Nutrition, the driving force behind physical performance
Sports nutrition is now a major strategic focus for players in the agri-food sector, dietary supplement manufacturers, and developers of functional innovations. Whether to improve performance, promote recovery, or optimize athletes’ overall health, demand for scientifically validated ingredients and targeted formulations continues to grow.
However, despite this market momentum, scientific literature on the subject remains fragmented and sometimes insufficient, particularly when it comes to addressing the specific nutritional needs of each sport or taking into account biological and behavioral differences between the sexes.
An exploratory review highlights current limitations
A recent scientific review published in the journal Nutrients1 provides a critical overview of the current sports nutrition market. It highlights several key findings that are relevant to professionals in the sector:
- Research remains insufficient to provide robust nutritional recommendations tailored to the sport practiced or the athlete’s profile.
- Female athletes demonstrate greater awareness of dietary issues and more effective adherence to tailored nutritional advice.
- Male athletes are more likely to use dietary supplements to optimize their performance, sometimes without scientific or medical guidance.
- The lack of access to evidence-based nutritional advice and structured education is an obstacle to the adoption of appropriate eating habits.
These factors highlight the need for more advanced scientific and technical support, both for athletes and for manufacturers designing products for this population.
What are the challenges in sports nutrition for professionals in the sector?
1. Functional ingredients and evidence of effectiveness
The sports nutrition market demands active ingredients that have undergone rigorous evaluation. Companies must be able to demonstrate the effectiveness of their formulations in specific areas such as:
- Improved endurance, power, or recovery
- Reduction of physical and mental fatigue
- Immune and digestive support during periods of intensive training
- Regulation of oxidative stress and inflammationRégulation du stress oxydatif et de l’inflammation
The scientific promotion of ingredients thus becomes a key differentiator. This involves identifying available data, structuring it into clear and usable technical files, and supporting health claims about products with published results.
2. Usage-oriented formulation
Athletes, whether professional or amateur, expect nutritional products that are easy to incorporate into their routine, well tolerated, and effective. This requires a suitable formulation:
- at times of consumption (pre-, intra-, or post-exercise);
- to the specific metabolic needs of each sport;
- the individual physiology of participants (gender, weight, intensity of effort, etc.)
A product range audit or formulation review helps identify discrepancies between the product promise, available scientific data, and end-user expectations.
Differentiation by gender and sport
Women’s nutrition: an underutilized opportunity
The review suggests that female athletes have a better understanding of nutrition, possibly linked to a more holistic approach to health and better adherence to dietary advice. However, few products are actually formulated according to the specific needs of female athletes (hormonal cycles, risk of iron deficiency, calcium and vitamin D requirements, lipid metabolism, etc.).
This is a segment that is still relatively untapped, but shows great promise in terms of personalized nutrition.
Targeted nutrition according to the type of sport
The needs of an ultra-trail runner, a CrossFit enthusiast, and a competitive swimmer differ radically. Yet most products remain standardized and generic. Tailoring formulations and sales pitches to specific sports is a key strategic focus, both technically and in terms of marketing.
Three key levers for credible positioning
Actors wishing to stand out in the field of sports nutrition can rely on three essential pillars:
1. Scientific credibility. Build an offering on solid scientific foundations, based on:
- well-designed clinical studies;
- a thorough review of the existing literature;
- a formulation consistent with the desired objectives
2. Education and training
Provide educational content to prescribers (coaches, dieticians, sports pharmacies, etc.) and commercial partners: technical data sheets, internal training, evidence-based sales support materials.
3. User-oriented innovation. Create products tailored to real needs, with consideration given to:
- the format (powder, gel, capsule, drink, etc.);
- the timing of consumption;
- user experience (taste, texture, digestibility).
Need some support?
As experts in nutrition and scientific promotion, we support companies in the sector at various levels:
- Product range audit and formulation analysis: We conduct an assessment of your existing products: composition, claims, scientific and regulatory consistency, competitive positioning.
- Conducting scientific literature reviews on the nutritional and/or health properties of specific ingredients, foods, processes, or diets.
- State of the art for studying the potential of ingredients for targeted benefits, determining the nutritional needs of a specific target.
- Scientific promotion files: We structure data around your functional ingredients: bibliographic summaries, drafting position papers, preparing scientific materials for trade shows, sales forces, or partnerships.
- Structuring and promoting research projects aimed at demonstrating nutritional properties and/or health benefits (from in vitro to clinical).
Conclusion
The sports nutrition market is becoming more demanding: scientific evidence, personalization, transparency. For professionals in the agri-food and dietary supplement industries, this is an opportunity to stand out with high value-added products based on solid expertise and relevant formulations.
Resource to consult:
1Full study in Nutrients : https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/2/207