Two carb sources. One fuelling plan.

Glucose and fructose enter the gut wall through different transporters. Combining them can help deliver carbohydrate during prolonged exercise—but the ratio is only one part of your plan.

Two sources, two entry points

Maltodextrin is a glucose polymer: a chain of glucose units that is digested before absorption. Glucose uptake uses the sodium-dependent transporter SGLT1. Fructose uses GLUT5. Think of two entry lanes rather than trying to send every carbohydrate through the same lane. [1]

This is a simplified view of intestinal uptake, not the entire route from digestion to working muscle. Absorption and oxidation—using absorbed fuel for energy—are also different processes.

What does “around 60 g an hour” mean?

The commonly cited glucose-only figure describes a practical pattern seen in exercise research, not an exact universal hard stop at the gut wall. Exceeding it does not mean a precisely calculated remainder will inevitably cause symptoms. Intake, drink concentration, exercise conditions and individual tolerance all matter. [1]

Why look towards 1:0.8?

In a 2013 crossover study, 12 male cyclists received carbohydrate drinks with different fructose-to-glucose-based ratios. The 0.8:1 condition produced greater oxidation of ingested carbohydrate than the tested alternatives. This was evidence under a particular protocol, not validation of a GEAR product. [2]

A 2022 study in 11 highly trained men compared 120 g/hour at a 0.8:1 fructose-to-maltodextrin ratio with 90 g/hour at 1:2. More ingested carbohydrate was used for energy at the higher intake, without extra sparing of the body’s own carbohydrate stores. Because both dose and ratio changed, it cannot isolate the ratio’s effect. It also did not establish a performance advantage. [1]

What this means for GEAR

Natural’s development formula combines maltodextrin and fructose at approximately 1:0.8 by ingredient weight. It follows a dual-source approach; it does not establish a personal hourly target. More fuel is not automatically better, and elite-study intake rates are not a starting prescription for every rider or runner.

Practise your plan

Choose intake and fluid amounts for the demands of your session and practise gradually during training. Persistent gut symptoms deserve individual assessment. An accredited sports dietitian can help you build a plan that includes fuel from all sources.