Taipei: Taiwan's Fisheries Research Institute has developed a protein-packed instant drink powder from grouper heads, helping make use of a part of the fish that might have gone to waste, and it is now working with a commercial partner to market it.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced that export demand for Taiwan's frozen grouper fillets has surged in recent years, leaving 20 percent of the fish's flesh remaining in the head and other byproducts during processing.

To address this issue, the institute, under the MOA, explored options for utilizing the fish heads and successfully created a sports nutrition supplement in collaboration with Fu Jen Catholic University. The newly developed powder is a high-protein hydrolysate derived from grouper heads, boasting more than 90 percent crude protein content.

Researchers conducted tests to assess the powder's impact on fitness and endurance. Using human skeletal muscle cells in vitro, they simulated exercise-induced fatigue and discovered that the powder could reduce lactate accumulation from anaerobic metabolism post-exercise by 13 percent. Additionally, laboratory mice administered a single dose of the powder demonstrated a 1.62-fold increase in running duration and a 1.64-fold increase in muscle glycogen storage compared to normal levels.

The institute anticipates that the powder could penetrate the rapidly expanding sports nutrition supplement market following its test sale at the Fu Jen Catholic University campus store in 2025. Efforts are currently underway to transfer the technology to a private company to commercialize the product on a larger scale in the future.