Beneo champions blood glucose management to boost “Olympic factor” endurance

25 Jul 2024 --- On the cusp of the Olympic Games in Paris, France, Beneo talks to us about the evolution of sports nutrition for the event and makes hard-hitting recommendations for consumers and sports enthusiasts, such as prioritizing sustained energy delivery, hydration, thermoregulation, muscle recovery and protein synthesis.

The company touts its Palatinose (isomaltulose) to balance blood glucose levels, which is paramount to optimal performance. The company notes that the “Olympic factor” from Paris 2024 is a great incentive to inspire people to care for their health, fitness and nutrition.

“Sports nutrition is an integral part of the Olympics and according to a study of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, approximately 70% of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics/Paralympics and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics athletes and 50% of Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympians incorporated supplements into their routines,” Klaudia Volmer, product manager, functional carbohydrates at Beneo, tells Nutrition Insight.

For example, “recovery” was a primary goal for Tokyo 2020 and “performance enhancement” for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympians. “The Olympics brings endurance and elite sporting achievement front and center of consumer minds and motivates hobby athletes to raise their game even more, and this can only be a good thing for sports nutrition producers,” Volmer explains.

Fueling consumer exercise enthusiasm
While athletes and fitness enthusiasts often choose nutrition to support specific performance goals such as building strength, endurance, speed and agility, there is a move toward products that facilitate recovery. 

Sports nutrition products for recovery facilitate sustained energy delivery, hydration, thermoregulation, muscle recovery and protein synthesis. Beneo’s Palatinose is a slow-release sugar ideal for use in sports nutrition drinks, gels and snacks. 

“As well as providing steady carbohydrate energy for physical activity, it promotes a higher contribution of fat oxidation in energy metabolism than commonly used readily available carbohydrates. For endurance activities, a higher level of fat burning is of interest as it may spare carbohydrate sources (glycogen) for enhanced endurance,” Volmer explains.

In optimizing performance, sustained energy delivery versus quick energy release, hydration and thermoregulation are beginning to play a vital role. “For example, most popular sports nutrition drinks, gels and bars on the market today have been designed to increase energy during exercise, yet these products traditionally contain high glycemic carbohydrates like maltodextrin, glucose syrup and sucrose,” says Volmer.Sports nutrition for the Olympic Games has evolved to prioritize “recovery.” 

“Such carbohydrates release glucose into the bloodstream at a fast rate. This is fine for those in need of instant energy for intensive athletic training such as sprinting, but when it comes to endurance sports, choosing a carbohydrate that delivers a more sustained energy release can minimize body strain and may support hydration during exercise in the heat.”

Lower blood glucose spikes
Palatinose is made from sucrose, which is naturally sourced from sugar beets and also found in honey. The ingredient delivers a lower rise in blood glucose while delivering full carbohydrate energy of around 4 kcal/g. Palatinose has been used to create a reduced glycemic response sports drink powder.  

Volmer underscores: “Its slow uptake results in a low and balanced blood glucose response, making it an ideal ingredient to help support blood sugar management. Additionally, this unique sugar carries EU health claims for being tooth-friendly and providing a lower blood glucose response.” 

“As a very low hygroscopic free-flowing powder, Palatinose is ideal for powder instant beverages or agglomerates and it significantly reduces the water absorption in blends, minimizing the risk of common production issues such as caking and lumping.”

Palatinose does not absorb humidity from the environment and can be conveniently handled throughout its shelf life. It is not easily hydrolyzed by acids because of its strong molecular link, which ensures beverages, such as isotonic drinks, retain a stable ratio of solute particles.

Sports drinks formulated with Palatinose maintain a constant osmolality even in acidic and pasteurized beverages regardless of whether they are isotonic, hypotonic or hypertonic. This means that the amount of solute particles of salt, minerals or protein remains stable during the complete shelf life.

“When performing aerobic (cardiovascular) exercise, such as running, swimming or cycling, you expect to feel fitter over time. However, not everybody is rewarded with better fitness. In fact, probably one in five might feel as if their body is almost resistant to a training effect,” Volmer explains. 

“Recent scientific studies have indicated that consistently high blood sugar concentrations are related to a low exercise capacity and high blood sugar levels diminish the training effect. It is important, therefore, that the right type of sports nutrition is used so that blood sugar levels are managed effectively.”

According to the company, the majority of sports nutrition convenience formats are based on high-glycemic products. The ideal sports nutrition product for those looking to burn fat and tone while exercising needs to contain a low-glycemic carbohydrate that has a lower impact on blood sugar levels, such as Palatinose.  

Volmer notes: “This carbohydrate is an ideal ingredient in any prospective new product development, as it comes with approved health claims within the European Union for lowering blood glucose response and being tooth-friendly.”

Trends in the marketPalatinose by Beneo can sustain blood sugar stability before, during and after a competition.
Beneo has observed the adoption of a more individualized approach to sports nutrition in recent years. The biggest trends it observes have been personalized formulations that are more natural, consist of clean label ingredients and plant-based or vegan options.

“Alongside this, there has been a growing appreciation of the importance of the gut microbiome and the role it plays in performance, as well as nutrient timing and more data-driven tracking of dietary intake,” Volmer explains.

“An area that is receiving more focus is plant-based diets and how athletes who follow a vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian diet can ensure adequate nutrient consumption for optimal performance. There is growing evidence that the gut microbiome plays a role in sports performance, which can create consumer interest in performance nutrition products that support different aspects of gut health.”

Roughly 31% of UK consumers are interested in food and drink products tailored for sports or exercise that support gut health. This opens opportunities for recipe development with Beneo’s fava bean protein concentrate and Orafti inulin and oligofructose prebiotic fibers with sports nutrition producers.

Hydration and thermoregulation
Choosing the proper hydration method can significantly impact training and performance levels on competition day, which is crucial when taking part in an endurance sport in warmer climates. Hydration and thermoregulation are important focus areas for improving performance and recovery. 

“Sufficient drink intake for hydration and compensation of sweating is important so that that performance can be maintained during exercise and rehydration for recovery afterward,” says Volmer. 

“For example, studies by a Japanese research group that focused on cycling in hot environments, such as those seen at the Japanese Olympics in 2021, have shown some interesting results. The effect of carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks containing the carbohydrates isomaltulose or sucrose were studied, with their impact on hydration and thermoregulation monitored.”

Isomaltulose was shown to maintain thermoregulation during exercise, reduce cardiovascular strain and have a greater beverage hydration index than sugar. The ingredient gave better hydration during and after exercise compared to sucrose. 

Volmer adds: “Studies also showed that sports drinks containing 6.5% isomaltulose may even improve hydration after exercise, compared to water, and enhance rehydration after exercise in hot environments, when assessed against high glycaemic index carbohydrates.” 

In the countdown to a competition, Palatinose preserves the fat-burning effect and carb loading. On the day of the event, its intake ensures sustained blood sugar stability that lasts well beyond the race.

“During the activity, its consumption can minimize body strain while delivering sustained energy, maintain thermoregulation, encourage the use of fat reserves as fuel and support hydration in hotter climates. After the race, Palatinose can be consumed to improve rehydration and refill glycogen stores, without compromising its fat oxidation benefits,” Volmer concludes.

In related news, ADM also highlights its plant-based, pre-, pro- and postbiotic innovations for active nutrition ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. 

By Inga de Jong