From the Research
Cyclic dextrin has a relatively fast gastric emptying time, with the most recent and highest quality study suggesting that a 10% solution adjusted to 150 mOsm can be evacuated significantly faster than other carbohydrate solutions 1. The gastric emptying time for cyclic dextrin is an important consideration for athletes and individuals who require quick energy delivery.
- The study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine in 2005 found that the gastric emptying time of cyclic dextrin solution increased with an increase in its concentration 1.
- However, a solution with an osmotic pressure of 59-160 mOsm, such as a 10% cyclic dextrin solution adjusted to 150 mOsm, can achieve a shorter gastric emptying time 1.
- This property makes cyclic dextrin particularly beneficial for athletes who need quick energy delivery during exercise without experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort.
- The faster transit time means that nutrients can reach the small intestine more rapidly, where absorption takes place, resulting in more efficient energy utilization.
- Additionally, this quick emptying time helps reduce the feeling of fullness or bloating that can occur with slower-digesting carbohydrates, making cyclic dextrin a preferred option for pre-workout or intra-workout nutrition when quick energy delivery is essential. It's worth noting that other studies have investigated gastric emptying times in different contexts, such as in patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome 2, 3, but these studies are not directly relevant to the gastric emptying time of cyclic dextrin in healthy individuals.
- A more recent study published in 2022 compared the gastric emptying of maltodextrin and phytoglycogen carbohydrate solutions in healthy volunteers, but did not investigate cyclic dextrin specifically 4.
- Another study published in 2004 investigated the effect of sildenafil on gastric emptying in patients with end-stage renal failure and symptoms of gastroparesis, but this is also not directly relevant to the gastric emptying time of cyclic dextrin in healthy individuals 5.