The Physiological Society is calling on the manufacturers of sports supplements to invest more in real scientific research – over marketing – to support their products.
The call comes after a highly-publicised investigation by the BBC and the British Medical Journal highlighted a lack of evidence behind claims of performance benefits from sports drinks and protein shakes.
The sports nutrition market is highly profitable, yet investment in research is relatively low. Figures show the US sports and energy drinks business grew by 24% to $8,780 million in 2006, with the same figures for the supplement business (powders and pills) depicting a 6% growth to $2,350 million [1].
Paul Greenhaff, Member of The Physiological Society and Professor of Muscle Metabolism at the University of Nottingham, said:
“Good scientific evidence does exist to show nutritional intervention can improve performance and training adaptation. However, at the moment consumers are inundated with smoke and mirrors, hype and jargon, which produces confusion and disappointment, and perhaps explains why so many sports supplement brands are short-lived products.
“Despite impressive profits, investment in basic research is extremely small by pharmaceutical industry standards. Scientific depth, rigor and innovation are lacking and the market place is confusing to the consumer.”
ENDS
1. Nutrition Business Journal 12: 1-24, 2007