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What is IO Genix Cyclic Dextrin?
IO Genix Cyclic Dextrin is a carbohydrate powder designed to be drunk during exercise. A 25 g serving provides 24 g of carbohydrate for 95 kcal, with zero sugar. It is mixed into 400 to 500 ml of water and sipped steadily.
Highly branched cyclic dextrin, often sold under the Cluster Dextrin name, is a carbohydrate made from maize starch by an enzymatic process that yields very large, heavily branched molecules. It is not a sugar: the “of which sugars” line in the table reads 0 g, which is rare for a fast-acting carbohydrate source.
Its interesting property is a physical one. A cyclic dextrin solution has a low osmolality despite a high carbohydrate concentration, because the molecules are few in number but very large. In practice, it leaves the stomach quickly and feels less heavy than a drink loaded with simple sugars. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our cyclic dextrin aisle.
What is in a serving of Cyclic Dextrin?
| Values | Per 100 g | Per 25 g serving |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 380 kcal | 95 kcal |
| Fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 96 g | 24 g |
| of which sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g | 0 g |
| Salt | less than 0.4 g | less than 0.1 g |
| Cluster Dextrin | 96 g | 24 g |
The per 100 g column is calculated from the per-serving values published by the manufacturer.
24 g of carbohydrate without a single gram of sugar is the figure that justifies the price of this kind of powder. A conventional sports drink based on simple sugars would give you the same energy with 20 g of sugars and, for a great many people, a heavy stomach after forty minutes. Here that line of the table reads zero, and that is what changes the experience on long sessions.
One point about the composition has to be flagged plainly, because the manufacturer's documentation contradicts itself. Some of its material presents the product as a single-ingredient powder; its ingredient list, however, declares two sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame K. We go by the ingredient list, which is the reference document where composition is concerned. The powder is therefore slightly sweet to the taste, without providing sugars in the nutritional sense. If a complete absence of sweeteners matters to you, the label on the tub you receive is the authority.
Missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub and the number of servings are not disclosed. We will not infer them. No health claim is authorised in Europe for cyclic dextrin either: we describe its physical properties and its composition, without attributing any quantified performance effect to it.
Ingredient list
Cluster Dextrin (highly branched dextrin), sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K).
May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA.
How do you take Cyclic Dextrin?
Serving: 25 g. Liquid: 400 to 500 ml of cool water. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before exercise, during exercise, or within the 30 minutes that follow. Frequency: one serving per hour of exercise in endurance sports. Duration: as needed, with no course to complete.
The volume of water is the parameter that decides everything here. 25 g in 500 ml gives a light drink that goes down effortlessly. The same 25 g in 250 ml gives a solution twice as concentrated, which cancels out the very advantage of the product and causes exactly the heaviness you were trying to avoid. If you take away only one instruction from this page, make it that one.
Sip small amounts every fifteen to twenty minutes rather than drinking it in one go. That holds for every sports drink, and particularly for this one, whose point is to deliver a steady supply over time.
The powder dissolves very easily, even in cold water, with no lumps and no foam. A simple shaker is enough; make your bottle up before you set off rather than attempting to mix it on the move.
It combines perfectly with an electrolyte powder in the same bottle — carbohydrate and minerals then cover both needs of a long session — and with EAAs if your last meal was a while ago. After exercise, it pairs without difficulty with a protein.
A word on the hourly amount, because the question comes up often: the manufacturer allows for one serving per hour of exercise in endurance sports, which puts the intake at around 24 g of carbohydrate per hour. That is a cautious, well-tolerated level. Experienced cyclists and trail runners often go higher, but that is built up gradually in training, never on race day: the stomach is trained like everything else.
Finally, cool water is preferable to lukewarm water, not for any physiological reason but because a lukewarm drink quickly becomes sickly after an hour of exercise. It is the kind of detail that decides whether the bottle is finished or abandoned half full.
Who is Cyclic Dextrin for, and who is it not for?
It is aimed first at efforts that last: cycling, trail running, long-distance running, swimming, combat sports, back-to-back CrossFit sessions, weight training sessions running well beyond the hour. Below sixty minutes of exercise, taking carbohydrate during the session does little for someone who has eaten normally beforehand.
It suits stomachs that are sensitive during exercise particularly well, the ones that tolerate neither gels nor very sweet drinks. That is in fact its whole reason for existing, and the only argument on which it genuinely stands apart from an ordinary maltodextrin.
The manufacturer advises against it for children, adolescents and pregnant or breastfeeding women, and asks that the recommended daily dose not be exceeded. The product may contain traces of gluten, eggs, milk, fish and soya.
What not to expect from it: this is carbohydrate, nothing else. It has no stimulant effect, does not replace electrolytes in a sweaty session, and provides no amino acids. Nor does it make you lose weight — it adds 95 kcal to your day, which is its function. If you are in a calorie deficit and your session lasts forty minutes, this product is working against you.
Cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin, which should you choose?
Both are carbohydrates derived from starch, both serve the same purpose, and there is a real difference between them — a more modest one, however, than the market would have you believe.
Maltodextrin is markedly cheaper per kilo and perfectly effective at rebuilding stores after exercise. If your use is recovery, or if you are adding carbohydrate to a mass gainer, it does the job and there is no reason to pay more.
Cyclic dextrin stands out during exercise, thanks to its low osmolality: it leaves the stomach faster and sits more lightly. It is the better choice if you have already experienced heaviness or digestive discomfort with a carbohydrate drink, and on efforts lasting several hours where you have to drink regularly.
There is a third route, waxy maize, halfway between the two in price as in behaviour. And for a short session, the most honest answer is that none of the three is necessary: a decent meal two hours beforehand is enough.
One last criterion often settles the matter between them, and it has nothing technical about it: taste. Pure maltodextrin is slightly sweet and neutral; this cyclic dextrin, sweetened, goes down better for many people over the course of a long ride. Over three hours on the bike, drinking something you can stomach counts for more than the finer points of the molecule.
Frequently asked questions
How much carbohydrate is in a serving?
24 g of carbohydrate for 95 kcal, in a 25 g serving. What makes it distinctive is the “of which sugars” line, which reads 0 g: the energy comes from a complex carbohydrate rather than from simple sugars, which changes how the drink is tolerated during exercise.
Why mix it into 400 to 500 ml?
Because that is the volume that gives the drink a concentration close to that of the body's own fluids, the condition for it to leave the stomach quickly. One serving in 250 ml cancels out that advantage and brings the product back down to the level of an ordinary sugary drink.
Does it contain sweeteners?
Yes. The ingredient list declares sucralose and acesulfame K, even though other parts of the manufacturer's documentation present the powder as a single-ingredient product. We go by the ingredient list. Neither of these two sweeteners provides calories or appears in the sugars line.
