Science meets performance: Active nutrition evolves with clinically tested ingredients

Scientific validation is becoming a key driver in the nutrition industry, as brands increasingly rely on clinical research to prove ingredient efficacy and meet consumer demand for evidence-based health solutions.

Nutrition Insight continues the conversation with Balchem Human Nutrition and Health, Bioiberica, Cosun Protein, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, Gnosis by Lesaffre, HTBA, Lactalis Ingredients, Sensus, and Sirio Europe. We previously looked at how active nutrition has expanded beyond elite athletes and appeals to everyday health-conscious consumers. 

Ricky van Beers, technical sales manager at Cosun Protein, shares that scientific validation is becoming essential.

“We collaborate with Maastricht University [the Netherlands] and the Cosun Nutrition Center to deepen our understanding of plant-based proteins and their role in muscle health. Our research focuses on digestibility, amino acid composition, and the anabolic response of plant proteins compared to dairy.”

“Recent studies show that with sufficient intake, plant-based proteins can stimulate muscle protein synthesis to a similar extent as animal-based proteins. This is especially true for isolates and hydrolysates, which offer high protein concentrations and improved digestibility. Tendra Fava Bean Protein Isolate fits into this category, making it a relevant and effective option for active individuals,” he suggests.

Whey protein for muscles

While plant-based proteins are garnering attention from active lifestyle consumers, whey protein has long been the frontrunner in the category. 

Lactalis Ingredients spotlights its science-backed native whey protein, and Elodie Macariou, senior product manager, adds that clinical studies show superior bioavailability and muscle synthesis benefits.

“It’s clinically proven to allow efficient active muscle protein synthesis and functional benefits that support recovery, performance, and prevention from injury.”

Meanwhile, Vanessa Villareal, strategic marketing and product manager at Bioiberica, spotlights Mobilee’s synergy with whey and Boswellia serrata. She shares that the company is exploring how ingredient efficacy can be improved via powerful formulation combinations.

“We recently carried out an in vitro study demonstrating that our hyaluronic acid matrix ingredient, Mobilee, plus whey protein can support muscle cells and the muscle regeneration process.”

Scientific rigor drives the next wave of active nutrition — from plant proteins to probiotics — as brands prove performance with clinical validation.She notes that previous studies only proved Mobilee could support joint health. However, the new study also shows promise as a muscle health ingredient. 

Gut-brain axis: Probiotic confusion 

Floor van der Horst, marketing director of Performance and Active Nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, explains that consumers are proactive and evidence-based about their well-being, not just following trends.

“They are calling out brands that make vague claims without evidence to back them up. For these consumers, the more information, the better.”

“Look at prebiotics. While awareness is on the rise, there’s still some confusion about their differences from probiotics, their benefits, and where to get them from. There’s an opportunity to demonstrate the role of prebiotics to consumers who want to know more — including their role in supporting overall health via the gut,” she explains.

Van der Horst spotlights Biotis GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides), dubbed “the most researched prebiotic in the world.” FrieslandCampina Ingredients has studied the role of GOS on mental well-being via the gut-brain axis.

“We’ve also responded to growing evidence for gut-muscle axis with Biotis Fermentis, a unique fermented solution combining whey protein with Biotis GOS and postbiotics for holistic health.”

She notes that after three weeks of using Biotis Fermentis, 60% of study participants reported less bloating and 80% felt better physically.

Meanwhile, Sensus, highlights that its chicory root inulin and oligofructose are the only plant-based prebiotics officially recognized by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). 

Clinically tested ingredients like whey, collagen, and fermented botanicals redefine how science supports health, recovery, and performance.Sensus’s commercial manager, Eszter Heijnen, explains that clinical trials have shown that stimulating beneficial bifidobacteria supports claims of improved digestive health, such as stool frequency and microbiome balance.

“These studies meet rigorous standards and leverage advanced microbiome analysis technologies, essential for substantiating prebiotic effects. Beyond digestive health, emerging research shows that chicory root fibers may also support immunity, inflammation modulation, weight management, and mental well-being via the gut-brain axis,” she shares.

Botanicals in sports nutrition

Gnosis by Lesaffre’s senior product manager, Lorena Carboni, agrees that scientific backing is measurably important to consumers. She shares that the US University of California, San Diego, has found that over 1,200 surveyed adults aged 18 to 65 are more motivated to buy a product that is “clinically proven” in human studies.

