“A real innovation”: Gelita’s game-changing collagen protein peptide for endurance sports nutrition

01 Dec 2023 --- Collagen peptides pioneer Gelita launched PeptEndure — a protein solution poised to revolutionize endurance training. According to the company, this innovative ingredient — the first of its kind on the market — is designed to enhance endurance performance through a sustainable, adaptive approach to muscle conditioning

The bioactive collagen peptide (BCP) influences metabolic processes and boosts endurance capabilities. Moreover, the offering’s efficacy is backed by two randomized controlled trials, one with male and the other with female participants.

The studies revealed remarkable improvements in metabolism markers among subjects who integrated 15 g of PeptEndure into their daily diet while engaging in resistance and endurance training three times a week for 12 weeks.

Nutrition Insight caught up with Gelita at the Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) 2023 trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, to find out more.

“What we have here is a real innovation in the market,” says Oliver Wolf, head of global B2B marketing at Gelita. “This is really new, and it covers a really white spot, or gap, in the market, which does not exist in any other product.”PeptEndure is neutral in taste, clear in color and versatile enough for numerous applications, including refreshing beverages.

“PeptEndure is not a quick energy enhancer. It’s a training companion that can help you build up your endurance in the long term and will have a long-term influence on the industry. It’s important because you can create customer loyalty with that.”

Strengthening endurance
Gelita highlights that the most notable outcome from the clinical trials was a substantial increase in distance covered during a one-hour time trial. Men in the PeptEndure group averaged an impressive 662 meters more, while women added an extra 331 meters, translating to a speed boost of over 10% and a distance increase of more than 12%.

Additionally, participants exhibited enhanced energy metabolism and significant body composition improvements, including notable reductions in fat mass for both genders.

Wolf underscores that for muscle building, the market has two categories. 

“For the short term, you have amino acids, and for the long term, you have whey proteins in these big cans that you use every day.”

“But when you go to the endurance part, you only have short-term endurance products, like power gels and energy drinks with caffeine and taurine.”

Mobilizing mitochondria
Martin Walter, Gelita’s category manager for healthy aging and sports nutrition, explains how PeptEndure enhances endurance on the cellular level, noting that when the company first noticed the increase in performance, they asked a question — “what’s the mechanism behind it?”

“There are different reasons for that,” Walter details. “One is mitochondrial density, which is increased. That’s what we saw in preclinical science and preclinical models.”

The three-month trial tested the efficacy of PeptEndure for both men and women.“Then, in further clinical research, we looked into further adaptations like the lactate threshold, which is also a way of explaining what is happening there — moving that to the right and then enabling athletes to stay in their peak performance for longer.”

Verified versatility
Another key aspect Gelita spotlighted is the versatility of the offering, which he says makes it a valuable asset across various sports domains — from long-distance running and triathlons to team sports like football and hockey, as well as high-intensity gym activities such as rowing.

The BCP is adaptable for diverse product formulations, including powders, ready-to-drink concepts, gels and sports bars. Additionally, the company says that its compatibility with other nutrients, excellent bioavailability and well-documented safety in human and animal studies make it an ideal ingredient for daily consumption.

“It’s neutral in taste and clear, and it can be used to make beverages — you can make bars with it, you can have a powder drink or you can mix it with minerals and vitamins,” Wolf underscores. 

Sliding into sports nutrition
Geltia further reveals that, since the product has also received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and kosher certifications, non-GMO, gluten-free and compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency regulations, it is perfectly suited for clean label products.

Furthermore, the company emphasizes that PeptEndure positions it at the forefront of the booming global sports nutrition market. 

Wolf states the novel ingredient offers brands a unique opportunity to tap into a promising niche in sports nutrition, providing athletes and fitness enthusiasts with a scientifically proven, sustainable solution for enhancing their endurance performance.

“You have so many chances to develop a successful product and that’s what’s really promising,” he concludes.

By William Bradford Nichols with additional reporting by Missy Green, live at Fi Europe 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany