Nestlé Launches New Research Programme on the Specific Nutritional Needs of Athletes

The programme will provide data to help support a more personalised approach to sports nutrition in the future which, in time, should lead to a new generation of personalised sports nutrition products for leading athletes.

28/11/08 Nestlé announced the launch of a new research programme on the specific nutritional needs of athletes engaged in different kinds of sports, thereby further strengthening the company's commitment to promoting sporting integrity through nutrition. The programme will provide data to help support a more personalised approach to sports nutrition in the future which, in time, should lead to a new generation of personalised sports nutrition products for leading athletes.

The announcement comes in the wake of the 5th International Nutrition Symposium on food and performance held at the Nestlé Research Center last month, which explored the importance of nutrition in elite physical performance. The key findings of the event, which were made public in the presence of Werner Bauer, Nestlé CTO, and Richard Laube, Nestlé Nutrition CEO, include the fact that a good diet has a much greater potential than previously recognised to improve physical performance.

In his keynote speech, David Hemery, a former Olympic champion and founder of the 21st Century Legacy Project, underlined the importance of athletes achieving elite performances through talent, hard work and determination as role models for youth. He acknowledged that "Nestlé is playing its part, with top quality products, adding nutritional integrity to the health and well-being of young people".

In addition, two elite performers, Gunn-Rita Dahle, 8 times world champion mountain biker, and Faris Al-Sultan, 5 times Ironman winner and former Ironman world champion, conducted a landmark public debate on the proper use of nutrition during training, performance and recovery, together with Dr. Samantha Stear, Head of Nutrition at the English Institute of Sport.