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What Is Dextrose?

Also referred to as glucose, this simple sugar is the major fuel for cell function in the human body. It is the dextrorotatory isomer of glucose, meaning it is glucose in its active form. Dextrose is found in both plant and animal tissue, and is used in food, wine, medicine and nutritional supplements.

  1. The Facts

    • Dextrose is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H12O6. It is manufactured naturally in the human body from the breakdown of mainly carbohydrates, but also proteins and fats. Dextrose is the result of photosynthesis in plants and is found in concentrated amounts in fruits and honey. This white, sweet, crystalline substance can be produced synthetically from starch. In commercial products glucose is often used in reference to corn syrup, a combination of glucose and other sugars, while dextrose refers to pure glucose.

    Misconceptions

    • The names dextrose and glucose are often used interchangeably, but it is important to note the difference. Glucose has several molecular forms. Dextrose is the biologically active form and is very common in plant and animal life. The other form is L-glucose, which does not occur naturally and is rare. Due to the rarity of L-glucose, glucose is almost exclusively used to refer to its active form of dextrose.

    Function

    • In the human body dextrose is the main energy source for living cells. It is absorbed and used by cells with the help of insulin. When the body has too much dextrose, it is either converted to fat or stored as glycogen. Glycogen can then be converted back into dextrose when dextrose levels are no longer high. Then dextrose is metabolized by the muscle tissue and turned into ATP, the direct energy source for muscles.

    Features

    • Dextrose is used as a nutritional supplement for bodybuilders to help put on muscle mass. When used after a workout, dextrose will cause an insulin spike leading to increased blood flow into the muscles and better absorption of vital nutrients like protein and amino-acids. Dextrose is used commercially as a sweetener; it is approximately half as sweet as ordinary table sugar and is used in brewing and wine making. It can also be administered intravenously as medicine if a person cannot drink fluids.

    Warning

    • Controlling the body's metabolism of dextrose is extremely important. Eating complex carbohydrates like whole grains allows the body to better regulate levels of dextrose. Complex carbohydrates release dextrose at a slow rate, allowing the body to absorb it over time.

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