| Are consumers tired of energy drinks? According | | | | medicine for promoting health, vitality and |
| to global analysts Mintel, the number of | | | | energy.5 |
| consumers taking energy drinks/shots has | | | | Guarana contains a level of caffeine that is four |
| remained at a flat 15 percent between 2007 and | | | | times greater than that of coffee, with stimulating |
| 2009. It may be time for supplement | | | | effects that longer lasting. It is one of the most |
| manufacturers to develop more energy drink | | | | popular natural ingredients in energy drinks |
| products, containing less caffeine, less sugar and | | | | because of its high caffeine content. It is also |
| more nutrition and flavor—energy products | | | | believed to stave off hunger.6 |
| that would suit the needs of a wider audience. | | | | Rhodiola rosea is an herb found mainly in Siberia. It |
| Energy drinks are consumed mostly for their | | | | is an antioxidant believed to have adaptogenic |
| stimulant effect produced by a caffeine content | | | | properties. Some studies show that it relieves |
| which could range from 50 to 505 mg per can or | | | | mental fatigue and may support cognitive |
| bottle. Up until now, energy drink companies have | | | | functions.7 |
| been producing products with alluring names such | | | | B-vitamins can be included in energy drinks to |
| as "Full Throttle" and "Rockstar", mainly targeting | | | | enhance nutritional value. They are known to play |
| young males. Promotional campaigns sponsoring | | | | a role in energy production.8 |
| campus concerts and parties have made energy | | | | D-ribose is a natural sugar that is known to |
| drinks a national craze among students. But, | | | | enhance energy levels and promote heart |
| according to global analysts Mintel, beyond the | | | | functions. Only half as sweet as sucrose, D-ribose |
| youth category, energy drink manufacturers are | | | | also helps to regulate healthy blood sugar |
| having a tough time attracting new customers. | | | | levels.9-10 |
| Data from the Mintel Global Market Navigator | | | | Customize a Healthy Energy Product |
| (GMN) reveals just why energy drinks may have | | | | A good supplement manufacturer with a qualified |
| lost their drive. Amongst non-users of energy | | | | research team can help you put together a |
| drinks, 48 percent find them too expensive, 43 | | | | formula that meets the needs of your consumer |
| percent say they have too much caffeine, and 43 | | | | audience and has high potential to succeed in the |
| percent believe that energy drinks/shots are just | | | | marketplace. |
| not good for their health. According to the same | | | | Nutricap Labs, a high-quality supplement |
| survey, approximately 16 percent of people | | | | manufacturer with GMP-certified facilities, has just |
| surveyed said they would be willing to try free | | | | what you are looking for—an experienced |
| samples of a new energy product. Many of these | | | | research team equipped with an advanced |
| said they would prefer energy drinks with natural | | | | in-house lab facility and GMP-certified |
| ingredients. | | | | manufacturing. We can help you customize a |
| Supplement Manufacturers Can Fill Unmet | | | | formula that effectively meets your target |
| Consumer Needs | | | | audience and exceeds all quality manufacturing |
| As Americans grow more health-conscious, | | | | standards |
| energy products that give a healthy boost of | | | | References: |
| energy along with nutritional health benefits are | | | | 1. Quercetin causes dose-related increases in |
| attracting more attention. | | | | energy expenditure and PGC1 in muscle of C57BL |
| In order to gain more market share, | | | | 6J mice, FASEB J. 2010 24:540.15) |
| manufacturers may want to consider turning their | | | | 2. Quercetin increases brain and muscle |
| advertising efforts to target older consumers. A | | | | mitochondrial biogenesis and exercise tolerance. |
| consumer research study by Mintel revealed that | | | | Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. |
| men and women over the age of 55 are more | | | | 2009;296:R1071-1077. |
| active and one-third of them would consider | | | | 3. A green tea extract high in catechins reduces |
| purchasing an energy or cereal bar. | | | | body fat and cardiovascular risks in humans, |
| Ingredients for Nutritional Energy Products | | | | Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Jun;15(6):1473-83. |
| The concept of an energy drink is popular as | | | | 4. Influence of CoQ10 on autonomic nervous |
| people continue to look for more and more ways | | | | activity and energy metabolism during exercise in |
| to keep up with their hectic lifestyles. Energy | | | | healthy subjects, J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). |
| products are typically manufactured in the form | | | | 2008 Aug;54(4):286-90. |
| of energy drinks as this is the most convenient | | | | 5. Regulation on energy metabolism and protection |
| form of delivery. It also offers quick bio-availability | | | | on mitochondria of Panax ginseng polysaccharide, |
| of nutrients. | | | | Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(6):1139-52. |
| A healthy formula may include: | | | | 6. Guaraná's Journey from Regional Tonic to |
| Quercetin, a flavonoid found in the skin of fruits | | | | Aphrodisiac and Global Energy Drink, Oxford |
| such as blueberries and apples. Concentrated | | | | Journals, Medicine, Evidence-based Compl. and Alt. |
| forms of quercetin promote sustained energy | | | | Medicine, Volume 7, Number 3, Pp. 279-282. |
| levels. It is an antioxidant that has | | | | 7. Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in |
| anti-inflammatory properties and promotes | | | | fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their |
| sustained energy levels.1-2 | | | | stress-protective activity, Curr Clin Pharmacol. |
| Green tea is rich in antioxidants, particularly EGCG | | | | 2009 Sep;4(3):198-219. Epub 2009 Sep 1. |
| (epigallocatechin gallate), which is supported by a | | | | 8. B-vitamins and exercise: does exercise alter |
| growing body of scientific research for promoting | | | | requirements?, Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. |
| heart health, immune health and also known to | | | | 2006 Oct;16(5):453-84. |
| help "burn calories".3 Green tea does have a | | | | 9. The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue |
| caffeine content but it is about 12 percent of the | | | | syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study, J Altern |
| caffeine content found in energy drinks such as | | | | Complement Med. 2006 Nov;12(9):857-62. |
| "Red Bull". | | | | 10. d-Ribose improves diastolic function and quality |
| Co-enzyme Q10. This vitamin-like substance is | | | | of life in congestive heart failure patients: a |
| found in the mitochondria of every cell and is | | | | prospective feasibility study, Oxford Journals, |
| required in the production of cellular energy.4 | | | | Medicine, European Journal of Heart Failure, |
| Ginseng has been used for 2,000 years in Chinese | | | | Volume5, Issue5, Pp. 615-619. |