Food & Beverage Asia February/March 2022

INGREDIENTS 25
it is also as important, if not more, to look at
the quality of the carbohydrates consumed.
Fast carbohydrates — such as maltodextrin
and sucrose that are commonly used in
sports nutrition products — release glucose
into the bloodstream quickly when digested.
This causes a ‘boost and crash’ effect
where there is a rapid increase followed
by a sudden decline in glucose levels as
our body regulates the sudden rise. Such
reactions are not ideal for those looking to
achieve sustained, balanced energy levels
throughout the day, much less those who
are looking for endurance during exercise.
On the other hand, smart-release
carbohydrates can provide a more steady
and sustained energy supply, resulting in
blood glucose levels that stay balanced
without sudden fluctuations. One example
is BENEO’s Palatinose, a smart carbohydrate
derived from sugar beet that is digested
gradually so glucose is released into the
bloodstream in small quantities at a time.
A lower and more balanced blood glucose
response results in less insulin release and
an improved metabolic profile. In addition,
lower insulin levels allow for a higher rate
of fat burning instead of carbohydrate
burning for energy supply, as demonstrated
in a scientific study which showed that
Palatinose delivered clear advantages with
its steady and sustained carbohydrate energy
supply to allow for “a greater reliance on fat
oxidation and [the] sparing of glycogen” 3 .
However, how might manufacturers
incorporate these smart carbohydrates
into their products?
ONE INGREDIENT, A MYRIAD OF
OPPORTUNITIES
Palatinose features various technical
benefits that allows it to be easily
used in a variety of recipes.
Its low hygroscopicity makes it perfect
for powdered drinks and blends as it does
not easily form lumps in powder form. This
functional carbohydrate also has good
solubility, enabling consumers to dissolve
it easily into their beverages. It remains
stable at a temperature of 25°C with a
relative humidity of up to 85%. This stability
ensures that food manufacturers will not
have to worry about compromising quality
during manufacturing processes where
conditions may be prone to drastic changes.
Moreover, a maintained osmolality allows
concentrations of drinks to remain
unchanged with its addition into the
mix. When applied to sports drinks,
their isotonic properties are retained
to serve their water replenishment
purposes and are optimally absorbed by
the digestive system of consumers.
More importantly, Palatinose provides a mild,
natural sweetness without any aftertaste,
and can easily be combined with other
sweeteners to achieve a tailored sweetness
profile suited to the individual preference of
the consumer. Food manufacturers will thus
be able to reformulate their products without
difficulty to preserve taste and texture,
while offering the benefits of sustained and
balanced carbohydrate energy release.
As sports nutrition products continue to
flourish globally, the food and beverage
industry will need to rise to the challenge
of helping consumers meet their increasing
desire to lead more active lives coupled with
better nutrition; they do not have to tread
into the unknown to make that happen.
The good news is that there are already
alternative carbohydrates that can help
food manufacturers reformulate better,
and provide consumers with a sustained
energy while improving their metabolic
profile and increasing fat burning potential
– without compromising taste. FBA
REFERENCES
1
Mordor Intelligence: Sports Nutrition Market
- Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 -
2025)
2
BENEO (2021) Consumer Health Survey
3
Source: König D, Zdzieblik D, Holz A, Theis
S, Gollhofer A (2016) Substrate utilization and
cycling performance following Palatinose
ingestion: A randomized, double-blind,
controlled trial. Nutrients 8(7): 390. doi:
10.3390/nu8070390, Link: https://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4963866/
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022