Nutritional Growth Solutions (NGS), a brand of nutritional products designed for children, has begun a clinical study to evaluate the effect of a sports supplement on the physical activity performance of young soccer players.
 
NGS designed a supplement to fulfill the higher nutritional requirements of child and adolescent athletes, and help them improve body composition, exercise performance, and general health. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study will recruit up to 50 healthy soccer players between the ages of eight and 15, to determine the safety and efficacy of the product versus a placebo. There will be an eight-week treatment period, followed by an eight-week open label period, and results will be expected in Q3 of this year.
 
“This study marks our first step into the growing sports supplements market,” said Liron Fendell, CEO and managing director of NGS. “We look forward to providing active children a safe, effective supplement designed specifically for their wellness and physical performance.”
 
According to NGS, the global sports nutrition and supplement market was valued at $44.43 billion in 2021. The $19.2 billion youth and amateur sports industry has also seen steady growth since the early 2000s, and 73.4% of children between 13 and 17 in the U.S. play a team or individual sport regularly.
 
The new supplement will contain 17 g of protein per serving, L-arginine, creatine, and 14 vitamins and minerals. It is gluten-free, soy-free, peanut-free, and contains no GMOs or added sugars.
 
Having an energy and nutrient-deficient diet during training can lead to a loss of muscle mass, strength, and bone mineral density, as well as an increased susceptibility to injuries, illness, and disturbances in immune, endocrine, and reproductive function. Such deficits have been correlated to an increased prevalence of overreaching and overtraining. Incorporating good dietary practices as part of a training program is a primary way to help optimize training adaptations and prevent overtraining, NGS reports.
 
“In the current study, we will run multiple tests, including 10m and 20m sprints, countermovement jumps, agility tests, endurance tests, and make anthropometric assessments such as height, weight, and BMI, and body composition,” said Michal Yackobovitch-Gavan, PhD, director of clinical studies for NGS.
 
“While sales of our existing Healthy Heights  branded product line in the US will continue to be our focus in 2023, NGS will invest up to one hundred thousand dollars in this clinical study,” said Fendell. “Moreover, NGS will continue building a strong pipeline of innovative, exciting products to vend through existing and additional distribution channels.”