Nestle Performance Nutrition and PowerBar Redefine 'Pushing the Limits' with New PowerBar® Elite Series HIGH INTENSITY

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Performance Nutrition and its PowerBar® brand are helping athletes push their performance limits with the launch of new PowerBar® Elite Series HIGH INTENSITY dietary supplement. Formulated for endurance, team sports and strength athletes looking to enhance their high intensity performance, new PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY sustained-release beta alanine tablets mark the entry of the PowerBar brand into the sport dietary supplement category. The product will also carry the NSF Certified for Sport™ certification for sports nutrition products.

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PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY sustained-released beta alanine tablets provide an even supply of beta alanine to muscles. Beta alanine helps enhance high intensity performance by increasing muscle carnosine which buffers muscle acids and reduces muscle burn and fatigue(1,2). PowerBar has exclusive rights to market SR Carnosyn™ sustained-release beta alanine tablets in the US(3).

"With studies published in the last couple of years, the amino acid, beta alanine, appears to be joining a small list of nutritional ingredients with good scientific support for helping athletes perform at their best," explains Eric Zaltas, business development director for Nestle Performance Nutrition. "Providing the sustained-release form of beta alanine and gaining NSF certification were important considerations for us as we move into the sports dietary supplement category."

Studies suggest beta alanine supplementation can enhance performance in efforts lasting 1-10 minutes, such as cycling over the top of a hill, high intensity interval training or in sports events falling within this range(1,2). Two recent studies assessed the effectiveness of PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY sustained-release beta alanine tablets. The first showed significantly lower peak plasma concentration and longer time to reach peak for beta alanine for PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY sustained-release beta alanine tablets vs. pure beta alanine in solution(4).  In the second, subjects' muscle carnosine stores increased by over 40% after taking 3.2g/day of the HIGH INTENSITY tablets for four weeks followed by 1.6g/day for four weeks(5); an increase associated with high-intensity performance benefits(6-8).

PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY dietary supplement will launch with certification from the NSF Certified for Sport™ program, which was designed to minimize risk of a sports nutrition product containing substances banned by major sports organizations(9). Products carrying the certification are also tested to ensure they contain the identity and quantity of ingredients indicated on their label.  

Each PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY two-tablet serving provides 1.6 grams of beta alanine. For optimum results, athletes should take two tablets twice daily for the first four weeks and two tablets once per day thereafter. With this regimen, athletes typically see results in four to eight weeks(1,2).

New PowerBar HIGH INTENSITY dietary supplement will be available in September 2010 at sports specialty retailers and PowerBar.com for a suggested retail price of $39.99 per 56-serving bottle.

About Nestle Performance Nutrition

Performance Nutrition is a business within Nestle Nutrition that has deep nutritional expertise in Sports Nutrition. It markets and sells PowerBar® and Musashi® brand products in more than 30 markets worldwide and is involved in helping athletes in races from Ironman to the Tour de France to the New York Marathon. Visit PowerBar.com for more information.

For over two decades, PowerBar has fueled athletes from all over the United States through the PowerBar® Team Elite™ program. Team Elite is a grassroots athlete ambassador program, home to world champions, elite regional teams and local educators. For more information on PowerBar® Team Elite™ athletes, click on Team Elite at PowerBar.com.

SOURCE Nestle Performance Nutrition