Multifunctional active nutrition emerges with benefits for women, gut health and energy boosts

No longer confined to athletes, active nutrition solutions increasingly target men and women seeking a healthy lifestyle. Industry experts highlight an increased demand for multifunctional solutions that target the gut-muscle axis, energy and healthy aging. Nutrition Insight dives into holistic health with AstaReal, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, Lubrizol Life Science, dsm-firmenich, ADM, HTBA and Bioiberica.

Dr. Behnaz Shakersain, scientific affairs manager at AstaReal, highlights that consumer interest in effective and proactive health solutions drives research into different ingredients and their associated health benefits. 

“Today’s proactive consumers tend to make more informed purchasing decisions and seek scientifically-backed multifunctional products and ingredients that support not only the parameters related to physical performance (muscle strength, endurance, recovery post-exercise) but also have proven benefits for general fitness, well-being and healthy aging,” says Shakersain.

Vicky Davies, senior marketing director in Performance, Active and Medical Nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, states that gold-standard ingredients such as dairy and whey proteins are no longer the only stars of the show in active nutrition. 

“One of the biggest trends in active nutrition right now is the rise of products that support holistic health and athletic performance. Consumers increasingly seek protein ‘plus’ products that support gut health or boost energy,” says Davies. “For example, applications incorporating prebiotics and fermented protein can activate the gut-muscle axis and give consumers the overall well-being boost they desire.” 

She highlights the company’s Biotis Fermentis as a candidate for protein plus products, combining the benefits of whey protein, prebiotic GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides) and probiotic cultures for holistic health and athletic performance. 

Active nutrition tailored to women

Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager of Nutraceuticals at Lubrizol Life Science, expects the active nutrition landscape to continue to change. “More than ever, we see consumers redefining daily routines and consumption rituals to increase physical longevity and life expectancy.”

She predicts the industry will become “more holistic and integrated” and welcome a wider demographic via a personalized approach, such as products focused on supporting women’s performance at various stages of life.

Gómez expects more variety and functionality in women’s sports nutrition by 2025 (Image credit: Lubrizol Life Science).“Although most of the products on the market today are primarily for ‘weight loss’ and ‘fat burning,’ we are seeing more research to provide performance nutrition products tailored for women that address their different and unique unmet needs for energy, recovery and post-workout support, not just for athletes and active women in general. By 2025, we expect more variety and functionality in women’s sports nutrition,” she adds.

Davies highlights that active nutrition research constantly evolves, welcoming increased research on women. 

“Women are generally underrepresented in scientific and athletic research, so we recently conducted a study exclusively on women to see if the format a protein is in — drink or bar — affects how it is absorbed. The results showed that postprandial plasma amino acid concentrations were comparably increased after consumption of both bar and drink, so the best format is one that consumers enjoy and fits seamlessly into their lifestyles.”   

Holistic health takes center stage

Martin Dos Ramos, global VP of Dietary Supplements at dsm-firmenich, illustrates how post-pandemic consumers increasingly focus on preventative healthcare, reverberating in the active nutrition space. 

“This new consumer sees clear interconnections between body and mind, and among organs and systems within the human body.” 

Dos Ramos points to the gut-axis connections, such as immunity, brain or heart, as examples. He highlights that after the pandemic, consumers and physicians better understand what nutrition products can offer and what value they bring. 

“We see many opportunities in the two main developing spaces, microbiome health and healthy longevity — both inherently linked with active nutrition.” 

“In both cases, we expect many known ingredients, like vitamins and omega-3, to play a key role,” he continues. “We also see other ingredients like postbiotics, coenzyme Q10 or resveratrol taking the front stage, as people have understood that can be addressed by simply supplementing their diets with selected nutritional ingredients.” 

Dr. Behnaz Shakersain, scientific affairs manager at AstaReal (Image credit: AstaReal).AstaReal’s Shakersain highlights the company’s Astaxanthin as a powerful antioxidant with holistic health benefits in sports and active lifestyles. She details that research points to astaxanthin’s potential in muscle, cognitive, eye, gastrointestinal and immune health. 

“Natural astaxanthin is one of the most potent antioxidants from the carotenoid family, with no pro-oxidant activities,” says Shakersain. “It is occasionally referred to as a ‘hero protector’ of mitochondria, the cell’s ‘powerhouses,’ as it helps counteract oxidative stress caused by free radicals generated during physical activity.” 

She explains that this mitochondrial protection helps reduce muscle damage and fatigue, supporting efficient and fast recovery and better overall performance. 

Clinical trials support the company’s astaxanthin benefits in lowering markers of muscle damage and reducing inflammation markers. “Also, astaxanthin reduces lactic acid build-up during exercise, thus improving endurance and reducing muscle fatigue,” adds Shakersain.  

