Volume 88, Issue Suppl.2, November (2002), pp. s177-s186 © The Author 2002
doi:10.1079/BJN2002683

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

Fred Brouns^1,2*, Michiel van Nieuwenhoven¹, Asker Jeukendrup³ and Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt^1
1Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
²Cerestar-Cargill Vilvoorde R&D Centre, Havenstraat 84, B-1800 Vilvoorde, Belgium
³School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

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.

Keywords:
Sports food: Energy metabolism: Athletic performance: Benefit claims: Biomarkers