Functional foods and food supplements for athletes: from myths to benefit claims substantiation through the study of selected biomarkers

F.J.P.H. Brouns*, Michiel van Nieuwenhoven, A.E. Jeukendrup, W.D. van Marken Lichtenbelt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

Functional foods and food supplements for athletes: from myths to benefit claims substantiation through the study of selected biomarkers.

Brouns F, Nieuwenhoven M, Jeukendrup A, Marken Lichtenbelt W.

Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricth University, The Netherlands. [email protected]

The development of the sports food market and industrial involvement have led to numerous nutritional studies to define the type of nutrients that are most suited to support energy metabolism, fluid balance and muscle function. The key question in many of these studies was: 'Does the product lead to a significant product/consumer benefit that can be used as a claim on the package?' New methods and techniques have been developed, partly with sponsorship of the food industry, with the goal of measuring the effects of specific nutrients and supplements on athletic performance and metabolism. In line with this development, a wide variety of supplements and sports foods/drinks labelled with various performance or health benefit statements have been launched on the sports nutrition market. Although a variety of products have been tested clinically, there are also many products on the market with benefit claims that cannot be supported by sound nutritional and sports physiological science. The current short review highlights some of the methods and biomarkers that are used to substantiate product/consumer benefit claims for foods and drinks that are marketed as functional foods for athletes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S177-186
Number of pages9
JournalBritish Journal of Nutrition
Volume88
Issue numbersuppl. 2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2002

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