Energy

Energy drinks increase sports performance – and insomnia and nervousness, says study

02-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Energy drink consumption improves sports performance by 3%–7%, but also increases insomnia, nervousness and the level of stimulation after a competition, according a study.

Supplier says new copper chelate form boosts 'biocompatibility'

01-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

A company that started with an effort to help an injured relative has morphed into a dietary supplement ingredient supplier offering what the founder says is the “world’s first biocompatible copper chelate.”

Demand rising rapidly for beetroot as ingredient's sports nutrition benefits are proven and popularized

30-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

The benefits of beetroot juice for sports nutrition got a big public relations boost recently with the news the Auburn University football team drinks the juice before its games.  As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the team began using the ingredient...

ABC article says climate change is impacting quality of Chinese tea; whether botanicals in other regions are affected is less clear

29-Sep-2014 By Hank Schultz

Global climate change is affecting the quality of tea harvested in southwestern China, both in terms of taste and content of bioactive chemicals, according to a recent article in Herbalgram, the publication of the American Botanical Council.  Whether...

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.

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'.

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 .

Europharma debuts glutathione supplement featuring patented French technology to boost bioavailability

25-Aug-2014 By Hank Schultz

EuroPharma has launched a patented, more bioavailable form of glutathione in the US market, the firm announced recently. With the announcement, the firm joins a number of companies advertsing their bioavailable forms of the antioxidant.

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.

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.

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...

DSM and Merck form high-end folate alliance

06-Aug-2014 By Shane STARLING

DSM Nutritional Products (DNP) is not abandoning its folic acid (vitamin B9) offering but has added a high-end, folate form aimed at global supplement and food makers in a deal with Merck in Switzerland.

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.

You’ll regret it in the morning: Review suggests alcohol-caffeine combo does not ‘mask’ intoxication

01-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Mixing alcohol with energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages across different doses may not alter the awareness of intoxication as previously suggested, according to a meta-analysis.

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.

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.

Special edition: Cognitive Health

Evidence of gut/brain connection piles up, but actual products are a ways off, researcher says

24-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

The gut is teeming with bacteria, good and bad, and these organisms and their cousins living elsewhere on and in the body outnumber the body’s own cells by an order of magnitude.  It is only recently that the notion has come to the fore that these microorganisms...

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.

Supplement line launches based on phospholipid nano sphere delivery system

22-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

NanoSphere Health Sciences has formally launched its line of liquid dietary supplements called Evolve Nutrients that employs its lipid-based delivery technology promising more rapid absorption and better bioavailability.

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).

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.

Melon extract eases stress: Study

07-Jul-2014 By Anne Bruce

A new 12-week clinical study has strengthened evidence that melon-derived superoxide dismutase (Sod) supplements can help reduce stress and fatigue and improve cognitive performance.

Lack of good advice about supplement use puts young athletes at risk, dietitian says

30-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

The unfettered marketplace for dietary supplements in the United States has created a risky situation for teenagers, especially younger athletes, dietitians at a recent conference were told. Tavis Piattoly, RD, told attendees that younger athletes were...

CSPI calls for warning letters on energy drinks, but are the numbers accurate?

30-Jun-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to require warning labels on energy drink containers notifying consumers of the risk of heart attack, convulsion, and other adverse reactions.

MusclePharm adds Tiger Woods to stable of endorsers

27-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

Sports nutrition firm MusclePharm has concluded a deal with Tiger Woods to feature the comapny’s logo on his golf bag. Woods reportedly will receive an undisclosed annual fee and stock currently worth about $5 million.

Physiological responses to caffeine may increase with age: Study

20-Jun-2014 By Nicola Cottam

The potentially negative effects of caffeine consumption on the heart significantly increase as young people reach adolescence, research has suggested. 

Exercise and high protein diet may increase gut microbiota diversity: Research

18-Jun-2014 By Nicola Cottam

Exercise and ‘extreme' high protein diet could have beneficial impact on gut microbiota diversity, according to research published in the British Medical Journal. 

Booming demand for sports certification points to need for overall quality assurance, NSF exec says

17-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

The growth of the sports nutrition sector has boosted the demand for NSF’s Certified for Sport certification, says Lisa Thomas, the program’s director.  But the reach of the program extends well beyond products meant just for athletes.

Energy supplement hangs hat on dopamine-boosting properties

16-Jun-2014 By Hank Schultz

A new energy supplement is betting on the benefits of Ayurvedic herb Mucuna pruriens, which provides a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine, to stand out in a crowed category.

