China focus: Bayer’s sales slump, glycerol in sports drinks, standards for electrolyte beverages, latest research findings

Hydration for sports: Glycerol ‘could drive NPD’ in market dominated by electrolytes drinks​​

The sports drink market is largely dominated by electrolytes beverages, but China functional ingredients supplier Innobio believes the use of glycerol could offer a point of differentiation for new beverages designed for hydration purposes.

Glycerol is commonly used in skin care products for its moisturising effects. It is considered as a sugar alcohol and is also used in food as a solvent, sweetener, and thickening agent.

According to Wang Ting Ting, director of the firm’s branding and marketing department, glycerol could be used together with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to develop powdered sports nutrition that comes in tubs similarly used for whey protein products.

Folic acid supplements during the pre-conceptional and prenatal periods may decrease the risk of autism in offspring​​

Continuous maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation during the pre-conceptional and prenatal periods may decrease the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring, according to research from China.

Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a natural form of vitamin B9 found in foods such as dark leafy greens, beans, oranges and bananas.

The researchers conducted a population study on toddlers in China from August 2016 to March 2017, with results showing that the offspring of mothers who never took FA supplements had a higher risk of developing ASD.

Probiotics shown to improve BMI, inflammation in obese teens – meta-analysis​​

A meta-analysis conducted by China researchers found that probiotic supplementation could improve body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, and reduce inflammation among obese and overweight teenagers.

Writing in Frontiers in Endocrinology, ​the researchers from The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University analysed eight randomised clinical trials involving a total of 391 participants.

The population studied were from Hong Kong, the US, Turkey, Iran, and Denmark, with the trials lasting between 30 days and 16 weeks.

Bayer FY23 results: Nutritionals sales dragged down by weaker China, SEA demand​​

Known for its immunity brand Redoxon, energy brand Berroca, and fertility and infant nutrition brand Elevit, Bayer said its nutritionals sales were down 8.4% on a reported basis to €1.43bn (US$1.56bn).

The company said that the decline is ​partly due to “a weaker market environment in China and South East Asia.”​

Over the past year, Chinese consumers were said to have tightened their spending​ against the backdrop of slow economic recovery post-COVID.

Electrolytes in the spotlight: China’s food industry association to set industry standards for drinks​​

China National Food Industry Association (CNFIA) is to set industry standards for electrolyte beverages, including its definition, technical and manufacturing, testing, labelling, and packaging requirements.

There has been a renewed interest in electrolyte beverages across China. These are usually consumed as a sports drink to replenish the loss in electrolytes post-exercise.

In China, they are not just seen as sports drinks, but also consumed after recovering from diarrhoea and fever to replenish electrolytes loss as recommended by the government in its COVID-19 health advisory​.