[Analysis of the market of specialized foodstuffs for nutrition of athletes of child and youth age].

Abstract

The organization of optimal nutrition, including the use of specialized foodstuffs (SF) and dietary supplements, is an integral part of the medical support system for sports reserve training in the Russian Federation. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the existing market of SF intended for child athletes, analyze regulatory documents and promising components for the development of new SF formulations for young athletes, taking into account the special needs associated with growth, development and specifics of sports activities. Material and methods. The literature search was performed for the period 2000-2025 using the databases of RSCI, PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, by keywords: «specialized foodstuffs», «child athletes», «adolescent athletes», «nutrition», «food supplements», «sports nutrition market». Results. The global market for «sports nutrition» in 2024 amounted to 21.71 billion US dollars, and by 2032 growth is projected to more than double. At the same time, abroad there is no separate niche for SF intended for child athletes. In the Russian Federation, single SF and dietary supplements for children aged 11 and 14 have been developed, passed the state registration procedure and entered into the «FMBA Form» for athletes of the Olympic reserve. Due to the lack of a regulatory framework for nutritional supplements for child athletes in the Russian Federation, the requirements of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union (EAEU) and the Unified Sanitary, Epidemiological, and Hygienic Requirements for Products (Goods) Subject to Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision (Control), applicable to SF for baby food, should be taken into account when developing formulas. In the Russian Federation, in addition to the requirements for essential macronutrients, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, adequate levels of daily intake have been determined for several minor bioactive compounds (BAC) for children aged 7-18 years: carnitine, choline, myo-inositol, flavonoids. This allows these BAS to be introduced into SF for young athletes without additional clinical studies. The main promising components for use in SF formulations for child athletes are various types of protein, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins, minerals and trace elements, minor BAC, for release in various forms: instant drinks and ready-to-drink, bars, cookies, jelly, encapsulated and tablet dietary supplements, etc. Conclusion. Nutrition for youth athletes must address not only the needs of athletes during sports activities but also support growth and development, meeting specific, higher quality and safety requirements. The SF market for child sports nutrition is represented by single products, which determines the broad prospects for the development and release of new products for the medical and biological support in youth sports.