Can you take it after training?
Yes, within the 30 minutes that follow, as the manufacturer allows. For that particular use, however, a far cheaper maltodextrin will do the same job: the advantage of cyclic dextrin plays out during exercise, not after it.
Is it suitable for weight training sessions?
On long, intense sessions, yes, drunk during the session. On an hour-long session for someone who ate two hours beforehand, the intake is superfluous and simply adds 95 kcal. The criterion is how long the effort actually lasts, not the discipline.
Is it suitable for vegans?
No ingredient of animal origin appears in the list: the dextrin comes from maize starch and both sweeteners are synthetic. The manufacturer does not, however, claim vegan status, and the product may contain traces of milk and eggs from the production facility.
Can it be mixed with other powders?
Without difficulty, with electrolytes or amino acids in the same bottle. Just avoid adding a protein to it if you intend to drink it during exercise: the mixture becomes thick and loses the whole digestive tolerance advantage that justifies the purchase.
Where can you buy IO Genix Cyclic Dextrin?
The powder can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always ask the same question before recommending it: how long does your session last? Under an hour, we point the customer back towards their plate rather than towards this tub. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.
What is Sinob Core Cluster Dextrine 1 kg?
Sinob Core Cluster Dextrine is a carbohydrate powder to be mixed with liquid, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no colouring. Per 100 g it provides 97.5 g of carbohydrate and 390 kcal; a 50 g serving represents 48.75 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal. The one-kilogram tub covers 20 servings.
The raw material is a highly branched cyclic dextrin, sold under the name Cluster Dextrin®. It is obtained by an enzymatic cyclisation reaction applied to maize starch, a process that preserves the branched structure of amylopectin while producing very large molecules.
The figure that really sets this product apart from an ordinary maltodextrin is its molecular weight: around 400,000 g/mol, against 400 to 2,000 g/mol for a standard maltodextrin. That sounds abstract, but the consequence is very concrete and we come back to it below. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob aisle, and the other products in the category in our cyclic dextrin aisle.
What is in a serving of Cluster Dextrine?
| Nutritional values | Per 100 g | Per 50 g serving |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 390 kcal | 195 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 97.5 g | 48.75 g |
| Protein | less than 0.1 g | less than 0.05 g |
| Fat | less than 0.1 g | less than 0.05 g |
| Fibre | less than 0.1 g | less than 0.05 g |
| Salt | less than 0.01 g | less than 0.005 g |
| Pack size | 1 kg, that is 20 servings of 50 g | |
Let us come back to the molecular weight, because it is the central argument for this product and it is rarely explained well. A very large molecule takes up little “osmotic space” in the stomach: the osmotic pressure of this powder is stated at between 59 and 160 mOsm, which is very low. In practice, that means a concentrated drink leaves the stomach without drawing water into it or causing the bloated feeling that very sweet drinks produce. That is the real benefit of this raw material, and it is a digestive one.
The trade-off is the price: cyclic dextrin is markedly more expensive per kilo than a maltodextrin or a waxy maize. You are paying for digestive comfort, not for extra fuel. A gram of carbohydrate is still a gram of carbohydrate, wherever it comes from.
The powder is neutral in taste and dissolves completely, cold or warm, in fifteen to twenty seconds. That is a real advantage on long efforts, where a drink that is too sweet ends up becoming sickly and stops being drunk — and a drink you do not drink is of no use at all.
Worth knowing: this powder provides no sodium, the salt line being under 0.01 g per 100 g. It is therefore not a complete sports drink. On a long ride or in hot weather, plan for separate electrolytes.
Missing from the manufacturer's file: the “of which sugars” line, although mandatory in a nutrition table, is not disclosed. We will not estimate it; it appears on the packaging you receive.
Ingredient list
Maltodextrin (100%), from the patented Cluster Dextrin® raw material — a highly branched cyclic dextrin obtained by enzymatic processing of maize starch.
No allergen declared in the formulation. Naturally gluten free. Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. The manufacturer does not specify any possible traces from the production facility.
How do you take Cluster Dextrine?
Serving: 50 g, that is about four tablespoons. Liquid: 300 ml of cold or lukewarm water. Timing: 30 to 60 minutes before exercise, during efforts lasting more than 90 minutes, or immediately after the session. Frequency: according to your sessions, with no daily intake required. Duration: no course to complete, this is a product for occasional use.
Shake vigorously for fifteen to twenty seconds: the solution becomes perfectly clear, with no sediment at the bottom of the shaker. That is a good indicator of complete dissolution, and one of the rare cases where you can see with the naked eye that the product has mixed.
We have to be straight about one point in the manufacturer's protocol. For endurance sports, it mentions 100 to 150 g of carbohydrate per hour of exercise. That is a lot, and we will not endorse it. Beyond roughly 60 g per hour from a single carbohydrate source, the body no longer oxidises the surplus and the excess stays in the digestive tract: that is the recipe for gastric trouble in a race. The protocols that go higher combine several sugars using different transporters, which is not the case here. Stay in the 40 to 60 g per hour range and you will already be well served.
For a weight training session, 50 g before or after is more than enough. For an effort of more than 90 minutes, the manufacturer suggests 15 to 30 g every 45 minutes, which is sensible. In recovery, the classic carbohydrate plus protein combination applies here as elsewhere: one serving with a scoop of protein, within the hour after the session.
Since the powder is neutral, it mixes without difficulty with EAAs, with a flavoured drink or with a pre-workout.
Who is Cluster Dextrine for, and who is it not for?
It is aimed first at endurance athletes and at those who have already run into digestive problems with a carbohydrate drink. That is exactly the profile this raw material was developed for, and it is the only case in which the extra cost is clearly justified.
It is not suitable if your goal is weight loss. One serving represents 195 kcal, the equivalent of a generous slice of bread with a little butter, in liquid form and with no satiating effect. In a period of deficit, that is exactly the sort of thing you should avoid adding out of habit.
Nor is it of much interest in an hour-long weight training session for someone who eats normally: your glycogen stores comfortably cover that effort. People with diabetes or with a blood sugar regulation disorder should seek their doctor's advice before using a carbohydrate powder.
What not to expect from it. This is not a performance product with an immediate effect: you will not be stronger after drinking it. Nor is it a complete isotonic drink, for want of sodium. And the digestive comfort it delivers, real though it is, does not replace sensible dosing: drinking 120 g of any carbohydrate in an hour of racing will end badly, whatever the molecule.
Cluster dextrin or maltodextrin?
This is the comparison that decides the purchase, and it comes down to a question of budget against comfort.
