Maltodextrin: description, benefits and potential harm

Maltodextrin refers to a fast carbohydrate used in the food industry, including in the creation of sports nutrition. The substance can be found in many products: semi-finished products, cereals and instant soups, canned vegetables and fruits, milk powder, infant formula.

What is maltodextrin?

Maltodextrin (dextrin maltose, molasses) is an organic compound that consists of glucose, maltotriose, maltose and dextrin. Outwardly, the substance is a white or cream-coloured powder, soluble in water. Get maltodextrin from plant starch by enzymatic cleavage.

Manufacturers use maltodextrin due to the following properties:

• creation of the required density of the product;

• replacement of sugar in the composition;

• increasing the amount of dry matter;

• fat replacement;

• enhancing the taste of the product;

• easy mixing with other ingredients;

• reduction in the cost of goods;

• increasing the shelf life of food products;

• higher digestibility than starch;

• use as a source of "fast" carbohydrates, providing a burst of strength and energy.

Dextrinmaltose in food also acts as a preservative. In small quantities, the component does not cause health problems. But you should carefully use the substance in the presence of diabetes mellitus, a tendency to gain excess weight. After all, molasses has a high glycemic index (105-136). Maltodextrin can thereby harm human health.

Potential harm from using maltodextrin

Carbohydrate causes a sharp rise in blood glucose. It is dangerous for those with diabetes. This disease develops gradually and often begins with the appearance of insulin resistance, which many do not even realize until the development of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, you should not abuse foods and products with a high glycemic index - it is increased in maltodextrin and can provoke excess weight and the progression of diabetes mellitus.

Molasses is rapidly converted to glucose after ingestion. Athletes actively use this property. Maltodextrin in a mixture with proteins is used for the production of gainers. Such products are also used to close the "carbohydrate window" after intense exercise. If an athlete decides to buy maltodextrin as an additional energy source, it is worth including it in the total calorie intake. Treacle in any form should not be used during the "cut" period.

Fields of application

The use of molasses is not limited to the food industry. Maltodextrin is present in baby food - as part of dry milk mixtures.

Other areas of application

• Pharmacology. It is used as a sweetener in the production of some medicines, as well as an excipient.

• Cosmetic products. Maltodextrin is used in cosmetics to increase the shelf life of hygiene products, creams, and achieve the composition's required viscosity.

• Professional sports. Bodybuilders and athletes use maltodextrin in a mixture with other components to improve performance, endurance, and overall athletic performance.

Dextrin-maltose contains carbohydrates exclusively. Polysaccharides quickly enter the intestines from the stomach, and from there they are almost immediately absorbed into the blood.

The calorie content of maltodextrin is 377 kcal per 100 g. It is relatively high and can cause weight gain, especially when the metabolic rate is low.

Application in the production of children's products

Maltodextrin is a part of baby dry mixes, purees and other products. This fast carbohydrate increases the protein absorption rate, increases GI motor function in moderation and is a source of energy. Manufacturers use molasses as a vegetable-based sweetener and may mark products as "sugar-free". But this does not mean that baby purees, cereals and formula, thanks to dextrin-maltose, can be consumed without any risk of gaining excess weight.

Carbohydrate is contraindicated in large quantities, especially in diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders, as it causes a sharp and rapid increase in glucose levels, like ordinary sugar. Therefore, excessive use of molasses can cause flatulence in infants, provoke the appearance of painful abdominal cramps. If a child is prone to obesity, it is not recommended to use fast carbohydrate foods.

Maltodextrin in bodybuilding

The lack of fat in the molasses composition attracts athletes who train actively, want to do more without feeling weak and tired.

Maltodextrin is not a doping; it plays the role of a carbohydrate food supplement that increases the diet's energy value. Fast carbohydrate powder is highly soluble in water. On its basis, you can prepare home gainers. But most often, athletes buy ready-made products.

The molasses gainer is used for two purposes: to gain muscle mass and to quickly recover from strength loads. A quality product contains 20-25% protein and more. If the weight gainer includes many carbohydrates, then the athlete runs the risk of gaining a lot of fat.

The daily dose is divided into several doses. The product is consumed once between breakfast and lunch. The other part is taken after training. Stir the dextrin maltose powder in milk or water. It is better to do this in a shaker. There is a protein that denatures and loses its properties upon contact with hot liquid in ready-made gainers. Therefore, it is necessary to stir such compositions in moderately warm water or milk.