David - I think you are missing a step in your absorption schema outlined below. It has been a while since I studied GI Physiology, but I believe that all carbohydrates must be broken down before they are absorbed. So, if you have monosaccharides that are "engineered" into some sort of special macromolecule, that macromolecule must still be broken back down into individual monosaccharides in order to be absorbed in the small intestine (by the SGLUT-1 transporter). Said another way, carbs are carbs, and it usually doesn't make too much difference which one you use, regardless of the money spent on marketing to convince you otherwise.
Most athletes will have no problem taking in between 30-60g CHO per hour of exercise, and this is the recommended amount.
There are a few reasons people like maltodextrin, and these are the same reasons it is in most sports drinks: inexpensive, not overly sweet tasting, low osmolality, mixes readily, easy to digest.
The bottom line, IMO, with sports nutrition is that you need to meet certain fueling and electrolyte criteria to be successful, and there are many ways to achieve this. The most important thing is to have a product that you like that doesn't cause GI distress and so you will use it regularly.
So, that being said, the product that you are using seems to work great for you, so I'm glad you've found something that you like. However, I doubt that there is any true difference with absorption. I looked at the web site of the products you mentioned, and could not find any peer-reviewed articles published in scientific journals to support their claims...if you find any, I'd be interested in reading them.
From my own experience in coaching over the years and with my own training and racing, there are lots of products that "work" you just need to find one that you like and will use. I personally like to rotate through products so I don't get bored with the taste, but Hammer HEED is good and I make a drink myself with malto, sugar (gasp!), salt, lite salt, lemon and lime juice that is excellent. If anybody wants the recipe, email or stop by the clinic and I am happy to pass it out.
Also, looks like we have an adequate number of orders for malto so the order will probably go in shortly - if anybody else wants in, call or email me. The cost is a buck a pound, you can beat that.
Seth Hosmer, DC CSCS
Health & Performance Chiropractic
www.hpchiro.com
William
Maltodextrin is cheap but an outdated carb type for many strength or
endurance athletes....
A few of us on the Therapeutic Associates Cycling Team in Portland
experimented with and some are now using (loading, during, recovery
exclusively) a homopolysaccharide (relatively complex carbohydrate). We've
tried a product called GENR8 (only product with Vitargo) available at GNC
and now we prefer a product called Pure Karbolyn which we buy at SNC (Sports
Nutrition Center), Tigard. This 'type of carbohydrate' has been used for
years by professional athletes around the world and actually has clinical
data. So let me explain...stay with me on this....the current product we've
been using is made up of many monosaccharides joined together by glycosidic
bonds. These are very large bonds that are branched macromolecules. The
"Molecular Mass" has been precisely manipulated to create absorption through
the stomach at a rate much greater than maltodextrin, dextrose, breads,
pasta, rice or any other carb product on the market and yet have relatively
low glycemic level to maltodextrin. Because this carb type passes through
the stomach very quickly, they act like a pump, pulling water and nutrients
along with it. This high tech carbohydrate actually moves through the
stomach 80% faster than dextrose or sugar. Also this carb type has a Higher
Solution Osmolality (concentration) than Dextrose, Sucrose or other carb
powder mixes on the market.
William, what might it mean for you....50+ gms of tasty carbs in a 24 ounce
water bottles that almost immediately shuttles the your muscles, liver,
brain. Carbs no longer sit in your gut and make you fill full or bloated. No
sugar. No more need for gels. No need for 6-8% solution mixtures because it
doesn't matter anymore with a carb that is mainly absorbed in your small
intestines at a faster, higher rate.
As for me....I might sound like I 'm selling a product name...I'm not...I'm
a recommending a better type of carbohydrate. No offense to anyone that
sells these products but I have over $100++ of Gu powder, Gu Gel, Heed,
Perpetuem, Cytomax, R4, Cytocarb that I have not used since February of this
year in my garage and about ready to throw out...
But, if ya like maltodextrin.....I wish ya the best....
If you have any further questions contact me off-line.
My two cents
David