Conventional maltodextrin does the same job in energy terms: it is a glucose polymer, with a high glycaemic index, that reloads glycogen just as effectively. It costs two to three times less per kilo. If you use it in recovery, after the session, at home, with no particular digestive constraint, there is no objective reason to pay more: our maltodextrin aisle is the rational choice.
Cyclic dextrin makes sense when digestion is the limiting factor: during exercise, at high concentration, on long rides, or simply when your stomach has already let you down once in a race. There, the difference in molecular weight and osmotic pressure translates into something you can feel, and the extra cost becomes an investment rather than an expense.
That leaves a third route, in between on price as on comfort: waxy maize, a waxy maize amylopectin. To sum up plainly: maltodextrin for recovery at home, waxy maize for a good compromise, cluster dextrin if you drink during exercise and your stomach is difficult. If your goal is extra calories, our mass gainer aisle offers formulas that are already complete.
Frequently asked questions
How much carbohydrate is in a serving?
48.75 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal, in a 50 g serving. The powder contains 97.5 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, which makes it an almost pure source: less than 0.1 g of protein, of fat and of fibre, and practically no salt.
What does the high molecular weight bring?
Around 400,000 g/mol against 400 to 2,000 for a standard maltodextrin, with a very low osmotic pressure stated at between 59 and 160 mOsm. In practice: a concentrated drink that leaves the stomach without causing the heaviness of sugary drinks. That is a digestive benefit, not an energy one.
How much carbohydrate per hour on a long effort?
The manufacturer mentions 100 to 150 g per hour in endurance. We do not endorse that figure: beyond roughly 60 g per hour from a single source, the excess is no longer oxidised and stays in the digestive tract. Keep to between 40 and 60 g per hour.
Should you add electrolytes?
Yes, as soon as the effort lasts and you are sweating. The salt line in the table is under 0.01 g per 100 g: this powder provides fuel, not minerals. Add an electrolyte product or a pinch of salt to the bottle.
Does it really dissolve without lumps?
Yes, cold or warm, in fifteen to twenty seconds of shaking. The solution turns clear, which is a useful visual marker. It is one of the points most consistently praised about this raw material, and you can check it from the very first shaker.
How many servings are in the one-kilo tub?
20 servings of 50 g. If you use it only during long efforts, at a rate of two rides a week, one tub therefore covers about two months. In weight training with one serving before and one after the session, it goes much faster.
Is this powder suitable for vegans?
Yes. It comes from maize starch processed enzymatically, with no raw material of animal origin, and the manufacturer states that it is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. It is also naturally gluten free.
Where can you buy Sinob Core Cluster Dextrine?
The one-kilogram tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we keep for cyclists and trail runners: for a simple top-up after a weight training session, we steer people towards a maltodextrin, which does the same job for far less. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.
What is TrainedByJP Sustain?
Sustain is a powdered exercise drink, to be sipped during training, supplied in a 1.8 kg tub, or 60 servings of 30 g. The flavours we stock: Orange & Mango and Berry Burst.
What sets it apart is the carbohydrate make-up, which the manufacturer calls the Tri-Carb Complex: 25 g of carbohydrate per serving, split across three sources with different absorption rates — cyclic dextrin, palatinose and fructose. The idea is to spread the intake over time rather than concentrate it on a single pathway.
Added to this are a coconut water powder, glycerol monostearate and Himalayan pink salt. The product contains no stimulants: this is not a pre-workout, it is fuel. The rest of the British range can be found in our TrainedByJP aisle.
What is in a 30 g serving?
| Component | Per 30 g serving | Per 100 g* | Stated role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | around 100 kcal | around 333 kcal | — |
| Tri-Carb Complex, total | 25 g | 83.3 g | Carbohydrate intake |
| of which cyclic dextrin (barley starch) | 10 g | 33.3 g | Fast-absorbing carbohydrate |
| of which palatinose | 10 g | 33.3 g | Slow-absorbing carbohydrate |
| of which fructose | 5 g | 16.7 g | Absorption pathway distinct from glucose |
| CocoMineral, coconut water powder | amount not disclosed | — | Electrolyte intake |
| Glycerol monostearate | amount not disclosed | — | Hydration |
| Himalayan pink salt | amount not disclosed | — | Sodium intake |
| Fat, protein, salt | not declared | not declared | — |
* Column calculated from the 30 g serving declared by the manufacturer. The energy value is given only in kilocalories and only approximately, and the full nutrition table — fat, protein, salt, sugars — is not published. We will not invent it.
The figure that shapes the product is the 25 g of carbohydrate per 30 g of powder. In other words, more than 83% of the sachet is fuel, which leaves little room for anything else — flavouring, citric acid, beetroot colouring, sucralose. That is consistent with an exercise product.
The split is worth pausing on, because it is what you are buying. Cyclic dextrin empties from the stomach quickly and supplies energy without heaviness. Palatinose, or isomaltulose, is a slow-absorbing sugar that spreads the intake out. Fructose, finally, uses a different intestinal transporter from glucose: combining the two makes it possible in practice to absorb more carbohydrate per hour than with a single source. That is the real technical argument behind this formula, and it stands up.
What we cannot assess: the amounts of coconut water, glycerol and pink salt are not published. On an exercise drink, sodium content is nonetheless the second most important piece of information after the carbohydrate — it is what decides whether the product covers your sweat losses. Without that figure, we cannot tell you whether you need to add electrolytes alongside it. The manufacturer suggests as much itself, depending on the heat and how heavily you sweat, which suggests the intake stays modest.
How do you use Sustain?
Serving: 30 g. Liquid: 750 ml of cold water. Timing: during the session, starting 15 to 20 minutes after it begins. Frequency: one bottle per long session. Duration: none, this is an exercise food.
The 750 ml volume is not merely indicative: it is what makes this product a bottle rather than a shake. You sip it in small mouthfuls across the whole session, and it is that way of drinking it that lets you take on 25 g of carbohydrate without digestive discomfort. Downed in one go, the same liquid would cause problems.
The manufacturer gives three specific protocols. Sessions of more than 90 minutes: continuous consumption in small sips. High-intensity training: start 15 to 20 minutes after the session begins. Endurance sports: spread it across the full duration of the effort.
One instruction to respect: take Sustain separately from your EAAs or your protein. The manufacturer says so, and it is justified — a carbohydrate drink and an amino acid drink in the same bottle do not digest as well as you would hope. If you take EAAs during exercise, alternate rather than mix.
The 1.8 kg tub covers 60 servings. At three long sessions a week, that works out at around five months. Store dry, and close it properly.
Who is Sustain for, and who is it not for?
It suits efforts that last, first and foremost: a long bike ride, a run of more than an hour and a half, trail running, a high-volume strength session, a team sport with two training slots. That is where 25 g of carbohydrate during exercise genuinely changes something. The fact that it contains no stimulants also makes it usable in the evening, unlike a pre-workout.
