Maltose and trehalose oxidation during prolonged cycling exercise
What it found
In nine trained cyclists, maltose was oxidized faster than trehalose during 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling.
Both carbohydrates raised blood glucose and reduced fat oxidation compared with water.
What they found
Studies in people
Carbohydrate oxidation
Total carbohydrate oxidation was higher in both the maltose and trehalose trials compared with water. The maltose trial averaged 2.09 g per minute, trehalose 1.92 g per minute, and water 1.62 g per minute.
Exogenous oxidation rates
Peak exogenous carbohydrate oxidation was higher in the maltose trial (1.01 g per minute) than the trehalose trial (0.73 g per minute). Average exogenous oxidation was also higher with maltose (0.89 g per minute) than trehalose (0.62 g per minute).
Endogenous carbohydrate sparing
The maltose trial resulted in significantly reduced endogenous carbohydrate oxidation compared with water (1.20 versus 1.62 g per minute). This suggests maltose had a sparing effect on the body's own carbohydrate stores.
Fat oxidation
Total fat oxidation was reduced in both carbohydrate trials compared with water. Fat oxidation was 0.91 g per minute with water, 0.68 g per minute with maltose, and 0.79 g per minute with trehalose.
Blood glucose and insulin
Both carbohydrate drinks maintained higher plasma glucose concentrations than water throughout exercise. Plasma glucose peaked higher and earlier with maltose (6.24 mmol per liter at 15 minutes) than with trehalose (5.65 mmol per liter at 30 minutes). Plasma insulin was higher in the maltose trial.
Gastrointestinal complaints
More gastrointestinal complaints were reported during the trehalose trial than the maltose or water trials. Flatulence, belching, and bloated feeling scores were significantly higher with trehalose.
What the authors conclude
“In summary, we have shown that during prolonged cycling exercise, TRE ingestion is accompanied with a much reduced and later glucose peak, is oxidized at approximately 27% lower rates (when ingested at 1.1 gIminj1), and has a trend to increase fat oxidation when compared to MAL.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that during prolonged cycling exercise, trehalose ingestion is accompanied by a much reduced and later glucose peak and is oxidized at approximately 27% lower rates than maltose when ingested at 1.1 g per minute.
- They state that this is most likely due to a reduced digestion rate of trehalose in the small intestine and may explain some of the gastrointestinal symptoms.
- They suggest that future research should address whether a lower ingestion rate of a higher-glycemic index carbohydrate at regular intervals would have similar effects to a low-glycemic index carbohydrate.
How it was done
The authors wanted to compare how trehalose and maltose affect carbohydrate oxidation and blood metabolites during prolonged exercise. They noted that no studies existed on how these carbohydrates are digested and absorbed in people.
Nine trained male cyclists or triathletes cycled for 150 minutes at 55% of maximal power output on three separate occasions. During each session they drank a solution providing either 1.1 g per minute of trehalose, 1.1 g per minute of maltose, or water.
What it can’t tell you
- This study was in nine trained male cyclists, so the results may not apply to other people or to other types of exercise.
- The study lasted 150 minutes, so it cannot show what happens with longer exercise or repeated use.
- The study measured oxidation and blood markers during exercise, not performance outcomes like time to exhaustion or race speed.
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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error