The global sports nutrition market size was 42.9 billion dollars in 2022. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2023 to 2030.
In the U.S. alone, market researchers say the sports/active nutritional supplements category generated more than $6.8 billion in sales in the 52 weeks ending July 16, 2023. That was an increase of 17.6% from the previous 52-week period. That’s a huge jump from 2020’s $2.5 billion in sale.
Nutri Avenue lists 5 sports nutrition ingredients as follows to explore the trend of sports/active nutritional supplements in 2023.
Creatine Powder Starts Attracting New Consumers
Creatine remains a strong contender, with ongoing research confirming its multiple benefits.
As one of the most enduring and recognized sports nutrition ingredients, creatine powder has been a stalwart choice for athletes looking to enhance athletic performance, enhance performance, build muscle mass, and accelerate muscle recovery. Despite the emergence of newer ingredients in sports nutrition, the market for creatine remains solid and growing. According to SPINS, Creatine sales jumped 120% in 2022 compared to 2021, reaching a staggering $35 million in U.S. sales. In the first half of 2023, the price of creatine monohydrate powder, one of the main ingredients of creatine supplements, continued to fall. However, this ingredient has been in short supply in the past month or two due to the shortage of creatine raw materials. Its market price is also rising.
Several factors contribute to creatine’s enduring place in sports nutrition.
- Continued scientific validation keeps creatine at the forefront.
With wide availability, a long history of use, and minimal side effects, creatine remains a top choice among fitness enthusiasts. The benefits are as follows.
- It enhances strength and power output.
- It improves strength and anaerobic threshold.
- It improve exercise capacity.
- The antioxidant properties of creatine positively impact brain and heart health recovery.
- Ongoing research adds to the momentum for creatine.
Research on creatine continues to evolve, exploring new applications such as blood sugar management and brain function. Director of market insights at SPINS Scott Dicker stressed that while further research is necessary, early studies show promising benefits. Researchers are also delving into alternative forms of creatine and studying their potential benefits in different populations beyond athletes.
- Recent studies confirm the positive effects of creatine.
Recent research highlights the many applications of creatine, particularly in brain health. A 2023 meta-analysis of eight randomized clinical trials showed that creatine supplementation improved memory performance in healthy adults, with the benefits being most pronounced in older adults. The study proposes that creatine enhances memory by increasing brain ATP levels and stimulating hippocampal mitochondrial activity.
Additionally, a 2022 literature review dispelled the concept of time sensitivity, showing that consuming creatine before or after resistance training can have similar effects. Another double-blind trial in 2022 showed that creatine supplementation improved power output during sprints, increased average speed, and reduced fatigue in male sprinters.
- The rise of creatine in sports nutrition is inevitable.
Creatine’s position as a high-performance sports nutrition ingredient is deeply rooted, continuing to earn the trust of consumers and the strong support of scientific research. The significant growth in creatine sales reflects its position as one of the leading ingredients in the sports nutrition market. As creatine’s popularity grows and the sports nutrition field booms, ongoing research promises to uncover new applications that further refine creatine’s role as an essential workout supplement.
Energy Drinks Sold Contain Caffeine.
SPINS reports that as of July 16, 2023, caffeine ingredient sales in the United States amounted to $267 million. That’s a 21% change from the previous 52-week period.
It makes sense. The rationale is that caffeine is one of energy drinks’ most popular and prolific ingredients.
Taurine Powder: New Ingredient Rise In Energy Drink
The same goes for taurine powder, another popular sports nutrition ingredient in the energy drink market.
SPINS data shows that as of July 16, 2023, taurine sales jumped 634% compared to a year ago. It has reached $10 million.
The explosive growth in taurine sales is mainly due to the many new products entering the market. This ingredient has received a lot of media attention regarding longevity. Since longevity is generally a hot topic, any related ingredient will increase sales.
Hydration Helps Relieve Exercise/Active Nutrition Category
Countless fitness enthusiasts are looking for products to help improve their performance. And within the sports and active nutrition categories, hydration is trending.
The Vitamin Shoppe report lists hydration as the second biggest trend for 2023. It sees increasing demand from innovative brands and younger consumers for fun and tasty electrolyte products.
U.S. SPINS data shows that from April 2022 to March 2023, the category grew by 68%, building on the previous year’s 168% growth. The reason for this is a shift in the traditional audience for these products. Previously, athletes and people suffering from dehydration were the backbone of this category. Today, the average shopper index for this category is more than 60% higher among young people.
Magnesium Has Important Role In Sports Nutrition Ingredients
Another popular ingredient is magnesium, including magnesium glycinate, magnesium stearate, magnesium oxide, magnesium orotate, magnesium citrate, magnesium taurate powder, etc. It is estimated that up to 70% of the general population is deficient in magnesium.
Magnesium is a mineral and electrolyte. Humans lose magnesium through sweating and stress. Athletes, especially those with high sweat rates, are prone to magnesium depletion. As the level of physical activity increases, the need for magnesium also increases.
In addition to the physical health-related benefits of magnesium, including energy production, muscle relaxation and recovery, and normal blood pressure support, some studies have shown that magnesium can reduce lactic acid buildup during strenuous exercise and exert a protective effect against muscle damage.
Magnesium’s meteoric rise is partly thanks to influencers. While health professionals still rank first (24%) as the primary source of information on health trends, social media and influencers (21%), health and wellness websites (20%), and news media (19%) are not far behind. , followed one after another.
Conclusion
From the growing trend of the global sports nutrition market, it is not difficult to see that mankind’s pursuit of exercise and healthy life is becoming more and more enthusiastic. Its audience ranges from single athletes and fitness practitioners to students, young people from all walks of life, and even the elderly. Creatine remains one of the most recognized sports nutrition ingredients in related products. Recently, there has been an increase in research on creatine, which has begun to explore its effectiveness in blood sugar management and brain cognition. This discovery will continue solidifying and increasing creatine’s recognition in the industry. In addition, caffeine, taurine, hydration ingredients (electrolytes), and magnesium are all key ingredients in the sports nutrition market.
Supporting the development of the global sports nutrition market, Nutri Avenue provides high-quality sports nutrition ingredients, including creatine, taurine, caffeine, etc. We support more and better products in this field to reach the market.