It contains GLUTEN, the barley starch being the source. That is a decisive piece of information and one rarely highlighted in this category: people with coeliac disease must avoid it. The product is also made in a facility that handles milk, soya and eggs.
It is not recommended for children, or for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The manufacturer also urges caution in cases of diabetes or disordered carbohydrate metabolism: that makes sense for a drink delivering 25 g of carbohydrate in one go, and this question is one for your doctor.
It is not for a session of less than an hour. For an ordinary weights session, your glycogen stores are more than enough, and drinking 100 kcal during training simply adds 100 kcal to your day. Nor is it for you if you are in a strict calorie deficit, for the same reason.
What you should not expect from it: any kick. With no caffeine and no stimulants, you will feel nothing immediate — what you should notice is not falling apart in the second hour. This is a product judged on the end of the effort, not on the first ten minutes.
Sustain or cyclic dextrin on its own?
That is the real trade-off, and it turns on price as much as on the formula.
Cyclic dextrin bought on its own costs distinctly less per gram of carbohydrate, and it is the best-established exercise carbohydrate in the category: rapid gastric emptying, very good digestive tolerance, no pronounced sweetness. It is the better choice if you want to control your own dose, if you prefer a single-ingredient product, or if budget matters — you can add your own salt and your own electrolytes for a few pence.
Sustain brings two things a dextrin on its own does not have. The first: fructose, which uses a separate intestinal transporter and allows more carbohydrate to be absorbed per hour over a long effort. The second: palatinose, which spreads the intake and avoids the spike-then-slump. Add the taste, the coconut water and the salt, and you have a ready-made drink, which a plain powder is not.
If your effort lasts less than an hour and a half, the gap between the two will not show, and maltodextrin or waxy maize will do the job for far less. Beyond two hours, the multi-source formula comes into its own.
Frequently asked questions
Why three different carbohydrate sources?
Because they do not use the same pathways. Glucose and fructose travel via separate intestinal transporters, which means combining the two allows more carbohydrate to be absorbed per hour than relying on a single source. Palatinose, being slower, spreads the intake over time. Over a two-hour effort, that split has a real benefit.
Do you really need 750 ml of water?
Yes, and that is what separates an exercise drink from a shake. At 750 ml sipped across the session, the carbohydrate concentration stays low and the stomach copes. In 300 ml downed in one go, the same 25 g becomes uncomfortable during exercise.
Does it contain gluten?
Yes. The barley starch that forms the base of the cyclic dextrin supplies it, and the manufacturer declares it as an allergen. People with coeliac disease must avoid it. This is a point on which this formula differs from most cyclic dextrins in the aisle, which are usually made from maize or tapioca starch.
How many servings are in the tub?
Sixty servings of 30 g for 1.8 kg. At three long sessions a week, that covers around five months. It is a size that only makes sense if you regularly string together efforts of more than an hour and a half.
Can it be mixed with EAAs or with protein?
The manufacturer advises taking them separately. Mixing a carbohydrate drink and an amino acid source in the same bottle slows gastric emptying and increases the risk of discomfort during exercise. If you take both, alternate the mouthfuls rather than the bottles.
Does it contain enough electrolytes for a session in summer?
We cannot say: the amounts of coconut water and pink salt are not published. The manufacturer suggests adding electrolytes itself, depending on weather conditions and how heavily you sweat, which suggests the baseline intake stays modest. On a long effort in real heat, plan for a supplement.
Is it suitable for an hour-long weights session?
Not really. Over an hour of weights, your glycogen stores comfortably cover the effort, and drinking an extra 100 kcal brings nothing beyond 100 kcal. This product comes into its own beyond 90 minutes, or on continuous endurance efforts.
Where can you buy TrainedByJP Sustain?
The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. On a 60-serving tub, you had better be sure of the flavour: at 750 ml per session, a taste you tire of quickly becomes a problem.
At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we discuss by starting with one simple question: how long does your session last? Under an hour and a half, we recommend something else, and often something cheaper. The rest of the exercise carbohydrates can be compared in our sports nutrition aisle.
Qu'est-ce que le Carb X d'Applied Nutrition ?
Le Carb X est la boisson glucidique d'Applied Nutrition, celle que l'on boit pendant la séance plutôt qu'avant. Sa charge vient d'une seule matière première : la dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée, commercialisée sous le nom de Cluster Dextrin®.
Ce n'est pas un gainer : il apporte le carburant de l'entrainement, rien d'autre. Il s'adresse aux pratiquants qui tiennent des séances longues, aux sports d'endurance et à ceux qui enchainent les séries sans vouloir alourdir l'estomac. Le reste de la gamme est réuni dans le rayon Applied Nutrition.
Ce qu'il y a dans le Carb X
Trois chiffres suffisent à lire l'étiquette : une dosette de 25 g apporte 24 g de glucides, sans sucre et sans matière grasse. Le pot de 1,2 kg couvre quarante-huit dosettes.
La version nature ne porte qu'un ingrédient, la dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée Cluster Dextrin®. Les versions aromatisées y ajoutent un arôme naturel, un édulcorant et un colorant d'origine naturelle : bêta-carotène et curcumine sur l'orange, betterave sur les fruits mélangés. Rien d'autre ne vient s'intercaler entre le glucide et le shaker.
Chaque lot est contrôlé dans un laboratoire accrédité ISO 17025 au titre du programme Informed Sport, qui recherche les substances interdites en compétition. Le Carb X est vegan, végétarien, sans gluten et certifié halal.
À qui s'adresse le Carb X ?
Aux séances qui durent. Dès que l'entrainement dépasse l'heure, la réserve de glycogène descend et le rythme suit : c'est là qu'une boisson glucidique prend tout son sens, en musculation comme en cyclisme, en course à pied, en sports de combat ou en cross-training.
En magasin, ce sont surtout les pratiquants en prise de masse qui repartent avec, parce qu'il permet de monter les glucides de la journée sans avaler un repas supplémentaire. Les compétiteurs le choisissent pour le contrôle des lots, et la version nature séduit ceux qui préfèrent mélanger leurs glucides à leur propre préparation.
Quel parfum choisir ?
Le Carb X existe en nature, en orange et en fruits mélangés, auxquels s'ajoutent trois recettes signées Millions : cola, ananas et cassis.
La version nature est la plus souple : elle ne modifie pas le goût de ce à quoi on l'ajoute, et c'est celle que prennent les pratiquants qui la mélangent à leurs acides aminés ou à leur avant-séance. L'orange et les fruits mélangés sont les deux classiques, francs et discrets en bouche. Les recettes Millions sont plus marquées, dans l'esprit des bonbons du même nom.
