Transparent Labs Cyclic Dextrin

High-carb fueling strategies are key to performance. But endurance athletes need carbohydrates that fuel performance without compromising digestion—especially during efforts lasting 2+ hours when GI issues can end your race.

Transparent Labs Cyclic Dextrin delivers 25g of patented Cluster Dextrin® per serving—a highly branched cyclic dextrin with a molecular weight 200x larger than simple sugars. This unique structure creates rapid gastric emptying (it passes through your stomach in minutes, not hours) while providing steady-state energy release that maintains blood glucose without insulin spikes.

The result: sustained fuel that won't shut down your digestive system when you're pushing hard.

What Makes Cyclic Dextrin Different

Rapid Gastric Emptying Prevents GI Distress – Cluster Dextrin® moves through your stomach faster than maltodextrin or dextrose, dramatically reducing the bloating, cramping, and nausea that plague athletes using traditional sports drinks. Studies show significantly less burping and GI discomfort compared to glucose-based beverages during 2+ hour cycling efforts.

Steady Energy Without Blood Sugar Swings – The high molecular weight (400,000 g/mol vs. 180 g/mol for glucose) creates slow, controlled glucose release. You maintain stable blood sugar throughout your workout rather than experiencing the spike-and-crash pattern of simple sugars. Athletes report lower perceived exertion during fixed-intensity efforts—the work feels easier with stable fuel.

Superior Performance in Elite Athletes – Research on elite swimmers showed 70% longer time to exhaustion when consuming cyclic dextrin vs. glucose during intermittent high-intensity efforts lasting 80+ minutes. Cyclists given cyclic dextrin pre-workout demonstrated greater peak performance capacity and reduced RPE compared to maltodextrin groups.

How It Works

Cyclic dextrin's extensive branching and cyclic structure give it extremely low osmolality—meaning it doesn't pull water into your intestines the way high-osmolarity sugars do. This allows rapid stomach emptying and intestinal absorption without the fluid shifts that cause cramping. Once absorbed, the large molecular structure breaks down gradually, providing glucose to working muscles at a steady rate that matches endurance exercise demands.

The low sweetness (significantly less than dextrose or sucrose) also prevents palate fatigue during ultra-distance events where sweet flavors become overwhelming in later stages.

How to Use Transparent Labs Cyclic Dextrin

Use 1-3 scoops (25-75g carbohydrate) depending on your tolerance, expected effort and duration.

Pre-Workout: Consume 1-2 scoops 30-60 minutes before key sessions for glycogen loading without stomach heaviness.

Intra-Workout: Add 1-3 scoops throughout sessions lasting 90+ minutes to maintain blood glucose levels.

Post-Workout: Mix 1-2 scoops with protein (25-50g) within 60 minutes (with protein or a shake even) to maximize glycogen replenishment.

This isn't about adding more sugar to sports drinks. Cyclic Dextrin provides a fundamentally different carbohydrate structure that solves the two biggest fueling problems endurance athletes face: GI distress and inconsistent energy delivery.