With the rise of functional beverages and the continued blurring of lines between categories, experts discuss how the use of endurance and recovery ingredients has extended beyond the traditional performance beverage space.

Maria Stanieich, senior marketing manager at Kyowa Hakko USA, New York, notes that in sports performance, pre-workout formulations remain the largest category where ingredients like Setria and Cognizin are used. 

“Consumers are looking for nutrient support that can help them get sustained energy, endurance, and focus before they train,” she says. “That said, there’s also strong potential in intra-workout beverages, where these ingredients can provide real-time support for performance, energy, and mental clarity during exercise. 

“Beyond the gym, we’re also seeing more interest in incorporating these types of functional ingredients into daily-use formats, like ready-to-drink energy or hydration beverages, to give consumers benefits that extend well past their workout window,” Stanieich continues.

Bret Barhoover, marketing manager for specialized nutrition at Cargill, Minneapolis, says that when it comes to categories embracing endurance and recovery ingredients, “It’s almost easier to ask which don’t.”

“Hydration beverages, sports drinks, energy drinks and functional waters are all in the mix,” he explains. “It’s a long and growing list as lines blur and brands race to bring more benefits to their beverage offerings.” 

Meanwhile, Max Maxwell, market intelligence manager at Chicago-based Glanbia Nutritionals, notes how sports drinks, pre- and post-workout beverages as well as more general use protein drinks are the leading beverage categories for support endurance and recovery ingredients.

“There’s a whole new wave of energy drinks adding these ingredients to meet the desires of the expanding addressable market,” Maxwell says. “Functional waters including protein waters are another option. There are many RTD protein shakes and RTM protein powders for those wanting to create their own endurance plus recovery drinks.”

Kyle Krause, regional product manager for functional fibers and carbohydrates, North America at BENEO, Parsippany, N.J., says that several key beverage categories now are emerging for consumers to choose from when looking for performance beverages for endurance and recovery. 

“They include fiber-enriched beverages and smoothies, coffee drinks, functional beverages, and even weight management/GLP-1 support beverages,” he explains. “Each of these categories looks to include one or more functional ingredients that help to increase fiber intake, support digestive health, sustained energy and endurance, fat oxidation, add protein, and limit sugars, as well as support natural production of the body’s own GLP-1. The total of the scientific evidence supports corresponding structure/function claims in the USA, like Palatinose supports an increased release of GLP-1.”

Micah Greenhill, senior marketing director of beverages at ADM, Chicago, echoes similar sentiments, noting that biotics are emerging in performance beverage as a growing body of research demonstrates the connection between the gut and muscle health.

“One example of this is our Active Lifestyle Formulation, which includes three biotic strains – Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 (ES1), Lactobacillus casei CECT9104 (BPL4) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 (BPL15),” Greenhill says. “Clinical research finds the formulation supports certain biomarkers related to post-exercise oxidative stress.

“Plus, the effects of our DE111 (Bacillus subtilis) spore-forming probiotic were examined during the offseason training of collegiate athletes, with results showing a decrease in circulating TNF-α in males,” he continues. “DE111 is especially useful in beverage formulations since it can withstand tough formulation processes that may otherwise damage conventional probiotics.”  

Jordan Miller, vice president of marketing at Nutrition21, Saddlebrook, N.J., pinpoints ready-to-drink protein shakes and powders as the most common performance beverage formats, but notes that stick packs and sachets that can be mixed with water are gaining popularity among on-the-go, active lifestyle consumers.

“With growing interest in customizing beverages to align with unique health goals, we’re also seeing a rise in standalone ‘boost’ type add-in powders, which allow consumers to enhance their protein shakes, smoothies, or other beverages with relevant functional ingredients,” Miller says. “This offers greater customization potential for users.”