Why don't we just use sugar?

However, sugar consists of glucose and fructose – the same carbohydrates used in many sports nutrition products.

Endurance sports, however, are not just about consuming carbohydrates. What matters is how much you can absorb, how quickly your body can utilize them, and how well your stomach tolerates them.

Here are the main reasons:

Rapid absorption

Sports nutrition uses carbohydrate sources that dissolve easily in liquid and pass efficiently from the stomach.

Unlike glucose, maltodextrin has a significantly higher molecular weight, allowing the same amount of carbohydrates to form a solution with lower osmolality. Lower osmolality speeds up fluid emptying from the stomach and helps reduce stomach discomfort during exertion.

Higher carbohydrate intake

In long performances, athletes often need 60–90 g of carbohydrates per hour, and many now train to use even higher amounts.

Regular sugar always contains glucose and fructose in a 1:1 ratio. This works well with smaller amounts of carbohydrates but is not optimal when aiming for very high carbohydrate intake.

Modern sports nutrition research supports a 1:0.8 glucose–fructose ratio, which better matches the body's ability to absorb carbohydrates through several different transport pathways.

Fewer stomach problems

Regular sugar can easily form a very concentrated solution, which can slow gastric emptying and increase the risk of bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms – especially during exercise.

When maltodextrin is used as a glucose source, the osmolality of the solution remains significantly lower. This allows for higher carbohydrate intake and often improves stomach function during long training sessions and competitions.

Why does N² Fuel use maltodextrin DE10 and fructose?

Our products use maltodextrin DE10 and fructose in a 1:0.8 ratio.

Why? Because these two carbohydrates utilize different absorption pathways in the intestine.

Maltodextrin is rapidly broken down into glucose, which is primarily absorbed via the SGLT1 transporter protein.

Fructose is absorbed via the GLUT5 transporter protein.

Studies show that the SGLT1 transporter reaches its saturation point with approximately 60 grams of glucose per hour. By adding fructose, which uses a separate GLUT5 transporter, the body can absorb and utilize significantly more carbohydrates than with glucose alone.

By combining maltodextrin DE10 and fructose in a 1:0.8 ratio, both absorption pathways are utilized. This can support higher carbohydrate intake while reducing the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms.

What does DE10 mean?

DE (Dextrose Equivalent) indicates how much starch has been broken down.

We chose maltodextrin DE10 because we believe it offers the best balance between low osmolality and excellent solubility.

It mixes easily with liquid, empties efficiently from the stomach, and helps athletes consume large amounts of carbohydrates in the most stomach-friendly way possible.

That's why we don't just use sugar.

We design our products to help athletes fuel up even more

 

References

Jeukendrup AE. (2010) Carbohydrate and exercise performance: the role of multiple transportable carbohydrates. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 13(4), 452–457.

Podlogar T, Wallis GA. (2023). New horizons in carbohydrate research and application for endurance athletes. Sports Medicine. 53(Suppl 1), S5–S23.

Cox GR et al. (2010). Daily training with high carbohydrate availability increases exogenous carbohydrate oxidation during endurance cycling. Journal of Applied Physiology. 109(1), 126–134.

Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM. (2016). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Burke LM et al. (2019). IOC consensus statement: Dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete.