Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin (HBCD): the new endurance carbohydrate star
HBCD is not just a marketing buzzword: it's a real evolution in carbohydrate sources, particularly suited for prolonged endurance sports (marathon, trail running, long-distance cycling, triathlon).
Unlike classic carbohydrates (linear maltodextrin, glucose, fructose alone), it has a very particular structure: a cyclic molecule with numerous branches. This gives it unique properties:
- Very low osmolality even at high concentrations. Traditional carbohydrates, when dosed at 60–90 g/L, increase gastric osmolality → slow emptying, feeling of heaviness, risk of reflux or diarrhea. HBCD remains at a low osmolality (~100–150 mOsm/kg) even at high concentrations. Result: ultra-fast gastric emptying, even when you load 80–100 g/h. It's the ingredient that has allowed athletes to go from a tolerated 60 g/h to 90–120 g/h without gastrointestinal upset.
- Progressive energy without glycemic spikes or crashes. Thanks to its branched structure, HBCD is digested and absorbed more steadily than linear maltodextrin or pure glucose. No brutal insulin spike, no hypoglycemic crash 30–45 min later. Energy comes in a continuous manner, which is crucial for efforts of 2 hours or more.
In Elixyr, 30% HBCD makes this premium technology accessible to all amateur athletes.