DSM Drink Shows Promise

DSM Drink Shows Promise

DELFT, The Netherlands

DSM Food Specialties created a new, casein-containing recovery drink that appears to improve average performance levels more than a normal, sugar-based sports drink.

In a study carried out by the University of Maastricht, researchers reported DSMs sports drink appears to speed up the replenishment of fuel reserves in muscle following high-intensity exercise. This enables athletes to reach their optimum performance level faster and to perform at this level for longer. One of the researchers, Hans Keizer, reported DSMs recovery drink led to significantly higher total insulin production and a faster decrease of glucose levels in the blood. Researchers also found a 5-percent increase in performance levels in athletes who had drunk the DSM recovery drink compared with those who had consumed a sugar-based sports drink.

DSMs recovery drink is based on the addition of casein fragments to a sugar-containing drink. The uptake of the protein fragments stimulates insulin release in the body, allowing glucose to be absorbed faster from the blood into the muscle cells. Once absorbed by the muscles, glucose is converted into glycogen, which acts as a muscle fuel. The faster this process takes place following high-intensity exercise, the faster athletes can perform again at their optimum level, according to DSM. Cutting the protein into fragments allows it to be absorbed directly, and therefore quickly, into the body.

Casein fragments have not previously been used because of their bitter taste. However, DSM has developed an enzyme that can cleave casein proteins in such a way that the bitter taste is almost completely neutralized.

DSM hopes to supply the recovery drink to athletes preparing for the Olympic Games. We aim to have the drink available by October, said Sylvia de Jong, one of the DSM project managers for the recovery drink.

For more information, visit www.dsm.com or Booth #1110-1112 at SupplySide West.