Process Engineering for Enhanced Bioavailability: Unlocking the Nutritional Potential in a Sorghum Sports Drink Premix

Introduction

A sports drink is a type of functional beverage which provides hydration and electrolytes that help to boost energy and lead to performance enhancement. Sorghum is an ancient gluten-free grain which constitutes a great option as a base ingredient as it has a good nutritional and antioxidant profile. The present study focuses on formulating a sports drink premix emphasizing the increased overall availability of protein and carbohydrates and improving processing versatility through the popping technique. Further, the study investigates the nutritional and antioxidant profile, and the characterization of bioactive compounds present in the drink premix.

Methods

The sports drink premix was formulated using sorghum flour, Bengal gram flour, pumpkin seed powder, flax seeds, chicory root powder, dehydrated carrot, beetroot, and banana powder. Nutritional analyses include the proximate analysis using AOAC methods, followed by the estimation of antioxidant potential using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity. The phenolic compounds were estimated using a UV Spectrophotometer. Furthermore, unknown bioactive components were identified using GC-MS.

Results

The proximate analysis showed that the developed product contains 65 gm carbohydrates, 15.8 gm protein, 7.43 gm fat, and 14.21 gm fibre per 100 gm. The total phenolic content was 77.61 ml/100 gm GAE, the total DPPH was 93 %/100 gm of sports drink premix, and the total Flavonoid compounds were 88 %/100 ml of sports drink premix. The GCMS analysis of the sports drink premix confirmed the presence of antioxidants, esters, alkanes, carboxylic acids, ketone, and alcoholic compounds. The drink premix contains 0 caffeine compared to commercially available sports drinks containing 200-4000 mg caffeine.

Conclusion

The identified bioactive components in the drink premix may be helpful in reducing oxidative stress, promote recovery, and enhance performance. The formulated sports drink premix is a combination of natural ingredients, and it is nutrient-rich, high in antioxidant capacity and caffeine-free, thus proving to be a promising alternative to conventional options.