California-based NutriBev Science, an affiliate of Nationwide Beverage Bottling, has announced the launch of "Rad" - a sports drink containing the Netherlands-based ingredient specialist's protein hydrolysate.
Rad represents a new direction in sports beverages as proteins are added to the traditional carbohydrate formulation.
Meeting in Turin during the 2006 Winter Olympics, the SAB concluded that the addition of protein to a carbohydrate-containing beverage provides benefits superior to traditional carbohydrate based beverages.
Members of the industry-sponsored SAB, representing many of the world's leading firms involved with sports nutrition, had met for the first time to review the latest science and clinical trials.
The addition of protein to carbohydrate sports drinks is thought to reduce the biochemical breakdown of muscle tissues to release amino acids needed for glycogen re-synthesis that occurs immediately after exercise.
"We believe that the form of protein in a sports beverage is critical to its functionality," said vice president of R&D with Nutribev science, Dr.Anthony Aloia.
PeptoPro is a casein digestion product consisting of small di- and tri- peptides (two and three amino acids units) that are almost immediately absorbed and assimilated into the body, considerably faster than whole proteins, which require time for the body to digest.
"Some protein drinks can be overloaded with large protein molecules which can be hard to digest," said Dr.Aloia. "…PeptoPro's unique solubility, pleasant taste, and peptide content which enhances assimilation into the body, convinced us to develop Rad sports drinks."
The two Rad beverages being launched contain 6.25gm and 12.5gm of PeptoPro protein respectively and are designed to be consumed before, during and immediately after exercise to harness the benefits of DSM's performance protein.
RAD protein sports drinks contain 5.5 percent carbohydrate per bottle, primarily in the form of dextrose, a rapidly absorbed source of energy to provide a high rate of assimilation into the body, as well as sufficient levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous.
Sports drinks, which are designed to provide effective rehydration, boost sports performance and aid muscle recovery, have established themselves as a lucrative sector. The global sports drinks market grew by 10 per cent in 2005 to 9,700mn litres, according to the new 2006 Global Sports Drinks report from market analyst Zenith International.
Consumption within this sector last year was up 19 per cent on 2004, though this was from a very small base.
North America remains by far the biggest market, accounted for 49 per cent of total sports drink consumption in 2005 and looks set to hold on to its global market lead to 2010.