Raise a glass to the power of peptides
How sports drinks, along with bars, gummies and capsules, are the perfect delivery format for targeted collagen supplementation
As word continues to spread about the benefits of collagen for beauty-from-within hair and skin products, so the global collagen market size – valued at USD 8.36 billion in 2020 – is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% from 2020 to 20281. Yet while collagen-based cosmetics are undoubtedly driving such growth, so too is growing usage in the health and fitness market.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in blood vessels, bones, joints, spinal discs, the eyes and fascial tissue, thus playing a vital role for athletes. Furthermore, a growing number of scientific studies have confirmed that supplementation with collagen peptides can stimulate collagen production, and therefore support the body’s connective tissues. Here, GELITA Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®) have been proven effective and can be easily incorporated into numerous applications, including bars, fortified gummies and capsules, and beverages.
Customised beverages
Drinks are one of the most convenient options for on-the-go supplementation, with innovative beverage concepts bang on trend right now. Traditionally, sports nutrition drinks have provided an energy boost while also replacing water and electrolytes lost through sweating. Collagen drinks, however, offer an additional advantage thanks to their positive effects on performance and exercise capacity.
When it comes to sports nutrition, consumers have varying needs and demands: some want performance or muscle- building options, while others need a ready and optimal supply of nutrients that quickly and efficiently counteract wear and tear injuries, and reduce the risk of further injury. That’s why GELITA offers various types of BCP®, all with different health benefits.
As beverages are an established part of most people’s daily routine, they are a convenient way to ingest nutrients. However, such drinks need to have demonstrable beneficial health effects and must therefore contain proven functional ingredients. They must also taste good, which means product developers must pay maximum attention to technological aspects of potential formulations, such as solubility, texture and mouthfeel.
Here, BCP® can play a key role as they are virtually neutral in taste, and can be used in combination with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Additionally, they have high heat and acid stability, low viscosity and no precipitation or clumping. They also offer fast absorption and good bioavailability, and are free from fat and cholesterol. This allows for the development of drinks with specific properties that can be customised to individual needs and target groups.
As specific BCP® are proven to have positive effects on respective collagen-containing parts of the human body, they offer beverage developers the capacity to create tailored sports drinks concepts for different consumer needs – from juices that help to optimise body composition or strengthen ligaments and tendons, to sports shots that support the maintenance of joints and bones – without detracting from the end product’s sensory appeal.
“Whether used as the sole functional ingredient in a powder drink, as a concentrated solution in a drinking ampoule or with other active ingredients in sports drinks or near-water products, there are no limits to the creative possibilities when developing beverage concepts,” explains Martin Walter, category manager Mobility at GELITA.
Supporting strength, flexibility and stability
While remaining fit and active is vital for overall health and wellbeing, intense sporting activity can make the human musculoskeletal system prone to injury. Collagen provides the firm, shaping structure of tendons and ligaments, and is therefore vital in helping to protect their functionality. That’s why GELITA’s TENDOFORTE® has been specifically designed to stimulate the structure-forming cells of tendons and ligaments to form more collagen molecules, thus helping to preserve their strength and flexibility. Studies have shown that TENDOFORTE® also aids a swifter return to sport and previous performance levels more quickly after injury[1], [2] and high-intensity training sessions.
The BCP® in FORTIBONE®, meanwhile, are designed to stimulate activity of the osteoblasts, which helps to increase the extracellular bone matrix and, thus, the maintenance of stable bones. Additionally, FORTIBONE® slows down the collagen degradation process in bones, which results in a reduction of the number of fractures caused by intense training.
Proven intervention strategy
Wear and tear of joints is unavoidable when training but, again, BCP® from GELITA are a proven intervention strategy. Its FORTIGEL® has been the subject of 20 studies, involving approximately 2,800 participants, all of which confirm its stimulating effect on the biosynthesis of the extracellular cartilage matrix. This means FORTIGEL® tackles not only the cause of joint problems but also the symptoms, and can help reduce pain and improve mobility.
For those athletes looking to optimise body composition, meanwhile, BODYBALANCE® is proven to be highly effective. The effect of these BCP® was investigated in a scientific study involving 114 men aged between 30 and 60. All participants underwent a resistance training routine of 3×2 hours per week for the duration of the study, in order to stimulate muscle growth. One group received 15g of BODYBALANCE® daily, and the other a placebo over a period of 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the muscle mass within the collagen peptide group increased significantly compared to the placebo group. These results correlated with a decrease in fat mass, proving that BODYBALANCE® significantly improves the effect of resistance training on body composition.
Here to stay
“As further positive science continues to emerge, consumers and manufacturers alike will realise that collagen is not just a trend – it’s here to stay,” says Martin Walter. “That’s why we offer a broad portfolio of Bioactive Collagen Peptides that reach all collagen-rich areas of the body and help stimulate collagen metabolism,”
References:
1 Oesser et al. 2018
2 Praet et al. 2017