Applied Food Science anticipates demand with organic caffeine for energy beverages

22-May-2014 By Hank Schultz

Applied Food Sciences has debuted an all-natural caffeine ingredient for energy beverage formulations.  The ingredient will a boon in a market crowded with synthetic ingredients, the company said.

DSM enters olive polyphenol market; hard launches high-dose algae omega-3

16-May-2014 By Shane STARLING

Swiss-based DSM Nutritional Products (DNP) has entered the olive-sourced hydroxytyrosol market that has been hot since the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a rare plant polyphenol health claim approval in 2011.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2014

Safe sports nutrition product use is a reality. So are global sports federation rebuttals increasingly ‘outdated’?

13-May-2014 By Shane STARLING

Contamination concerns mean most athletic and sporting federations advise against them despite near-ubiquitous use among top athletes and sportspeople. Busted doped athletes continue to finger them. But sports nutrition products are in a better place...

Active duty Marine's energy shot packs mega doses of vitamins

28-Apr-2014 By Hank Schultz

Battlefield experience in Afghanistan gave Marine Corps Maj. Robert Dyer a good idea of what he wanted in a supplement.  And surving the stress of being a forward air controller in the combat zone helped him weather the stress of launching a new supplement...

Multivitamin startup offers formulas targeted to different times of day

25-Apr-2014 By Hank Schultz

Different approaches have been taken to differentiate the multivitamin sector over the years.  Formulas that target specific populations, like men, women or kids, or different delivery systems like gummies have all been tried.  Now comes a new idea: ...

Vemma makes changes to business model in response to Italian ruling

25-Apr-2014 By Hank Schultz

The network marketing sector has come under renewed scrutiny with the news that Vemma Nutrition, a multilevel marketing comany that markets beverages based in part on mangosteen juice, has been sanctioned by an Italian regulatory body for being a pyramid...

Special edition: Sports nutrition

Former steroids seller finds scant integrity in supplements marketplace

24-Apr-2014 By Hank Schultz

Kirk Radomski came through the fire of the performance enhancing drug scandal of Major League Baseball to a new life as the founder of a supplement company specializing in sports nutrition. The experience has given him a unique perspective on the business,...

Special edition: Sports Nutrition

Ban yohimbe just like ephedra, says EU sports nutrition sector

24-Apr-2014 By Dr Adam Carey

EFSA last year concluded the safety profile of herbal stimulant yohimbe is inconclusive. Ban it anyway, says the chair of the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) in this guest article.

Special edition: Sports nutrition

Expert founds company with goal to fill in data gaps on sports nutrition for women

23-Apr-2014 By Hank Schultz

When formulating sports nutrition products for women, is the concept to merely give them a little bit less of what you’d give a presumably much heavier man under similar circumstances?  Or are a female athlete’s needs subtly different? No one really knows,...

Is DSHEA a public relations problem for the sports nutrition sphere?

22-Apr-2014 By Hank Schultz

The Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act has fostered an innovative and thriving industry. That’s the standard line, one that few would argue with. But has the bright light of DSHEA also cast shadows within which bad players have free rein?

Driven Sports has no intentions to use any Dendrobium-related ingredient in the future: Lawyer

16-Apr-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Pre-workout supplement marketer Driven Sports will not be launching any new products containing any Dendrobium-related ingredients in the future, says the company’s legal counsel in response to a warning letter from the FDA.

ChromaDex trims loss, reports $65 million in orders for Niagen ingredient

28-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex Corp. further trimmed its loss to 4 cents a share as it continues to capitalize on its Niagen ingredient, the company announced as it reported its final fiscal year 2013 results.

Diabetes epidemic, settlement of patent suit means bright future for chromium, Nutrition 21 says

26-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

The market for chromium is growing, driven by the ongoing tide of obesity and diabetes, said Bill Levi of Nutrition 21, which supplies Chromax, a patented form of chromium picolinate.

GNC hops on personalization bandwagon with 'Accelerator' series

20-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

GNC Holdings is hopping on the personalizaiton bandwagon with a line of add-on sports nutrition prouducts call the “Accelerator Series.”  The products are intended to pair with exisitng sports nutrition products offered by the company to help customers...

Kratom distributor recalls all products in wake of FDA import alert

18-Mar-2014 By Hank Schultz

SNI National has voluntarily recalled all of its products that contain kratom, an ingredient whose legality has been questioned by the Food and Drug Administration.