Isolyte

Clinical Study 1 - Hydration after Exercise in Heat

Comparisons of isomaltulose, sucrose, and glucose-fructose on post-exercise hydration. (Amano et al., 2021; European Journal of Nutrition)

Design: Randomized, single-blind, cross-over; three beverage conditions over a 3-hour recovery window.

Participants: 13 healthy men (21 ± 1 y) exercised in 35 °C heat until 2% body-mass loss, then rehydrated with a drink volume matching the loss in the first 30 min.

Interventions: 6.5% isomaltulose vs 6.5% sucrose vs 3.25% glucose + 3.25% fructose electrolyte drinks.

Key findings:

1. Greater net fluid retained with isomaltulose vs sucrose (p = 0.010).
2. Cumulative urine output tended to be lower with isomaltulose (p = 0.064).
3. Plasma volume was lower early (≤90 min) but similar by the end of recovery across drinks.  

What it means: By the end of recovery, more of what you drink stays in your body with isomaltulose vs sucrose, a practical support for longer-lasting hydration.

Clinical Study 2 - Acute and 4-Week Metabolic Effects

Novel findings on metabolic effects of the low-glycaemic carbohydrate isomaltulose (Holub et al., 2010; British Journal of Nutrition)

Design: Three human trials: (i) ileostomy absorption; (ii) single-dose cross-over; (iii) 4-week randomized double-blind cross-over.

Participants: Ileostomy n = 10; acute trial n = 10; 4-week trial n = 20 hyperlipidaemic adults.

Interventions/Comparators: 50 g isomaltulose vs 50 g sucrose (single-dose), and 50 g/day for 4 weeks vs sucrose in a controlled diet.

Key findings:

1. Fully available in the small intestine: apparent digestibility 95.5–98.8% and absorption 93.6–96.1%.
2. Steadier blood sugar: 3-h glucose iAUC 118 vs 184 (min·mmol/L) for isomaltulose vs sucrose (p = 0.037).
3. Lower insulin demand: 3-h insulin iAUC 15,208 vs 23,347 (min·pmol/L) (p = 0.005); peak insulin >50% lower.

4-week tolerance/safety: well tolerated; lipids unchanged; fasting glucose and HOMA-IR lower vs baseline after the isomaltulose phase.

What it means: Isomaltulose delivers carbs more evenly with less insulin spike — ideal for a “steady energy” hydration product.

Clinical Study 3 - Evidence Across Multiple Trials

Isomaltulose: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Xie et al., 2022; Nutrition Reviews)

Design/Scope: Meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (cross-over and parallel) from Germany, UK, Japan, Malaysia, Australia; N = 175 healthy adults.

Key findings: vs higher-GI carbs, isomaltulose reduced post-meal glucose at 30 and 120 min and reduced insulin at 60 and 120 min.

What it means: Consistent, multi-study evidence that isomaltulose blunts sugar and insulin spikes.