Susan Hewlings, PhD, RD, is the Director of Scientific Affairs at Nutrasource/GRAS Associates, where she contributes to Nutrasource’s leadership position as a global contract research organization helping health product companies bring products to market worldwide. She has more than 20 years in nutrition, sports nutrition, and scientific consulting for the dietary supplement and medical industries. She has a PhD in Nutrition, a MS in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University, and is a Registered Dietitian.

In this interview she discussed the e-sports market and opportunities for brands to meet the health demands of gamers.

Nutraceuticals World (NW): What are considered “e-sports” and why are they gaining so much attention?

Susan Hewlings, PhD, RD, Director of Scientific Affairs Nutrasource/GRAS Associates: E-sports and e-gaming can be defined as “organized video competitions.” The more specific description or definition of e-gaming is “the casual or competitive playing of video games within a ranking system,  regulated by official leagues, that allows for the development and/or display of expertise in fine motor coordination and perceptual-cognitive skills.”¹ 

They are gaining attention most likely because they are something everyone can relate to. They have a lot of fans and it has been said that viewers  for e-sports games, such as League of Legends, have surpassed the Major League World Series and the NBA finals.^2,3

NW: What’s the profile of a typical gamer?

Hewlings: A survey conducted in July of 2021 of 4,000 respondents stated, “Video gaming is no longer a hobby exclusively enjoyed by the young. As generations have grown up with video games as a normal part of life, the age of the average gamer also increases. During a 2021 survey, 38% of video game players still come from the 18 to 34 age demographic, and 7% are 65 years and older.”

NW: How do their health needs compare to other athletes, or a typical consumer with a demanding job who spends a big part of their day in front of a screen?

Hewlings: There is definitely cross over as far as nutritional needs for both groups. E-gamers often spend long hours in front of a screen utilizing a lot of cognitive skills, stress management, and offsetting fatigue. Their foundational nutrition is similar to that of anyone with a need to support cognitive function and alertness. A nutrient dense diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, similar to the Mediterranean Diet, has been shown to support optimal brain health.^4-6

Of course, exposure to blue light and eye health is another concern for anyone who spends hours in front of a screen, making supplements for eye health another consideration for this group.

NW: What opportunities do you see for natural and nutritional products to meet the health demands of gamers?

Hewlings: E-sports have a huge fan base and therefore the products they use have huge exposure. Products in the energy and cognitive performance domains seem most logical to target to this audience. Caffeine has been studied extensively for its role in improving cognitive performance,⁷ and is often included in pre-workouts for the sports nutrition audience. A quick search of e-gamer blogs shows pre-workouts are a common topic.

NW: What are nootropics and how might they fit into this field?

Hewlings: Nootropics are often referred to as “smart drugs” and are ingredients that are said to boost cognitive performance and or abilities.⁸

References

1. Pedraza-Ramirez, Ismael, et al. “Setting the scientific stage for esports psychology: A systematic review.” International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology 13.1 (2020): 319-352.

2. Pereira AM, Brito J, Figueiredo P, Verhagen E. Virtual sports deserve real sports medical attention. BMJ Open Sport Exerc. Med. 2019; 5:e000606. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000606.

3. More People Watch ESports than Watch the World Series or NBA Finals. USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network. 2014. ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/league-of-legends-popularity-world-series-nba.

4. Zamroziewicz M, Barbey AK. Role of the Mediterranean Diet in the Brain and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2017. [Google Scholar]

5. Sofi, Francesco, Claudio Macchi, and Alessandro Casini. “Mediterranean diet and minimizing neurodegeneration.” Current Nutrition Reports 2.2 (2013): 75-80.

6. Parletta, Natalie, Catherine M. Milte, and Barbara J. Meyer. “Nutritional modulation of cognitive function and mental health.” The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 24.5 (2013): 725-743.

7. Baker LB, Nuccio RP, Jeukendrup AE. Acute effects of dietary constituents on motor skill and cognitive performance in athletes. Nutr Rev. 2014 Dec;72(12):790-802. doi: 10.1111/nure.12157. Epub 2014 Nov 14. PMID: 25400063.

8. Szot M, Karpęcka-Gałka E, Dróżdż R, Frączek B. Can Nutrients and Dietary Supplements Potentially Improve Cognitive Performance Also in Esports? Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Jan 18;10(2):186. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10020186. PMID: 35206801; PMCID: PMC8872051.