Palatinose (Isomaltulose)
Also known as: isomaltulose, Palatinose, 6-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-D-fructose, slow-release sugar
Isomaltulose is a disaccharide of glucose and fructose joined by an alpha-1,6 bond, produced enzymatically from sucrose. That bond is hydrolyzed by intestinal sucrase-isomaltase about four to five times more slowly than sucrose, giving a lower, flatter blood glucose and insulin response while still delivering fully available carbohydrate. Trials have compared it with maltodextrin and glucose before prolonged endurance exercise, examining fat oxidation and performance. It is used in endurance, low-glycemic, and sustained-energy products, and its mild sweetness resembles sucrose.
Research summary
Slow enzymatic hydrolysis in the small intestine produces a gradual glucose appearance, sustaining carbohydrate availability with a smaller insulin rise and greater fat oxidation during exercise.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 15–30 g | 75 g | — |
Dosed in grams per serving. Trials used 75 g isomaltulose 45 minutes before cycling and 50 g before a prolonged run, so single pre-exercise doses of 50-75 g are the studied range (75 g is dose_max_studied). The 15-30 g typical range reflects common product servings, which are lower than the trial doses; a minimum effective dose has not been defined, so dose_min is null. Best taken 30-60 minutes before exercise or as a sustained carbohydrate in intra-workout drinks.
Standardization: Food-grade isomaltulose, typically 98% or higher purity
Source material: enzymatically rearranged sucrose from beet sugar
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Powder only at these gram doses. Less hygroscopic than dextrose; dissolves somewhat more slowly. About half the sweetness of sucrose.
Formulation notes
Palatinose is a registered trademark of BENEO; use the generic name isomaltulose unless licensed. Declared as sugar on the Nutrition Facts panel despite its low glycemic response.
Sources
- Substrate Utilization and Cycling Performance Following Palatinose™ Ingestion: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial. (König 2016)PubMed
- Metabolic, hormonal and performance effects of isomaltulose ingestion before prolonged aerobic exercise: a double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial. (Notbohm 2021)PubMed
Related ingredients
Caffeine Anhydrous
Sports performancePurified, dehydrated caffeine — the standard stimulant in pre-workouts, energy, and focus products.
Typical: 100–200 mg
Beet Root Powder
BotanicalDried and milled beet root or beet juice, used in pre-workout, endurance, and heart-health powders as a whole-food source of dietary nitrate.
Typical: 5–10 g
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (racemic)
AntioxidantAlpha-lipoic acid is a sulfur-containing compound that serves as a mitochondrial enzyme cofactor and a water- and fat-soluble antioxidant.
Typical: 300–600 mg
Maltodextrin
OtherMaltodextrin is a partially hydrolyzed starch consisting of short glucose chains, characterized by a dextrose-equivalent (DE) value that indicates how far the starch has been broken down.
Typical: 15–30 g
Cordyceps militaris
MushroomCordyceps militaris is the cultivated, fruiting-body species that has replaced wild Cordyceps sinensis in most supplements because it grows on grain or liquid substrate at scale and contains measurable cordycepin.
Typical: 1,000–3,000 mg