Redefining recovery: FrieslandCampina Ingredient’s latest advances in post-workout solutions

27 Aug 2024 --- Consumer demand for science-backed post-workout recovery solutions that offer comprehensive results is increasing. At the same time, many say they want products that come in convenient formats and offer variety beyond the bulky bars and chalky shakes that have dominated the market since its inception.

Additionally, Innova Market Insights’ data suggests a 17% year-over-year increase in sports nutrition products featuring post-workout claims from April 2023 to March 2024 and a significant growth over the past five years in post-workout sports supplement launches, with a 27% increase from April 2019 to March 2024.

Nutrition Insight sits down with Vicky Davies, the global marketing director for performance, active & medical nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, to better understand the products and trends shaking up the workout recovery space.

What specific ingredients do FrieslandCampina Ingredients offer to optimize muscle recovery post-workout?
Davies: In the realm of post-workout recovery, protein reigns supreme. It helps muscles get back in the game after intense training sessions and plays a crucial role in muscle protein synthesis. At FrieslandCampina Ingredients, our wide protein portfolio is designed to help manufacturers supply athletes with quality nutrition to optimize their performance.

Within our dairy offering, for example, whey protein stands out as a premier choice for post-workout recovery, boasting all nine essential amino acids. This powerful ingredient is rapidly absorbed at a rate of 10 g per hour, meaning that a 20 g portion of whey protein taken after training can start rebuilding and recovering muscle in as little as two hours.

Vicky Davies, the global marketing director for performance, active & medical nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients.One of our flagship solutions is Nutri Whey Isolate Clear, which enables brands to innovate premium products tailored for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. This ingredient is ideal for easy formulation of refreshing, clear, ready-to-drink beverages and gels, combining hydration with a protein boost in convenient, on-the-go formats.

We also cater to the growing demand for plant-based options with our Plantaris range. With 42% of individuals now identifying as flexitarian and 71% consuming plant-based alternatives because of their perceived health benefits, Plantaris is a real game-changer. When leveraged in new product development, it can help meet the needs of both protein seekers and plant-forward consumers. Plantaris offers a good source of essential amino acids — such as leucine and branched-chain amino acids — that can effectively stimulate muscle protein synthesis. This makes them ideal for post-workout nutrition applications — and they’re designed to do this while delivering superior sensory properties, such as improved taste, compared to other plant protein sources.

Can you tell us about the latest research on the effectiveness of FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ post-workout recovery supplements?
Davies: Morning and after-training shakes are well-known for post-workout recovery, but what people might not know is the potential of bedtime. In a recent study conducted in partnership with Maastricht University, we explored the effects of pre-sleep protein ingestion on endurance athletes and whether there were differences in the benefits of whey and casein. 

The results were fascinating — compared to the placebo, pre-sleep protein ingestion increased overnight muscle protein synthesis. Specifically, both myofibrillar proteins, an integral part of muscle tissue structure, and mitochondrial proteins, which are crucial for energy production, were successfully stimulated. This was the first ever study to indicate that consuming either whey or casein protein before bed can help endurance athletes improve their strength and training efficiency, opening up untapped opportunities for brands to develop novel protein solutions for athletes to take before sleep.

Plantaris protein meets the demands of athletes seeking plant-based post-workout solutions.This research is particularly exciting as it contributes to redefining the conventional emphasis on carbohydrates for endurance sports such as marathons, triathlons or Ironman competitions. While protein has typically been associated with resistance training and carbohydrates have been a bigger focus for endurance, this study further confirms the power of proteins for endurance athletes, helping them beat their personal bests and get over the finish line.

How do FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ recovery products differentiate from others on the market in terms of formulation and benefits?
Davies: At FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we have 125 years of experience in dairy proteins. Combined with our advanced technological expertise, we’re able to get the very most out of raw ingredients, providing the best-in-class benefits and experiences to consumers. We also leverage this know-how to expand our portfolio with nutritious plant proteins and proteins produced through precision fermentation.

A great example of what we’ve been able to achieve is Plantaris. Unlike traditional plant-based proteins, which can leave unappealing tastes, Plantaris offers a neutral flavor profile, allowing for versatile flavor formulations across various formats. Sensory panel tests have shown that products made with Plantaris have an overall cleaner taste.

Our in-depth formulation expertise also means our protein ingredients are specially designed to easily be combined with other value-added ingredients, such as prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) or omega-3s, to push athletes that bit further. Biotis Fermentis, for example, is a first-of-a-kind solution that harnesses the benefits of whey protein, Biotis GOS and probiotic cultures by fermenting them together. 

Davies highlights the potential of pre-sleep protein to support muscle recovery.This results in a distinctive ingredient that boosts holistic wellness from the inside out, ultimately supporting athletic performance — which is great news for the 80% of athletes facing gastrointestinal issues associated with training and competition. 

Our proteins can also be formulated with our latest launch, Biotis DHA Flex Powders — a new range of algae-based microencapsulated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) powders. When used in tandem with proteins, brands can leverage the cognitive health benefits of Biotis DHA Flex Powders, creating next-generation ‘protein plus’ solutions to help athletes stay focused during training and races while supporting overall athletic performance.

Can you tell us about FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ latest post-workout recovery innovations?
Davies: The secret to delivering top-tier solutions lies in leveraging high-quality ingredients. Our Excellion Textpro is specifically designed for high-protein bars to improve texture and prevent hardening over time — a common problem in formulation. With Excellion Textpro, which is based on patent-pending technology, manufacturers can tackle these challenges head-on to offer an indulgent eating experience while achieving outstanding nutritional quality, making consumers come back for more.

One interesting question is whether protein uptake differs between these two popular formats. It’s often assumed that liquid formats of protein are more easily digested and absorbed. So, we conducted a recent study to assess protein absorption in shake and bar formats, comparing the digestibility of 20 g of our Nutri Whey Isolate and Excellion Calcium Caseinate proteins.

Interestingly, the results found no significant differences in amino acid levels in the blood plasma after eating protein in either bar or shake format. So, nutritional performance ultimately boils down to the quality of ingredients and how they’re formulated — showing there’s still plenty of opportunity to innovate highly efficacious protein products in these established formats.

By William Bradford Nichols