DSM and NOC*NSF start pre-Olympic year with innovations in nutrition
Today, one year before the Olympics in China, DSM and the Dutch
Olympic Committee/Dutch Sports Federation (NOC*NSF) are presenting
two innovations in the field of sports nutrition. PeptoPro® powder
and a special grade of Lafti for sportspeople will be made available
to the Dutch Olympic team in the run-up to and during the Olympics.
The Lafti grade has even been developed exclusively for the Dutch
athletes. The two products are the first in a series of diverse
innovations that DSM is developing for the Beijing Olympics in 2008
in close collaboration with the Dutch athletes and NOC*NSF. These
innovations are part of the Olympic Innovation Program, about which
DSM and NOC*NSF will be communicating on several occasions in the
run-up to the Olympics.
Lafti® probiotics
The latest product that DSM has been developing in collaboration with
NOC*NSF is a special grade of Lafti® for sportspeople. The Lafti
probiotics range developed by DSM uniquely combines several lactic
acid bacterial strains whose probiotic properties have been
scientifically proven. This innovation should help the Olympic
athletes to boost their natural resistance and maintain a
well-balanced intestinal flora. The innovation is a response to
concrete requests from Dutch athletes. Top athletes are often prone
to develop intestinal complaints and a weakened immune system,
particularly in extreme weather conditions such as in China. These
physical complaints can have an adverse effect on their performance.
Together with NOC*NSF DSM has started a test program for Olympic
athletes who are suffering or have suffered from complaints relating
to their intestinal tract or their immune system. DSM is currently
providing this select group of athletes with Lafti® probiotics. The
initial responses are positive. Over the next few months it will be
decided to which athletes Lafti will be made available in the run-up
to and during the Olympics in China.
PeptoPro® powder
PeptoPro® powder is the latest form of PeptoPro®, a casein
hydrolysate (a protein cut into fragments) that ensures a better
endurance and a quick recovery after an intense training effort.
Following the successful launch of the PeptoPro® drink during the
Athens Olympics in 2004, DSM has worked hard to further improve the
product. These efforts have resulted in the present powder form with
a strongly improved stability. In addition, the product's taste
(which is often an issue in casein hydrolysates) has been improved
further. Athletes can use the powder to prepare the sports drink at
the place and time at which they need it. Many of them had expressed
this wish. The powder is the solution to the problems associated with
the transport of ready-made packs of PeptoPro® that athletes and
their support staff used to have. Moreover, cold storage (which, in
the case of the liquid product form, would be an absolute requirement
during the summer period in China) is no longer necessary.
PeptoPro® has two functions; in the first place, it promotes the
transport of sugars into muscle tissue, where they are converted into
glycogen, which is an important energy store for the muscles.
Secondly, it stimulates the synthesis of muscle protein after heavy
exercise. Rens Blom, pole-vault world champion: 'By using PeptoPro I
have been able to intensify my training program. My muscles recover
more quickly and my energy level during the day is a lot higher. In
this way PeptoPro was a very big help to me in winning the world
championship, and it is now helping me in the run-up to the Olympics.
And this PeptoPro powder is a very welcome improvement.'
Nutrition in China
Tjeerd de Vries, sports physiologist for NOC*NSF, confirms that it is
absolutely essential for athletes to use the right sports nutrition
during the Olympics in China: 'Dehydration can cause an athlete to
fail, destroying in one day what has been built up through years of
training.' Well-balanced nutrition is therefore a very important part
of an athlete's preparations for the event. 'Failing to prepare is
preparing to fail', says Tjeerd. The conditions in Beijing will be
very tough - apart from the hot conditions that are to be expected,
the high humidity will be a major challenge to the athletes. As one
of the Dutch athletes said during a recent preparatory training
period in China: 'It's like cycling through syrup.'
Innovations under development
Following this official kick-off to the 'Road to Beijing' program,
DSM and NOC*NSF will jointly be presenting further innovations in the
field of nutrition and materials on several occasions during the
pre-Olympic year.
DSM and Sport
Sport is about performing at a top level, day in, day out. About
passion, ambition, wanting to be the best, about continuous
improvement and teamwork. As such, sport embodies a number of DSM's
core values. Just like sportspeople DSM is continuously pushing its
limits: Unlimited.DSM. Innovation is one of the main spearheads of
DSM's strategic course, and it is equally important in the world of
sports: innovations in the fields of nutrition and materials can mean
the difference between victory and defeat. Innovation is our
Sport(TM) is therefore an apt title for DSM's program in the field of
sports.
DSM and the Dutch Olympic Committee/Dutch Sports Federation (NOC*NSF)
have been 'Partners in Sport' since 2001. As an innovation partner,
DSM develops new products in the fields of nutrition and materials
exclusively for the Dutch Olympic team. During the Athens 2004
Olympics, the world saw the introduction of PeptoPro®,
heat-regulating garments and a revolutionary rowing helmet; in Turin
DSM came up with innovations in bobsleighs. In the run-up to Beijing
2008, DSM has stepped up its efforts in the field of sports and
innovation even further in the hope of making a major contribution to
the success of the Dutch Olympic team during the next Summer Games.
DSM
DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients,
performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company creates
innovative products and services that help improve the quality of
life. DSM's products are used in a wide range of end markets and
applications such as human and animal nutrition and health,
cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings,
housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM's strategy, named
Vision 2010 - Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating
profitable and innovative growth of the company's specialties
portfolio. Market-driven growth, innovation and increased presence in
emerging economies are key drivers of this strategy. The group has
annual sales of over EUR 8 billion and employs some 22,000 people
worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields.
The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in
Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. More information about DSM can
be found at www.dsm.com.
Voor meer informatie:
DSM Corporate Communications
Elvira Luykx
tel. +31 (0) 45 5782035
fax +31 (0) 45 5740680
e-mail media.relations@dsm.com
