Equine Nutritional Benefits of Maltodextrin

I was told that using Maltodextrin is much better than Glucose in the way that its release slow energy, is that true? If yes, how much and safe the amount given?

Glucose is a monosaccharide and has a high glycemic index, meaning that it has a high ability to raise blood sugar levels. Maltodextrin is a polysaccharide that contains many glucose molecules linked together. It is normally derived from starch (usually from rice, corn or potato) and is usually moderately sweet or flavor-free. Glucose is labeled as a simple carbohydrate and maltodextrin a complex carbohydrate. Complex carbohydrates tend to be absorbed more slowly by the body, but compared to other more complex polysaccharides maltodextrin is broken down rapidly during digestion – in fact only a fraction slower than glucose. However, the rate at which glucose is taken up by the blood becomes slower when the concentration (molarity) of glucose in the stomach is high.

Thus, by feeding maltodextrin instead of glucose, the end result will actually mean that glucose enters the blood (and this reaches the muscles) more rapidly than if fed glucose alone. This means that f your horse requires a lot of energy in order to undertake sport or work, maltodextrin is a good supplement to give either alone or in combination with glucose. However, if you are in fact looking for a metabolite that delivers a slower, longer energy supply then you should choose a more complex carbohydrate.