Popular Sports Supplements

By Andrew Goldman, Nutricap Labs

The past few years have seen some phenomenal leaps and bounds in the sports nutrition supplement industry. Until a few years ago, the industry was catering to a marginalized section of consumers'”mainly those in the field of professional sports and athletics. This is no longer true. A major driving factor that has forced the industry to extend its boundaries is the fact that the average consumer now knows and believes that exercise and fitness are key to health, wellness, and longevity.

Easy access to sports nutrition supplements and weight-loss aids at fitness clubs, gyms, pharmacies, supermarkets, health food stores, and over the internet is providing convenient outlets for health enthusiasts to purchase products that will help them meet their fitness and weight-loss goals. Weight management is perpetually in vogue these days, and so is the demand for more scientifically based weight-loss supplements.

The field of sports nutrition supplements is open and expanding its territory. Market surveys and statistics confirm this with escalating sales in sports nutrition products. In 2007, the U.S. sports nutrition and weight-loss category was estimated at $18.2 billion, according to Nutrition Business Journal, and valued at $19.6 billion in 2008. This makes sports nutrition supplements one of the fastest-growing categories in the nutritional supplement industry. In a 2008 report, BCC Research (Wellesley, MA) estimated that the global market for sports nutrition products is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.1% by 2013, reaching an estimated global value of almost $92 billion.

What Are Popular Sports Nutritional Supplements to Manufacture?

According to a survey conducted by the Natural Marketing Institute, 22% of those interviewed said they used sports nutrition products.

The most popular sports nutrition supplements include: protein powders, amino acids, creatine, hydration drinks, energy drinks, sports nutrition bars, thermogenic supplements, and pain-relieving creams. Popular sports ingredients include B vitamins, zinc, guarana, citrus aurantium, glucomannan, green tea, capsaicinoids, capsaicin, inositol, and protein hydrolysates. Whey protein is by far the most popular protein.

Weight-management supplements include dietary fibers known to support satiety, weight loss, cardiovascular health, and healthy blood glucose levels.

Sports nutritional supplements are available in a variety of delivery forms. The more popular of these appears to be powders. Powders are able to provide great taste and pack in more nutrients than capsules or tablets. Liquids, like hydration drinks and energy drinks, provide quick delivery forms to athletes and fitness enthusiasts, since the ingredients have already been broken down for ready absorption by the body. Market researcher Mintel estimates a growth of 164% in sales of sports and energy drinks from 2002 to 2007.

Effervescent tablets and powders are increasing in popularity, too. They offer a refreshing alternative to popping pills along with maximum bio-absorption of ingredients. Mintel reports that 15% of all products sold between 2005 and 2008 were either effervescent or powdered forms. The significant number of powdered sport nutrition supplements available today shows its popularity amongst consumers.

More energy is what people are looking for, and energy shots fit that need because of their convenient packaging, portability, and the quick burst of energy they provide. Drink sticks deliver quick nutrition and hydration, also. These delivery forms are popular with professionals, housewives, sportsmen, health enthusiasts, and even the elderly.

The nutrition sports supplement industry has a potentially huge market, and the demands are challenging. The scope for specialty products and new product releases is enormous. In spite of a slightly murky past with FDA warnings, product recalls, and the general bad press that some products have received, the sports nutrition supplement industry is reaching higher-quality horizons, gaining solid consumer trust, and greater profit rankings.



Nutricap Labs is a vitamin supplement manufacturing service, providing nutritional tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, and creams. The company also offers label and packaging design services and order-fulfillment services.