Clasado Biosciences predicts rapid growth in gut health-driven sports nutrition

05 Oct 2021 --- An “entirely new” category within sports and nutrition products is opening up to gut-health-centered athletic supplements, according to experts at prebiotics specialist Clasado biosciences.

Speaking to NutritionInsight, the company’s R&D director Dr. Lucien Harthoorn, explains why he believes industry is entering a “landmark turning point” for global sports nutrition. 

“Athletic health products and supplements that harness the power of the gut could well be the next big advancement for the industry, and at the moment, it’s a whole new perspective on sports and a relatively untapped market,” he asserts. 

“Gut health products don’t tend to focus on advantages in terms of exercise or sport, and likewise athletic health products don’t tend to take a gut-focused approach in terms of formulation or marketing. However, the potential for product developers in combining the two is clear and could present the next big step-change in how sports health products are formulated.” 

The company says it expects to see a 10.9% CAGR rise in gut health-centered sports nutrition as the category develops. 

Lucien Harthoorn, Clasado Bioscience’s R&D director.Bimuno boosting athleticism 
A key example of innovation in this area is Clasado’s Bimuno product.

Studies on the Bimuno prebiotic include research conducted at the University of Nottingham and published in the British Journal of Nutrition, indicating that the prebiotic reduced the severity of Hyperpnoea-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB), a common health challenge for athletes.

“Gut health has also been on the rise, but the two categories have not yet fully connected from a product perspective,” Harthoorn continues. 

The potential is there to combine them effectively, he asserts, and provide important benefits to digestive, immune and mental health, all of which have been proven through scientific research. 

“Our own studies into Bimuno have shown that exercise can bring about adaptations in the body to counter the demands of physical effort. The gut microbiome is thought to be an essential part of this adaptive process, and since the gut microbiome can be modulated either positively or negatively through diet and lifestyle, the extra focus needs to be paid to maintaining a well-balanced gut microbiome.”

Challenging consumer perception 
The company expects to see a 10.9% compound annual growth rate in gut health-driven sports nutrition.Harthoorn says industry is at an important turning point in market maturity for gut health – particularly with prebiotics. 

“With matters of health and well-being, consumers are switching from reactivity to proactivity. Whether it’s supplements, healthier beverages or functional and fortified foods, we are now getting more engaged with everyday well-being, not just when there’s a health problem to be fixed,” he says.

Prebiotic fiber is a relatively new addition to the functional ingredient arena, but the category is now seeing a similar growth rate compared to probiotics, Harthoorn outlines. 

“At one time, public perception of ‘bacteria’ was inherently bad, but now probiotic products are a common sight on store shelves.”

The importance of research 
Despite this rapidly growing level of global awareness for prebiotics, they’re still a relatively new addition to the ingredient arena. 

Because of this, a strong scientific backing is “absolutely essential,” says Harthoorn, as well as supporting education surrounding prebiotic fiber. 

“The category also sounds similar to probiotics and live bacteria, which add more beneficial bacteria to the gut microbiome rather than nourishing those that are already present,” he asserts. 

“The two categories aim to produce the same effect through different means. Although, as a substrate that doesn’t need to worry about survivability in the manufacturing process, prebiotic fiber is often a more versatile and accessible approach for product developers.”

By Louis Gore-Langton