoidan from seaweed may delay fatigue during fatigue and boost overall endurance, says a new study from Taiwan.

Pea protein supplements match whey for muscle thickness gains: Roquette study

26-Jan-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with pea protein may produce the same bicep muscle thickness improvements as whey protein, suggests a new study from Roquette and the University of Burgundy in France.

Williams and Warburton case shows sports nutrition brands must do more to reduce the ‘spectre’ of doping; Cambridge issues statement

23-Jan-2015 By Shane STARLING

UK sports nutrition brand Science Fitness has challenged firms to ramp up quality control (QC) measures to reduce the risk of sector-wide implication in doping cases via contamination.

Eurolactis launches world's first carton-packed donkey milk

23-Jan-2015 By Mark ASTLEY

After years of development, Eurolactis has officially launched what it claims is the world's first carton-packed donkey milk. 

Gold medal Olympian talks supplement contamination and doping scandals

22-Jan-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

We need to work towards the point where there is no excuse for positive drug tests in professional sports, says Darren Campbell, the English gold medal Olympian and co-founder of nutrition firm Pro Athlete Supplementation (PAS).

On the spike: The curious case of a contaminated sports supplement

21-Jan-2015 By Shane STARLING

‘Don’t take sports supplements, they can’t be trusted’ was the takeaway message from Welsh track stars Rhys Williams and Gareth Warburton after the recent UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) tribunal agreed steroids got into their blood streams via contaminated sports...

Cambridge Commodities: “There was no contamination in any of the tested products or ingredients.”

Mountain Fuel drink maker says ‘doped’ products tested clean

19-Jan-2015 By Shane STARLING

The third party manufacturer of the Mountain Fuel sports drink that has been blamed in a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) independent panel ruling for the ‘inadvertent’ steroid doping of two Welsh track Olympians, says the products were tested after the UKAD adverse...