Questions fréquentes
Qu'est-ce que la dextrine cyclique ?
C'est un glucide tiré de l'amidon de maïs, dont les chaines sont refermées en anneau puis ramifiées. On l'appelle aussi dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée, ou HBCD. Le Carb X l'emploie sous la matière première Cluster Dextrin®.
Quelle est la différence entre la dextrine cyclique et la maltodextrine ?
Les deux viennent de l'amidon, mais la molécule n'a pas la même forme : la dextrine cyclique est refermée sur elle-même et beaucoup plus lourde, là où la maltodextrine reste une chaine courte. C'est ce qui explique l'écart de prix entre les deux poudres.
La dextrine cyclique est-elle du sucre ?
Non, c'est un glucide complexe. Le panneau du Carb X l'affiche sans ambiguïté : 24 g de glucides par dosette, dont zéro sucre.
La dextrine cyclique a-t-elle un indice glycémique élevé ?
Applied Nutrition ne publie pas d'indice glycémique pour le Carb X. L'étiquette donne les glucides et les sucres, et s'arrête là.
La dextrine cyclique est-elle la même chose que la cyclodextrine ?
Non, et la confusion est fréquente. La cyclodextrine est une petite molécule en anneau que l'industrie utilise pour encapsuler d'autres substances. La dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée du Carb X est un glucide d'effort, bien plus gros.
La dextrine cyclique est-elle efficace pour la prise de masse ?
C'est l'un de ses usages les plus courants : une dosette ajoute 24 g de glucides à la journée sans passer par un repas de plus. Les pratiquants qui peinent à monter leurs calories l'utilisent exactement pour cela.
Qu'est-ce que la Cluster Dextrin ?
C'est le nom commercial d'une dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée. Quand une marque l'inscrit sur son étiquette, elle nomme la matière première employée au lieu de vendre un glucide anonyme : c'est le cas du Carb X.
Où acheter le Carb X ?
Le Carb X est en stock chez KISS NUTRITION, avec expédition partout en France et en Europe. Les commandes passées en semaine partent le jour même quand le produit est disponible.
Vous pouvez aussi venir le chercher au magasin de Vendargues, à dix minutes de Montpellier : les étiquettes sont consultables en rayon et l'équipe connait la gamme. Toutes les références de la marque sont réunies dans le rayon Applied Nutrition.
What is cyclic dextrin?
Cyclic dextrin, or highly branched cyclic dextrin, is a carbohydrate made from waxy corn starch. While maltodextrin is obtained by cutting starch into short fragments, cyclic dextrin is produced by a branching enzyme that reorganizes starch into closed, high molecular weight, and very homogeneously sized molecules.
The result is a white, fluid, barely sweet powder that dissolves without forming the thick syrup that some carbohydrates do. In terms of energy, there is no difference from other carbohydrate powders: approximately 4 kcal per gram, or 380 to 400 kcal per 100g, with no protein or fat. What distinguishes it is not its nutritional value, but its behavior in the stomach.
Why does low osmolality make a difference?
The osmolality of a drink depends on the number of dissolved particles, not their size. The same amount of carbohydrates cut into small molecules yields many particles and high osmolality; assembled into very large molecules, it yields few and osmolality remains low.
This is exactly the case with cyclic dextrin. Specifically:
- Gastric emptying is faster. A hypertonic drink stays in the stomach longer; a drink close to isotonic leaves faster, and carbohydrates become available sooner.
- Water absorption in the intestine is limited. This is the phenomenon that causes bloating, cramps, and accelerated transit with an overly concentrated drink.
- It can be more concentrated. While a maltodextrin-based drink becomes uncomfortable beyond 8g per 100ml, cyclic dextrin generally remains well-tolerated a little above this — useful when a lot of carbohydrates need to be consumed in a small amount of liquid.
This advantage is real, but it concerns digestive comfort, not the amount of energy provided. Gram for gram, one gram of cyclic dextrin and one gram of maltodextrin provide the same energy.
When is cyclic dextrin truly beneficial?
Its primary use is for intra-training during long sessions, starting from about 90 minutes of continuous effort: long bike rides, trail running, triathlon, very voluminous strength training sessions, or combat sports over a competition day. This is where rapid gastric emptying becomes a significant advantage, because you drink while moving.
Three other situations justify its use: sensitive stomachs that cannot tolerate any classic carbohydrate drinks, double sessions separated by a few hours, and efforts in hot weather, where hydration is key and a drink with low particle concentration is more comfortable. For prolonged efforts, a dose of electrolytes usefully complements the bottle.
Conversely, for a one-hour weight training session, it provides no measurable benefit. Glycogen reserves cover the effort without difficulty, and drinking carbohydrates during the session primarily adds calories.
Cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin: is the extra cost justified?
Let's be clear: cyclic dextrin costs several times the price per kilo of maltodextrin, for identical energy intake. This extra cost is justified in one specific case, and only one – where digestion is truly the limiting factor during long efforts.
- You lift weights three to five times a week, one hour per session – cyclic dextrin is not a good purchase. Water is sufficient during the session, and your carbohydrates belong in your meals.
- You ride for three hours, run a trail, or do two back-to-back sessions – it becomes relevant, especially if maltodextrin causes you stomach problems.
- You are simply looking to add calories – choose maltodextrin, rice cream, or oat flour, which are three times cheaper. The mass gain section and the hard gainer and lean gainer pages address this need.
One last point of honesty: studies available on cyclic dextrin most often involve small sample sizes. The physiological mechanism is solid and digestive tolerance is consistently reported by users; direct performance gains, however, are much more debated.
How to use it for intra-training?
- Quantity: endurance nutrition guidelines suggest a useful intake of between 30 and 60g of carbohydrates per hour of effort. Start with 30g and gradually increase.
- Dilution: 30 to 60g in 500 to 750ml of water, to be sipped regularly rather than all at once.
- Combination: it mixes easily with essential amino acids or electrolytes. Avoid adding a complete protein, which slows gastric emptying.
- Preparation: pour the powder into the liquid, not the other way around, then shake. It dissolves quickly and doesn't stick to the bottom of the bottle.
Like any sports drink strategy, this one should be tested during training, never on race day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cyclic dextrin?
A carbohydrate made from waxy corn starch, reorganized by a branching enzyme into very large, self-contained molecules. It is also called highly branched cyclic dextrin. Energetically, it is a carbohydrate powder like any other: about 4 kcal per gram, with no protein or fat. Its peculiarity is physical, not nutritional — because the molecules are large and few in solution, the drink exerts low osmotic pressure, leaves the stomach quickly, and causes little digestive discomfort at high concentrations.
Why take cyclic dextrin?
