Glico Nutrition targets US sports nutrition growth for novel maltodextrin

12-Nov-2013 - Last updated on 13-Nov-2013 at 14:37 GMT

With a successful GRAS status under its belt and a Glico Nutrition and a large-scale human clinical trials set to conclude in early 2014, Glico Nutrition of Japan is eyeing a larger slice of the US sports nutrition market.

The company’s Cluster Dextrin maltodextrin ingredient is set for a ‘vast roll-out’, said the company, targeting the sports nutrition sector with claims of aiding recovery before, during, and even after vigorous exercise.

Published studies already support the ingredient’s ‘unparalleled gastric emptying time’, with a quicker passage to the small intestine resulting in “faster endurance ramp-up”, said the company. A 2004 study also supported the ingredient’s gastrointestinal tolerability (Food Science and Technology Research, Vol. 10 pp. 428-431). The company is now anticipating the completion of a large-scale human clinical trials in early 2014

The ingredient, which has been available commercially in Japan for over 10 years and in the US since 2008, is described as having a high molecular weight, but narrow weight distribution.

Hidenori Tanimoto from the Fine Chemicals Sales Department at Glico Nutrition of Japan, told NutraIngredients-USA that the Cluster dextrin has a number of interesting characteristics, including high solubility, high stability in solution, low viscosity, little specific odor, less sweet taste, and it is not easily browned.

The ingredient also has low levels of low molecule carbohydrates like glucose, oligosaccharides and low molecule carbohydrate, said Tanimoto.

Cluster dextrin is derived from waxy corn starch and is manufactured in Japan, added Tanimoto.

Glico Nutrition received a letter of no objection from the US Food and Drug Administration for the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status of the ingredient in late 2012.