Gut-muscle axis

ADM’s Vaughn DuBow, senior director of product portfolio marketing in Health and Wellness, underscores that gut health is one of the leading trends in active nutrition as consumers recognize the gut microbiome’s impact on holistic well-being. 

“Probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics are garnering traction due to potential support for digestive health and immune function, in addition to muscle health and recovery,” he says. 

“Research into the gut-muscle axis inspires new formulations like personalized gummy supplements featuring biotics aimed at supporting lean muscle mass.” 

DuBow highlights an ADM solution working along the gut-muscle axis. “Backed by clinical research, our Active Lifestyle Formulation brings together three of our probiotic strains — Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 (ES1), Lactobacillus casei CECT9104 (BPL4) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 (BPL15). The formulation shows support for certain biomarkers associated with post-exercise oxidative stress.” 

“Additionally, our BPL1 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT8145) probiotic and postbiotic target factors relevant to metabolic health. Emerging evidence also suggests that BPL1 — in combination with diet and exercise — may help support weight management, a healthy body mass index and metabolic health pathways.”

Davies points to the rise of active nutrition products that support holistic health and athletic performance as one of the biggest trends.Energy-boosting extracts

Tom D’Hoore, chief commercial officer at HTBA, discusses another key aspect of active nutrition: boosting performance by enhancing energy levels. 

“Looking at new product launches that have hit the market since 2022, solutions targeting energy, alertness and stamina dominate versus other health benefits. Innova Market Insights also highlighted energy as a key aspiration for all consumers in the Global Consumer Trends report for 2025. This is particularly key for active nutrition consumers seeking to power their workouts with energy-enhancing ingredients.” 

D’Hoore notes that active nutrition products with heart health and blood flow benefits are a win for consumers looking to boost their physical performance and improve energy and endurance. HTBA’s Cardiose sweet orange polyphenol extract, at 500 mg daily, combines active performance benefits with cardiovascular health.

“This highly bioavailable citrus flavonoid has been shown to increase aerobic energy and enhance anaerobic power and endurance. Cardiose has also been found to promote fat burning when combined with physical exercise.” 

The company also offers several energy-boosting vitamin B12 ingredients. “Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and shows promising benefits for cognitive health, supporting the mental focus required by many athletes and ‘ordinary’ consumers committed to an active lifestyle,” says D’Hoore. 

Synergistic solutions

Evidence-based, multifunctional solutions in a convenient format are driving advancements in active nutrition, says Vanessa Villareal, strategic marketing and business development manager at Bioiberica. 

“To push innovation, one of the most exciting opportunities we see is ‘combination’ products that feature multiple ingredients to tackle several areas of active nutrition in one single solution.” 

Evidence-based, multifunctional solutions in a convenient format are driving advancements in active nutrition, says Villareal.The company recently conducted an in vitro study demonstrating that combining Mobilee, Bioiberica’s hyaluronic acid (HA) matrix ingredient, with whey protein can support muscle cell hyperplasia (increased cell production) and the muscle regeneration process. 

“We already had scientific studies to show the role Mobilee can play in supporting joint health, but this new study shows its promise as a muscle health ingredient, too,” adds Villareal. “Exploring innovative ingredient combinations like this could pave the way for future active nutrition solutions.”

She emphasizes that Mobilee is the first-to-market HA matrix ingredient for muscle and joint health. “Thanks to the synergistic effects of its naturally-occurring components (a high concentration of HA, plus polysaccharides and collagen), Mobilee provides muscle and joint support at only 80 mg per day.” 

Combining taste and efficacy

Gómez details that Lubrizol Life Science’s proprietary research indicates that active nutrition consumers increasingly focus on the benefits of individual ingredients or supplement components instead of the finished product’s brand or retailer. 

As magnesium emerges as a hero ingredient in active nutrition, the company focuses on overcoming its technical challenges. She details that the mineral has gained momentum because consumers “know it is essential for healthy muscles, nerves, bones and blood sugar levels, and is used to improve exercise performance and post-workout recovery.”

“Lubrizol’s Magshape is a highly concentrated and bioavailable source of magnesium designed to unlock the full potential of magnesium and address performance issues through microencapsulation technology. A study has shown that when taken orally, Magshape increases blood plasma magnesium levels compared to controls.” 

Magshape can help nutrition formulators meet consumer expectations by providing a bioavailable magnesium source with improved taste, texture, flowability and higher concentrations.  

Lubrizol Life Science also developed Newcaff for active nutrition, a microencapsulated source of caffeine with a sustained release of the nutrient that masks its unpleasant bitter taste. Gómez highlights that caffeine is “widely used in sports nutrition because it has been shown to enhance exercise performance.”