For one defensible reason: to consume a lot of carbohydrates during a long effort without upsetting your stomach. It is a product for digestive comfort, not a performance product: gram for gram, it provides exactly the same energy as maltodextrin, which is three times cheaper. If your sessions last one hour, if you digest classic carbohydrate drinks well, or if you are simply looking to add calories, it is not beneficial for you.
When should cyclic dextrin be taken?
During effort, and essentially beyond 90 minutes: long bike rides, trail running, triathlon, competition day, very voluminous strength training session. To be sipped regularly rather than swallowed all at once. It remains useful between two sessions separated by less than six hours, when a solid meal would not be suitable. Outside of these cases — before, after, or on rest days — its advantage disappears: ordinary starchy food does the same job for much less.
How much cyclic dextrin per session?
Between 30 and 60g of carbohydrates per hour of effort, the reference range in endurance nutrition. Dilute these 30 to 60g in 500 to 750ml of water. Start with 30g per hour and gradually increase: digestive tolerance to carbohydrates is built up over several weeks, it cannot be improvised. Beyond 60g per hour, the intake only becomes interesting by combining several types of sugars, which is a competition strategy to be developed with a professional.
Is cyclic dextrin and cluster dextrin the same thing?
The principle is the same. "Cluster Dextrin" is a registered trade name corresponding to a cyclic dextrin produced by a Japanese manufacturer; other cyclic dextrins exist under other names. The label usually specifies the exact ingredient, and that is the line to read: "highly branched cyclic dextrin" or the corresponding brand name.
Cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin?
Maltodextrin in the vast majority of cases, and this is advice that goes against our immediate commercial interest: same energy intake, several times lower price. Cyclic dextrin only becomes the best choice if digestion is your limiting factor for efforts over 90 minutes, or if you need to consume a lot of carbohydrates in a small amount of liquid. The test is simple: if your 6-8% maltodextrin drink goes down without problems, stick with it.
How can cyclic dextrin be replaced?
By maltodextrin diluted a little more, meaning more water for the same amount of carbohydrates: this solves many digestive problems, at the cost of a heavier bottle. Waxy maize is the other economical equivalent. Outside of exercise, no powdered substitute is necessary: rice, bread, fruits, or rice cream provide the same carbohydrates while providing satiety.
Is cyclic dextrin dangerous?
No, for the uses described here: it is a processed corn starch, an authorized food ingredient, with no fixed dose limit and no known toxicity. The only reported inconveniences are digestive and related to an overly concentrated drink — precisely what this product aims to avoid. Two honest caveats: it is a fast-absorbing carbohydrate, so it should be reserved for exercise and not integrated without medical advice in case of diabetes; and a sugary drink sipped for two hours maintains an environment favorable to cavities, so rinse your mouth at the end of the session.
Does cyclic dextrin make you gain weight?
Like any carbohydrate, it only causes weight gain if it creates a caloric surplus over the day. Consumed during a long effort, it is used for that effort. Taken at rest "for energy," it is a liquid caloric addition that does not satisfy hunger: the classic trap of all carbohydrate powders.
Does it contain gluten?
It is made from waxy corn, which does not contain gluten. However, check for trace mentions on flavored versions.
Can it be taken before or after a workout?
Yes, but its advantage largely disappears outside of exercise: at rest, an ordinary carbohydrate food does the same job for much less.
Is it suitable for people with diabetes?
It is a fast-absorbing carbohydrate. Any use must be validated by the treating physician.
Can it be mixed with whey?
In a post-workout shaker, yes. During exercise, it's better to stick to carbohydrates and possibly amino acids: a complete protein makes digestion heavier.
Where to buy cyclic dextrin?
In specialized sports nutrition stores and online — it's a niche product not found in supermarkets or pharmacies. Two points to check on the label: that the ingredient is clearly named "highly branched cyclic dextrin" and not just a simple maltodextrin, and that the powder is unflavored or that the flavors are clearly listed. Also compare the price per kilo: the difference between equivalent references is significant. Our references are available online, shipped throughout France and Europe, and in store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, with pick-up within two hours.
What can be found on the shelves?
We select cyclic dextrins whose ingredient is clearly identified on the label, with IO Genix, Sinob, and TrainedByJP ranges, some already combined with electrolytes for direct intra-training use. If digestion is not your problem, maltodextrin or waxy maize will cost you less for a comparable result.
An honest opinion in Vendargues, near Montpellier
This is typically the product we often advise against buying: cyclic dextrin is excellent, but it only serves a minority of practitioners. Describe your sessions to us in our Vendargues store, about ten minutes from Montpellier, and we will tell you if it is of interest to you. It's a ten-minute conversation that avoids an unnecessary purchase: the sports nutrition store near me page indicates opening hours and travel time from your location. We also ship throughout France and Europe.
The functioning of a highly branched cyclic dextrin, its dosages, and its real limits are detailed in our article on Cluster Dextrin for exercise.
Sources
- ANSES — Opinion on the update of recommended nutritional intakes for carbohydrates
- ANSES — Ciqual table of nutritional composition of foods
To be integrated into a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Retrait au magasin sous 2 h
À Vendargues, près de Montpellier. Vous êtes prévenu dès que la commande est prête.
Commandé avant 14 h, expédié le jour même
Du lundi au samedi. Le délai d'acheminement appartient ensuite au transporteur.
Livraison offerte dès 69 €
En France métropolitaine, et dès 100 € en Europe. Modes et délais.
Une question avant de commander ?
Écrivez-nous ou passez au magasin : on connaît les produits qu'on vend.
What is cyclic dextrin?
Cyclic dextrin, or highly branched cyclic dextrin, is a carbohydrate made from waxy corn starch. While maltodextrin is obtained by cutting starch into short fragments, cyclic dextrin is produced by a branching enzyme that reorganizes starch into closed, high molecular weight, and very homogeneously sized molecules.
The result is a white, fluid, barely sweet powder that dissolves without forming the thick syrup that some carbohydrates do. In terms of energy, there is no difference from other carbohydrate powders: approximately 4 kcal per gram, or 380 to 400 kcal per 100g, with no protein or fat. What distinguishes it is not its nutritional value, but its behavior in the stomach.
Why does low osmolality make a difference?
The osmolality of a drink depends on the number of dissolved particles, not their size. The same amount of carbohydrates cut into small molecules yields many particles and high osmolality; assembled into very large molecules, it yields few and osmolality remains low.
This is exactly the case with cyclic dextrin. Specifically:
- Gastric emptying is faster. A hypertonic drink stays in the stomach longer; a drink close to isotonic leaves faster, and carbohydrates become available sooner.
- Water absorption in the intestine is limited. This is the phenomenon that causes bloating, cramps, and accelerated transit with an overly concentrated drink.
