Health Ingredients Europe Review: High-Protein Whey Hydrolysate for Sports Drinks

Arla Foods Ingredients (Viby J, Denmark) introduced Lacprodan HYDRO.365, a breakthrough whey protein that the company says for the first time enables companies to produce very-high-protein sports drinks that taste good.

As a “gold standard” whey protein hydrolysate, the ingredient offers superior nutritional benefits to athletes who require fast recovery after intense competitive events or training and workout sessions, the company says. In addition, HYDRO.365 is unique among whey proteins in that it can be incorporated in sports nutrition beverages at very high levels. The firm says that by contrast, most other high-protein sports nutrition beverages suffer badly from astringency-an undesirable sensory attribute that results in a dry and rough sensation in the mouth. With HYDRO.365, it is possible to create sports nutrition beverages containing as much as 40 g of protein per 100 ml, without any astringency.

“Lacprodan HYDRO.365 is set to revolutionize the market for post-workout sports drinks. Until now, consumers wanting high-protein sports nutrition drinks have had to put up with astringency, making these products acceptable to only the most dedicated athletes,” says Peter Schouw Andersen, business development manager, health and performance. “But HYDRO.365 is unusual among whey proteins in that it can be used to create very-high-protein sports recovery beverages that taste good.”

HYDRO.365 is also completely soluble, providing manufacturers with an excellent opportunity to create completely clear ready-to-drink sports nutrition beverages that will appeal to a wider proportion of consumers than ever before. In addition, HYDRO.365 is UHT stable, pH neutral, and has a low bitterness profile.