Maltose and trehalose burned as fuel during cycling in nine men
What it found
During long cycling sessions, trained men burned maltose faster than trehalose when drinking either sugar.
Trehalose caused more stomach complaints like bloating and gas.
What they found
Studies in people
Burning sugar during exercise
Both sugar drinks helped the men burn more total carbohydrate than plain water. Peak burning of the maltose drink was about 30% higher than the trehalose drink, reaching 1.01 g per minute versus 0.73 g per minute.
Blood sugar levels
Both drinks kept blood sugar high during the ride. With just water, blood sugar slowly dropped over the 150 minutes. Maltose raised blood sugar faster and higher early in the ride compared with trehalose.
Saving stored energy
Drinking maltose meant the men used less of their own stored body carbohydrate compared with drinking water. This saving effect did not reach significance for trehalose.
Fat burning
Both sugar drinks lowered the amount of fat burned during the ride compared with water. There was a slight trend toward burning more fat with trehalose than with maltose.
Stomach problems
The trehalose drink led to more stomach complaints than maltose or water. Men reported more bloating, gas, and belching with trehalose. One man had vomiting and diarrhea after the trehalose ride.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that trehalose is digested and burned more slowly than maltose during prolonged exercise.
- They suggest this slower digestion likely explains the extra stomach problems seen with trehalose.
- They note that both sugars kept blood glucose high during the ride.
How it was done
Trehalose is a sugar made of two glucose units, much like maltose, but it is only about 45% as sweet as regular table sugar. Scientists wanted to see how the body uses these two sugars during exercise because they are broken down by different gut enzymes.
Nine trained male cyclists or triathletes rode bikes for 150 minutes at a moderate pace on three separate days. During each ride they drank water, a maltose drink, or a trehalose drink delivering 1.1 g per minute of sugar. The rides were spaced at least one week apart.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial only tested nine highly trained male athletes during exercise.
- It cannot show what happens in everyday people who are resting or doing normal daily activities.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
The paper
- Title
- Oxidation of maltose and trehalose during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Venables MC, Brouns F, Jeukendrup AE (2008). Oxidation of maltose and trehalose during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e318175716cFree full textPubMed 18685525DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error