She spotlights Landkind Pure Salidroside — the first fermented pure salidroside — supported by human clinical studies evidencing its claims. It is a bioactive phenolic compound that is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective.

“Landkind Pure Salidroside at a dose of 30 mg twice daily is shown to enhance oxygen uptake during high-intensity aerobic exercise and attenuate muscle damage following resistance exercise in healthy young active adults. This is the first and only clinical study that has explored the effects of salidroside from fermentation in sports nutrition.”

Carboni says Landkind Pure Salidroside has established structure-function claims, which athletes and active consumers require. These include oxygen uptake, exercise performance, muscle support, mood, and stress response.

Nutrition companies are turning to evidence-backed research to build trust and deliver measurable results for active lifestyles.“Recently, it received Informed Ingredient Certification from large-scale generation, verifying that the ingredient has been tested for more than 285 substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency,” says Carboni.

MSM for immunity & K2 for bone health

Balchem is collaborating with experts and universities to understand the mechanics of how its ingredients, such as vitamin K2 and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), help support health.

Dominik Mattern, VP of Science, Business Development, and Marketing at Balchem Human Nutrition and Health, comments: “The heat is on for supplement manufacturers to demonstrate the efficacy of their products with rigorous testing — building trust and transparency that helps them stand out.”

“For example, a recent study we conducted in collaboration with the US University of North Texas reinforced evidence behind methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) for exercise recovery, shedding further light on its effects on immune and inflammatory responses following sustained aerobic exercise.”

“These findings also demonstrated our OptiMSM ingredient’s post-exercise recovery benefits at an unprecedented low dose of 0.5–1 g/day, opening the door to greater formulation flexibility for sports nutrition brands,” he comments.

Mattern adds that Balchem is driving new research on vitamin K2, collaborating with research institutes to explore how it might impact overall mobility, muscle recovery, and inflammation.    

B12 and creatine

According to Tom D’hoore, chief commercial officer at HTBA, a recent study on MecobalActive (B12) showed that even in healthy, active people with normal vitamin B12 levels, it can improve cognitive focus and physical performance.

Proven ingredients strengthen the link between scientific credibility and consumer confidence in nutrition.“The triple-blind, placebo-controlled study involved male amateur cyclists aged 18–45. Participants received either 1 mg of MecobalActive or a placebo daily for three days. MecobalActive supplementation improved physical power by 4.1%, reduced fatigue by 6.4%, and cut cognitive response times by 4.9%.”

Meanwhile, Sara Lesina, general manager of Sirio Europe, spotlights the recently launched Xtra Creatine gummies.

“With growing scrutiny of creatine gummies, many of which fall short on stability, particularly months after production. We conduct independent third-party testing to guarantee our gummies deliver a full gram of creatine per serving and maintain that potency throughout their shelf life.”

Lesina adds: “We share these results openly — already with customers and now directly with consumers who tune into our new podcast, The Source, which gives listeners transparent, science-led insights into how their supplements are made.”

Collagen for joint health

Shelby Linville, associate director at Lonza Capsules & Health Ingredients, states that proprietary research shows nearly half of joint health supplement users find strong scientific backing a main motivation for trying new supplements.

“Take our UC-II undenatured type II collagen ingredient as an example. It is the most researched brand of undenatured type II collagen on the market, backed by more than two decades of research and over 20 scientific studies, including 11 human clinical trials.”

“The clinical data show that a convenient low daily dose of 40 mg UC-II undenatured type II collagen can help joints feel 10 years younger and increase step-count by up to a quarter of a mile more per day.”

She highlights Lonza CHI’s insights: 42% of adults aged 25–73 find joint health “extremely important,” and 93% of supplement users view it as key to aging well and living longer. We’ve examined how our collagen supports mobility and aligns with broader healthspan goals — years lived in good health. 

Meanwhile, Vanessa Villareal, strategic marketing and product manager at Bioiberica, advocates for a better understanding of how ingredients affect healthy people, particularly as regulators increase the demand for evidence to back up claims.

“In our latest clinical trial, we set out to build this kind of evidence in the joint health space, exploring the effects of Collavant n2 in [type 2] healthy consumers with no history of knee osteoarthritis,” she shares. “We found that 40 mg/day Collavant n2 supported faster recovery from exercise and improved quality of life after six months of supplementation.”

Additionally, she says that combining Collavant n2 and the herbal extract Boswellia serrata has been shown to reduce joint discomfort in five days.