Dosage forms of caffeinated sports nutrition products
Caffeine, a widely consumed stimulant, finds its way into various caffeinated sports nutrition products, offering a quick energy boost to consumers. Formulating caffeinated products requires careful consideration of dosage forms to ensure both effectiveness and safety. From gels to capsules, the diversity in caffeinated food products reflects a limited innovation in formulation techniques and consumer preferences. Why is that?
Beyond traditional sports nutrition products infused with caffeine are gaining popularity. Chocolate bars, gummies, and even chewing gum now boast caffeine content, providing alternative consumption options for individuals seeking an energy boost. These formulations require special attention to texture, taste, and stability to maintain product integrity while delivering desired caffeine levels. Anyhow, in most cases the natural bitterness of caffeine is a tremendous issue in food formulations. Thus, most product formulations rely on dosage forms avoiding taste entirely, such as ampoules (liquids) tablets or capsules (solids). But how about customer compliance? Are ampoules, tablets and capsules rather used in pharmaceutical formulations? So, that might not be the best solution for supporting sports enthusiasts or athletes.
Expert’s opinion
Formulating caffeinated sports nutrition products involves a delicate balance between efficacy, taste, and safety. The right choice of embedding caffeine in your formulation is a crucial aspect. MEC and R50 are natural Caffeine containing granules with taste-masking functionality for liquid and solid food formulations.
Dosage forms of caffeinated sports nutrition products; 58 products are investigated (March 2024).
Teas contain naturally caffeine, but matters of the high liquid volume which the consumers have to drink. Contrarily, caffeinated cereals support high enjoyment and compliance, but only a low caffeine concentration can be realized per portion. Lollipops, chews, gummies or similar candy formulations have the potential to support high customer compliance by simultaneously providing high levels of caffeine concentration. These products needs higher expertise in food formulation, controlling the bitter taste of caffeine and supporting long-term product stability. Stickpack dosage forms might have the potentials to up-keep the advantages of candy formulations and offer the best level of stability.
There might be a long way to go for getting a caffeinated product on market, which considers fairly high caffeine concentration and presents an enjoyment for the customers. For instance, granules are typically filled in stickpacks and show a long-term product stability. Thereby the granule can have taste-masking functionality, offer additional health claim, taste or color agents. Customer compliance is high and corporate brand design can be easily reflected.
Formulating caffeinated sports nutrition products involves a delicate balance between efficacy, taste, and safety. From traditional beverages to innovative snacks, the diverse range of dosage forms reflects ongoing efforts to cater to evolving consumer preferences. By leveraging formulation techniques and adhering to safety regulations, manufacturers can offer products that provide a convenient energy boost while ensuring consumer well-being. Granule solutions might be the most feasible solution which is so far available.