- It can be more concentrated. While a maltodextrin-based drink becomes uncomfortable beyond 8g per 100ml, cyclic dextrin generally remains well-tolerated a little above this — useful when a lot of carbohydrates need to be consumed in a small amount of liquid.
This advantage is real, but it concerns digestive comfort, not the amount of energy provided. Gram for gram, one gram of cyclic dextrin and one gram of maltodextrin provide the same energy.
When is cyclic dextrin truly beneficial?
Its primary use is for intra-training during long sessions, starting from about 90 minutes of continuous effort: long bike rides, trail running, triathlon, very voluminous strength training sessions, or combat sports over a competition day. This is where rapid gastric emptying becomes a significant advantage, because you drink while moving.
Three other situations justify its use: sensitive stomachs that cannot tolerate any classic carbohydrate drinks, double sessions separated by a few hours, and efforts in hot weather, where hydration is key and a drink with low particle concentration is more comfortable. For prolonged efforts, a dose of electrolytes usefully complements the bottle.
Conversely, for a one-hour weight training session, it provides no measurable benefit. Glycogen reserves cover the effort without difficulty, and drinking carbohydrates during the session primarily adds calories.
Cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin: is the extra cost justified?
Let's be clear: cyclic dextrin costs several times the price per kilo of maltodextrin, for identical energy intake. This extra cost is justified in one specific case, and only one – where digestion is truly the limiting factor during long efforts.
- You lift weights three to five times a week, one hour per session – cyclic dextrin is not a good purchase. Water is sufficient during the session, and your carbohydrates belong in your meals.
- You ride for three hours, run a trail, or do two back-to-back sessions – it becomes relevant, especially if maltodextrin causes you stomach problems.
- You are simply looking to add calories – choose maltodextrin, rice cream, or oat flour, which are three times cheaper. The mass gain section and the hard gainer and lean gainer pages address this need.
One last point of honesty: studies available on cyclic dextrin most often involve small sample sizes. The physiological mechanism is solid and digestive tolerance is consistently reported by users; direct performance gains, however, are much more debated.
How to use it for intra-training?
- Quantity: endurance nutrition guidelines suggest a useful intake of between 30 and 60g of carbohydrates per hour of effort. Start with 30g and gradually increase.
- Dilution: 30 to 60g in 500 to 750ml of water, to be sipped regularly rather than all at once.
- Combination: it mixes easily with essential amino acids or electrolytes. Avoid adding a complete protein, which slows gastric emptying.
- Preparation: pour the powder into the liquid, not the other way around, then shake. It dissolves quickly and doesn't stick to the bottom of the bottle.
Like any sports drink strategy, this one should be tested during training, never on race day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cyclic dextrin?
A carbohydrate made from waxy corn starch, reorganized by a branching enzyme into very large, self-contained molecules. It is also called highly branched cyclic dextrin. Energetically, it is a carbohydrate powder like any other: about 4 kcal per gram, with no protein or fat. Its peculiarity is physical, not nutritional — because the molecules are large and few in solution, the drink exerts low osmotic pressure, leaves the stomach quickly, and causes little digestive discomfort at high concentrations.
Why take cyclic dextrin?
For one defensible reason: to consume a lot of carbohydrates during a long effort without upsetting your stomach. It is a product for digestive comfort, not a performance product: gram for gram, it provides exactly the same energy as maltodextrin, which is three times cheaper. If your sessions last one hour, if you digest classic carbohydrate drinks well, or if you are simply looking to add calories, it is not beneficial for you.
When should cyclic dextrin be taken?
During effort, and essentially beyond 90 minutes: long bike rides, trail running, triathlon, competition day, very voluminous strength training session. To be sipped regularly rather than swallowed all at once. It remains useful between two sessions separated by less than six hours, when a solid meal would not be suitable. Outside of these cases — before, after, or on rest days — its advantage disappears: ordinary starchy food does the same job for much less.
How much cyclic dextrin per session?
Between 30 and 60g of carbohydrates per hour of effort, the reference range in endurance nutrition. Dilute these 30 to 60g in 500 to 750ml of water. Start with 30g per hour and gradually increase: digestive tolerance to carbohydrates is built up over several weeks, it cannot be improvised. Beyond 60g per hour, the intake only becomes interesting by combining several types of sugars, which is a competition strategy to be developed with a professional.
Is cyclic dextrin and cluster dextrin the same thing?
The principle is the same. "Cluster Dextrin" is a registered trade name corresponding to a cyclic dextrin produced by a Japanese manufacturer; other cyclic dextrins exist under other names. The label usually specifies the exact ingredient, and that is the line to read: "highly branched cyclic dextrin" or the corresponding brand name.
Cyclic dextrin or maltodextrin?
Maltodextrin in the vast majority of cases, and this is advice that goes against our immediate commercial interest: same energy intake, several times lower price. Cyclic dextrin only becomes the best choice if digestion is your limiting factor for efforts over 90 minutes, or if you need to consume a lot of carbohydrates in a small amount of liquid. The test is simple: if your 6-8% maltodextrin drink goes down without problems, stick with it.
How can cyclic dextrin be replaced?
By maltodextrin diluted a little more, meaning more water for the same amount of carbohydrates: this solves many digestive problems, at the cost of a heavier bottle. Waxy maize is the other economical equivalent. Outside of exercise, no powdered substitute is necessary: rice, bread, fruits, or rice cream provide the same carbohydrates while providing satiety.
Is cyclic dextrin dangerous?
No, for the uses described here: it is a processed corn starch, an authorized food ingredient, with no fixed dose limit and no known toxicity. The only reported inconveniences are digestive and related to an overly concentrated drink — precisely what this product aims to avoid. Two honest caveats: it is a fast-absorbing carbohydrate, so it should be reserved for exercise and not integrated without medical advice in case of diabetes; and a sugary drink sipped for two hours maintains an environment favorable to cavities, so rinse your mouth at the end of the session.
Does cyclic dextrin make you gain weight?
Like any carbohydrate, it only causes weight gain if it creates a caloric surplus over the day. Consumed during a long effort, it is used for that effort. Taken at rest "for energy," it is a liquid caloric addition that does not satisfy hunger: the classic trap of all carbohydrate powders.
Does it contain gluten?
It is made from waxy corn, which does not contain gluten. However, check for trace mentions on flavored versions.
Can it be taken before or after a workout?
Yes, but its advantage largely disappears outside of exercise: at rest, an ordinary carbohydrate food does the same job for much less.
Is it suitable for people with diabetes?
It is a fast-absorbing carbohydrate. Any use must be validated by the treating physician.
Can it be mixed with whey?
