About the Product
Life Pro Nutrition's Endurance line Neutral Cluster Dextrin is a single-ingredient carbohydrate powder supplement: Cluster Dextrin® (patented highly branched cyclodextrin, produced by Hayashibara, Japan), without any additives, sweeteners, flavourings, or colourings. It is the cleanest and most technically advanced carbohydrate product in Life Pro's carbohydrate catalog, designed for athletes who need an ultra-fast absorbing energy source, low osmotic impact, and maximum gastrointestinal tolerance during high-intensity or long-duration training and competitions, with total freedom to mix with other supplements without flavour or compositional interferences. Dose: 30 g in 500 ml of water. Before, during, or after training. 600 g per package (~20 doses). Endurance Line. Vegan.
Benefits
Cluster Dextrin® vs. Waxy Maize: the technical difference between the two main sources of high molecular weight carbohydrates:
Both Cluster Dextrin® and Waxy Maize (amylopectin) are high molecular weight carbohydrates derived from starch, but they differ significantly in the production process and the resulting molecular structure. Waxy Maize (used in Life Pro's Pure Waxy) is simply native waxy corn starch, composed of natural amylopectin with its original branched structure intact, obtained by selecting corn varieties with a high proportion of amylopectin and minimal physical processing. Cluster Dextrin®, in turn, is produced from corn starch amylopectin through an additional biotechnological process: amylopectin is subjected to the action of branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18), which specifically catalyzes the formation of new alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds between the amylopectin chains, reorganizing the molecular structure into a cyclic cluster configuration with higher branching density and a more controlled and uniform molecular weight distribution. This cluster structure results in a molecule with greater water solubility (the solution remains clear without turbidity or lump formation), lower osmolarity in solution (which contributes to even faster gastric emptying than native amylopectin), and greater resistance to retrogradation (the precipitation/gelation phenomenon that occurs with conventional starch in aqueous solution at low temperatures).
Ultra-fast gastric emptying: the critical differential of Cluster Dextrin® for intra-workout use:
The study by Takii et al. (2005), published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, documented that Cluster Dextrin® solutions have a significantly faster gastric emptying time than glucose or maltodextrin solutions at the same carbohydrate concentration. The mechanism is the combination of high molecular weight (which results in low osmolarity, reducing the osmotic stimulus that delays gastric emptying) with high solubility (which prevents the formation of particles that delay mechanical emptying). The study by Furuyashiki et al. (2014), published in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, documented that the intake of Cluster Dextrin® during high-intensity endurance exercise significantly reduced the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and maintained more stable plasma glucose levels compared to water, without the glycemic peaks and drops associated with simple glucose consumption. This combination of ultra-fast gastric emptying with progressive glucose release into the bloodstream is the property that distinguishes Cluster Dextrin® as the carbohydrate source of choice for use during exercise without gastrointestinal discomfort.
Very low osmolarity: maximum hydration simultaneous with energy intake:
The osmolarity of a solution of 30 g of Cluster Dextrin® in 500 ml of water is very close to the osmolarity of pure water, given that the very high molecular weight of the molecule results in very few osmotically active particles per unit volume. This property has a very relevant practical implication during exercise: unlike conventional sports drinks with glucose or sucrose (which are hyperosmolar and draw water into the intestinal lumen by osmosis, temporarily reducing intravascular hydration), Cluster Dextrin® does not compete with hydration, and can provide a substantial energy intake (120 kcal per 30 g dose) without compromising the speed of water absorption or causing abdominal distension. In endurance athletes who simultaneously need energy and hydration in conditions of heat and intense sweating, this property is particularly valuable.
Neutral single-ingredient formulation: maximum combination versatility and total transparency:
The neutral format without any additives makes Neutral Cluster Dextrin the most versatile carbohydrate in Life Pro's catalog for customizing personalized sports nutrition formulas. It can be mixed with: whey protein (Cluster Dextrin® + protein = complete recovery drink without flavour interference); BCAAs (Cluster Dextrin® naturally masks the characteristic bitter taste of valine and isoleucine, making the mixture more palatable); creatine (to enhance post-workout phosphocreatine resynthesis); individual electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium) in doses adjusted to specific needs; or any other powdered supplement, without altering the flavour or the declared composition of the other products. This flexibility is especially valued by athletes with personalized sports nutrition plans and by sports nutrition professionals who formulate individualized stacks for their athletes.
Endurance Line: positioning for long-duration endurance sports:
Neutral Cluster Dextrin is part of Life Pro's Endurance line, specifically designed for the needs of running, cycling, triathlon, long-distance swimming, trail running, and other endurance sports where maintaining energy supply during hours of continuous effort is critical for performance. A 30 g dose in 500 ml of water provides 120 kcal of fast-absorbing, progressively released energy, and can be repeated every 60 to 90 minutes during activity to maintain blood glucose levels and delay glycogen depletion. For athletes who need 60 to 90 g of carbohydrates per hour during long events, Cluster Dextrin® can be combined with other carbohydrate sources (fructose, maltodextrin) to achieve the maximum absorption rates made possible by the use of distinct intestinal transporters.
Uses
How to prepare: Dissolve 30 g (1 scoop) in 500 ml of water. Shake or stir until completely dissolved. Cluster Dextrin® dissolves easily in water, producing a clear solution without lumps or turbidity. It can be mixed with other powdered supplements without any incompatibility.
When to consume: Before training (30 minutes before) to maximize available energy reserves; during training (especially in sessions longer than 60 to 90 minutes or in competitions) to maintain blood glucose and energy supply to working muscles; or immediately after training to accelerate muscle glycogen resynthesis.
