The future of esports nutrition: Leveraging innovative ingredients to meet the unique needs of gamers

02 Nov 2023 --- As esports continues to increase in worldwide popularity, the nutrition industry is adapting, innovating and looking at the benefits of both novel and well-known ingredients for this expanding space. Nutrition Insight sits down with industry professionals to learn more about the supplements, nutraceuticals and products shaping the esports market.

Innova Market Insights’ data suggest that a dedicated domain of sports nutrition and supplements designed to meet the specific needs of gamers has emerged with the growth of the esports sector. In this rapidly evolving environment, gamers are seeking creative methods to boost their energy, enhance cognitive functions and maintain stamina during extended gaming sessions.

“The gaming and esports arena continues to grow, with revenue for the global video gaming market expected to show a CAGR of 8.9% between 2023 and 2027, resulting in a projected market volume of $533 billion by 2027,” says Vaughn DuBow, global director of marketing – microbiome solutions at ADM.

“With such rapid growth, there is great opportunity for brands to introduce new esports nutrition options, from snack bars to gummies, stick packs, functional beverages and more, that support esports athletes’ performance, including energy, stamina, quick reflexes and acute awareness. The opportunity not only lies in supporting esports athletes and gamers but also those who are taking part or tuning in for live streams.”

Merce Piñol del Olmo, the senior vice president of human health and nutrition Europe at Aker BioMarine, reveals that the esports category is increasing within the cognitive health market.

“We are seeing a rise in segments such as young students, middle-aged professionals, pre-natal and esports gamers interested in brain health beyond seniors,” she explains. “In fact, krill oil is now being seen as a supplement of choice to serious gamers seeking to increase their mental acuity.”

“In today’s market, more and more people are turning to known ingredients and products that support their health and well-being, including healthy aging and brain health. Products with tangible and result-driven benefits (backed by science) are always in demand. The evolving health and wellness industry will continue to present new opportunities for new products to meet those demands.”

Mieke Acda, regional product manager at Givaudan, tells us that the company delved into consumer analysis to better understand consumers’ diverse and active lifestyles and segmented them based on their preferences. 

For instance, she states that the company considers active regenerators, typically aged 55 and older, and e-gamers, performance perfectionists and multitaskers, who are predominantly millennials.

Brain-boosting botanicals
ADM’s DuBow highlights that natural caffeine sources like botanical and tea extracts are linked to enhanced alertness, concentration and reaction time — qualities he says are crucial for peak performance during extended gaming sessions. 

Additionally, he says the company’s botanical extracts, including guarana, green coffee and yerba mate, offer these natural caffeine benefits and are valuable additions to performance beverages.

“Leveraging our botanical extracts, vitamins and minerals, alongside our plant proteins and wholesome ingredients, we have created a pipeline of innovative snacks, drinks and dietary supplements that can support gamers’ specific demands,” DuBow explains. 

“In fact, we recently developed an ‘Overdrive SLAM Bar’ concept, which combines our quality plant-based ingredients — including our soy protein and soy crisps, with a tailored blend of beta carotene, vitamin B12 and acerola. This chocolate snack helps provide a steady supply of energy, helping with stamina for esports athletes in multiple-hour sessions.”

Givaudan’s botanical ingredient, Cereboost, contains American ginseng, a potent natural adaptogen that provides scientifically verified cognitive health advantages. The offering contains no caffeine and boasts a standardization of 10-12% ginsenosides.

The company highlights that the ingredient has undergone positive assessment in numerous human clinical studies, revealing its effectiveness within just an hour and also showing lasting benefits with extended use.

“Cereboost can reduce fatigue, improve attention and increase reaction time and accuracy, leading to memory,” says Romain Le Cozannet, a clinical research scientist at Givaudan. “With Cereboost, you can react quickly, and you can have improvement in cognition.”

“At the end of that, it leads to action and memory is linked with action. If you play esports, you need to have a quick reaction time, faster action time and more accuracy.”

Biotics and omega-3s for enhanced cognition
Aker BioMarine highlights the cognition-enhancing benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in its omega-3s for e-gamers.

“Aker BioMarine led test pilot research groups to see how krill oil would impact a set of global gamers who practice esports on a professional level,” del Olmo reveals. “The preliminary feedback was promising, with 71% of the study participants reporting a positive effect on their performance.”

“Moreover, 68% noticed improvement in brain function such as concentration and memory, 72% saw improvements in mood (mental/emotional health) and 75% noticed improvements in energy levels.” 

In addition to Superba Krill oil, the company’s flagship product, Aker BioMarine is unlocking new health solutions in brain health. The company’s latest innovation, Lysoveta, is a targeted delivery of LPC-bound EPA and DHA from krill.

ADM states that in the realm of esports, there is a growing interest in microbiome-supporting solutions, encompassing prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, that aligns with the increasing awareness of the connection between the microbiome and overall health. These solutions can contribute to comprehensive wellness support. Notably, the company states that its BPL1 probiotic and postbiotic target aspects related to metabolic health, while DE111 spore-forming probiotic supports digestive and immune health.

Additionally, ADM/Matsutani LLC’s Fibersol prebiotic dietary fiber encourages the growth of beneficial gut microbes linked to well-being. Clinical research indicates that Fibersol, at 3.75 grams per serving, fosters intestinal flora and supports the gut environment. Importantly, it remains well-tolerated, even at higher daily intake levels of up to 68 grams, addressing concerns of digestive discomfort for esports enthusiasts.

“Our microbiome-supporting solutions also deliver on key formulation flexibility, with our heat-treated postbiotics and spore-forming probiotics able to withstand harsh processing conditions,” DuBow underscores. “This versatility is especially important in the esports arena, as gamers seek foods, beverages and dietary supplements that are easy to consume, don’t impede gameplay and provide continuous performance support.”

“For example, we bring together our heat-treated BPL1 postbiotic, DE111 spore-forming probiotic and Fibersol prebiotic dietary fiber in convenient concepts like gummies. These quick bites are excellent options for gamers, delivering an elevated sensory experience while being easy to eat.”

The future of esports nutrition
ADM further reveals that, within the esports community, individuals are seeking products to enhance their performance while also displaying a heightened interest in scrutinizing product labels. They aim to find items with ingredients perceived as more natural and in harmony with nature. 

DuBow adds that beyond the quest for functional and delicious snacks, there is a growing demand for products that align with clean label standards. Consequently, he says that an emerging trend involves brands integrating botanical extracts and plant-based components into their product portfolios to meet these preferences.

“As the esports industry continues to expand rapidly, ADM solutions can assist customers in creating food, beverage and dietary supplement offerings that meet gamers’ unique needs,” says DuBow. 

“Products targeted to support focus, energy, stamina and reflexes, as well as cognitive, joint and eye health are especially important to consumers in this space,” he concludes. “Through our extensive ingredient portfolio, technical expertise and holistic formulation approach, we’re supporting the development of products that help gamers and esports athletes level up to reach their next goal.”

By William Bradford Nichols