In a post-workout shaker, yes. During exercise, it's better to stick to carbohydrates and possibly amino acids: a complete protein makes digestion heavier.
Where to buy cyclic dextrin?
In specialized sports nutrition stores and online — it's a niche product not found in supermarkets or pharmacies. Two points to check on the label: that the ingredient is clearly named "highly branched cyclic dextrin" and not just a simple maltodextrin, and that the powder is unflavored or that the flavors are clearly listed. Also compare the price per kilo: the difference between equivalent references is significant. Our references are available online, shipped throughout France and Europe, and in store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, with pick-up within two hours.
What can be found on the shelves?
We select cyclic dextrins whose ingredient is clearly identified on the label, with IO Genix, Sinob, and TrainedByJP ranges, some already combined with electrolytes for direct intra-training use. If digestion is not your problem, maltodextrin or waxy maize will cost you less for a comparable result.
An honest opinion in Vendargues, near Montpellier
This is typically the product we often advise against buying: cyclic dextrin is excellent, but it only serves a minority of practitioners. Describe your sessions to us in our Vendargues store, about ten minutes from Montpellier, and we will tell you if it is of interest to you. It's a ten-minute conversation that avoids an unnecessary purchase: the sports nutrition store near me page indicates opening hours and travel time from your location. We also ship throughout France and Europe.
The functioning of a highly branched cyclic dextrin, its dosages, and its real limits are detailed in our article on Cluster Dextrin for exercise.
Sources
- ANSES — Opinion on the update of recommended nutritional intakes for carbohydrates
- ANSES — Ciqual table of nutritional composition of foods
To be integrated into a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Questions fréquentes — Cyclic Dextrin
La cyclic dextrin, c'est quoi ?
Un glucide fabriqué à partir d'amidon de maïs cireux, réorganisé par une enzyme de branchement en très grosses molécules refermées sur elles-mêmes. On l'appelle aussi dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée. Elle apporte environ 4 kcal par gramme, sans protéines ni lipides. Sa particularité est physique : comme les molécules sont grosses et peu nombreuses en solution, la boisson exerce une pression osmotique basse, quitte l'estomac rapidement et provoque peu d'inconfort digestif à concentration élevée.
Pourquoi prendre de la cyclic dextrin ?
Pour faire passer beaucoup de glucides pendant un effort long sans alourdir l'estomac. C'est sa spécialité : osmolalité basse, vidange gastrique rapide, confort digestif à concentration élevée. Sur des séances d'une heure ou pour un simple apport calorique, nos maltodextrines et nos farines répondent directement au besoin.
Quand prendre la cyclic dextrin ?
Pendant l'effort, et essentiellement au-delà de 90 minutes : sortie longue à vélo, trail, triathlon, journée de compétition, séance de force très volumineuse. À siroter régulièrement plutôt qu'à avaler d'un coup. Elle garde un intérêt entre deux séances séparées de moins de six heures, quand un repas solide ne passerait pas.
Quelle quantité de cyclic dextrin par séance ?
Entre 30 et 60 g de glucides par heure d'effort, la fourchette de référence en nutrition d'endurance. Diluez ces 30 à 60 g dans 500 à 750 ml d'eau. Commencez par 30 g par heure et montez progressivement : la tolérance digestive aux glucides s'éduque sur plusieurs semaines. Au-delà de 60 g par heure, l'apport passe par l'association de plusieurs types de sucres, ce qui relève d'une stratégie de compétition à construire avec un professionnel.
Cyclic dextrin et cluster dextrin, est-ce la même chose ?
Le principe est le même. « Cluster Dextrin » est un nom commercial déposé correspondant à une dextrine cyclique produite par un fabricant spécialisé ; d'autres dextrines cycliques existent sous d'autres appellations. L'étiquette précise généralement l'ingrédient exact, et c'est la ligne à lire : « dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée » ou l'appellation de marque correspondante.
Cyclic dextrin ou maltodextrine ?
Les deux apportent la même énergie au gramme. La dextrine cyclique devient le meilleur choix dès que la digestion est votre facteur limitant sur des efforts de plus de 90 minutes, ou quand il faut faire passer beaucoup de glucides dans peu de liquide. Le test est simple : si votre boisson de maltodextrine à 6-8 % passe sans problème, gardez-la ; si elle vous pèse sur la fin, la dextrine cyclique est la réponse.
Par quoi la remplacer si besoin ?
Par de la maltodextrine diluée davantage, c'est-à-dire plus d'eau pour la même quantité de glucides : cela règle une bonne partie des gênes digestives, avec un bidon plus lourd à porter. Le waxy maize constitue l'autre équivalent. Hors effort, riz, pain, fruits ou crème de riz apportent les mêmes glucides en rassasiant.
La cyclic dextrin est-elle dangereuse ?
Non, aux usages décrits ici : c'est de l'amidon de maïs transformé, un ingrédient alimentaire autorisé, sans dose limite fixée et sans toxicité connue. Deux points à connaître : c'est un glucide à assimilation rapide, à réserver à l'effort et à ne pas intégrer sans avis médical en cas de diabète ; et une boisson sucrée sirotée pendant deux heures entretient un milieu favorable aux caries, alors rincez-vous la bouche en fin de séance.
La cyclic dextrin fait-elle grossir ?
Comme tout glucide, elle ne fait prendre du poids que si elle crée un excédent calorique sur la journée. Consommée pendant un effort long, elle est utilisée pour cet effort : c'est là qu'elle est à sa place.
Contient-elle du gluten ?
Elle est fabriquée à partir de maïs cireux, qui n'en contient pas. Vérifiez néanmoins la mention relative aux traces sur les versions aromatisées.
Peut-on la prendre avant ou après la séance ?
Oui, rien ne l'interdit. C'est pendant l'effort long qu'elle donne le meilleur d'elle-même ; avant ou après, un aliment glucidique ordinaire fait très bien le travail.
Est-elle adaptée aux personnes diabétiques ?
C'est un glucide à assimilation rapide. Toute utilisation doit être validée par le médecin qui suit le traitement.
Peut-on la mélanger à de la whey ?
Dans un shaker post-séance, oui. Pendant l'effort, mieux vaut s'en tenir aux glucides et éventuellement aux acides aminés : une protéine complète alourdit la digestion.
Où acheter de la cyclic dextrin ?
En magasin spécialisé en nutrition sportive et en ligne — c'est un produit de spécialiste. Deux points à vérifier sur l'étiquette : que l'ingrédient soit bien nommé « dextrine cyclique hautement ramifiée », et que la poudre soit nature ou que les arômes soient listés en clair. Nos références sont disponibles en ligne, expédiées partout en France et en Europe, et en rayon à Vendargues, à une dizaine de minutes de Montpellier, avec retrait sous deux heures.
