Trehalose – Energy pre-training
Trehalose powder (enduracarb™) from RawSeries is 100% pure trehalose (no additives, no fillers).
Trehalose is a simple disaccharide formed by two glucose molecules, but with a functional behavior very different from other sugars. Its unique molecular structure gives it a gradual absorption profile, with a glycemic index lower than that of sucrose, which translates to a more sustained energy release over time. This makes it an ideal carbohydrate source for use at any training moment: before, during or after exercise. In addition, it stands out for its neutral taste, excellent solubility and stability, making it easy to use in sports nutrition as well as in homemade isotonic drinks, bars and gels.
A distinct way to supply energy with maximum versatility, designed for performance.
Simple carbohydrate, but with unique behavior
What makes trehalose special?
Trehalose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose units linked by an α,α-1,1-glucosidic bond. This structure gives it a high stability at many levels, and most importantly: a slower and more gradual digestion profile than other carbohydrates of similar composition. Although technically a simple sugar, its physiological behavior more closely resembles sustained-release complex carbohydrates.
This is because trehalose needs to be hydrolyzed by the enzyme trehalase in the small intestine before releasing its glucose units, which slows its absorption and avoids rapid and pronounced blood glucose spikes. This profile has been exploited in sports nutrition, as it allows:
- Providing useful energy without overloading the digestive system, especially when other fast-absorbing glucose sources are consumed.
- Improving gastrointestinal tolerance during exercise, especially in people sensitive to these effects when taking gels or isotonic drinks.
- Promoting a progressive delivery of glucose to the active tissue during physical-sport practice; thanks to its slower absorption speed.
Unlike dextrose, which enters the blood quickly, trehalose maintains more stable release levels, which translates to a more efficient energy source for longer efforts or for athletes who already use sugars with a more traditional behavior in their sports drinks.
Comparison with other sugars in sports nutrition
Trehalose is a unique sugar not only for its composition, but also for its behavior, which sets it apart from other common energy sources in sport. To help you understand the perspective relative to other frequent carbohydrates you can also buy at HSN and that you probably know:
Trehalose vs Dextrose
Dextrose (glucose) is the simplest form of a sugar, absorbed directly in the intestine without enzymatic digestion. Its absorption speed is extremely high. In contrast, trehalose needs to be broken down into two glucose molecules by the enzyme trehalase, significantly slowing its absorption. This difference makes trehalose a more stable option and gentler on the digestive system, especially useful for prolonged efforts or in pre-training protocols where there are already significant amounts of glucose.
Trehalose vs Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate formed by longer chains of glucose. Although structurally more complex than trehalose, its digestion is extremely fast due to easy hydrolysis of its glycosidic bonds. In fact, it is considered a high glycemic index carbohydrate, producing glucose responses similar to or even higher than dextrose. In contrast, trehalose, although a disaccharide, presents a slower and more controlled glucose release, thanks to its specific enzymatic digestion. This allows a more sustained energy delivery. Practically, trehalose still has the same application when used with maltodextrin as when used with dextrose in a sports drink.
Trehalose vs Fructose
Fructose is a monosaccharide with a metabolism very different from glucose: it is absorbed by facilitated transport (GLUT5) and is metabolized almost exclusively in the liver. It is recommended to use it in smaller proportions than glucose, and it is especially useful during exercise. Trehalose does not compete with fructose, it complements it.
Trehalose vs Isomaltulose
Isomaltulose (glucose + fructose) is a slowly digested disaccharide widely used in sports nutrition for its low glycemic index and good GI tolerance, besides being a source of fructose. Trehalose shares that moderate digestion trait, but has the advantage of being formed by two glucose units, making it ideal, as it is an 'isomaltulose of glucose.'
enduracarb™ technology – Japanese quality, international performance
The trehalose we use at HSN comes from enduracarb™, a patent developed by Nagase Viita, one of the leading Japanese companies in the research and production of high-quality functional ingredients. This trehalose is manufactured through an enzymatic process from vegetable starch, without the use of chemical solvents, ensuring a high-purity product.
enduracarb™ is not a generic trehalose. It’s designed specifically for applications where stability and solubility are crucial. That’s why this form of trehalose:
- Does not break down with heat, making it ideal for sports drinks, even under extreme conditions.
- Has a mild, slightly sweet taste (~45% of the sweetness of white sugar), perfect for not hindering the preparation of homemade isotonic solutions.
- Has low hygroscopicity, preventing easy clumping and facilitating its use and storage.
A backed ingredient, designed to maximize your performance.
Pure energy source, 100% RAW, no additives
Our trehalose in powder form (enduracarb™) belongs to HSN's RawSeries line, a range dedicated to offering products in their purest form, without additives, fillers or any added agents, so you can fully control your nutritional strategy.
This product contains only trehalose, with no technological agents or additives of any kind. Its neutral powder form makes it easy to combine with other products such as Evolytes, essential amino acids, creatine, PeptoPro® and other carbohydrates.
Thanks to this, you can adjust the dose precisely to your needs, with complete freedom to tweak flavours or create your own sports mixes with our flavourings for sports drinks. Also, as a naturally allergen-free and plant-based sugar, it is compatible with vegan diets and with food intolerances.
A pure and versatile energy source, developed with the quality and transparency principles that define HSN's RAW philosophy.
A sugar with a moderate glycemic index
Although trehalose is a disaccharide composed exclusively of glucose, its metabolic behavior is very different from conventional simple sugars like dextrose. The key lies in its unique molecular structure, where two glucose units are linked by an α,α-1,1 bond, which slows its hydrolysis in the small intestine and, therefore, its absorption.
This enzyme-dependent process produces a progressive release of glucose, which translates to a moderate glycemic index (~32), significantly lower than that of glucose (~100), maltodextrin or table sugar. This profile is especially valuable for athletes seeking:
- Energy stability during long training sessions.
- Less digestive load during physical exercise.
This more stable glycemic response makes it an optimal alternative for sports strategies where constant energy is needed and adding more fast carbs isn't an option.
Trehalose: a carbohydrate designed for sustained performance.
Ideal for sports drinks: Neutral, highly soluble and versatile
Trehalose powder (enduracarb™) stands out not only for its functional profile as an energy source but also for its excellent behavior in sports drinks. Its neutral, lightly sweet taste makes it an ideal carbohydrate to mix with other compounds without being overly sweet.
Additionally, it shows very good solubility in cold or lukewarm water, allowing direct use in isotonic solutions, shakes, pre-workouts or post-workout formulas, without needing to heat the solution, facilitating use in real training conditions, even outdoors or in long-duration activities.
Its low hygroscopicity also helps with storage and transport stability, perfect for athletes during training and stage competitions.
How to take advantage of trehalose?
Muscle glycogen recovery and muscle function after exercise
Trehalose is an excellent option as a recovery carbohydrate after demanding trainings, especially in endurance sports, high-intensity sessions or routines with high muscle workload.
Its digestibility profile and ability to release glucose gradually make it suitable to rebuild muscle glycogen stores after exercise, without causing GI discomfort even in sensitive individuals.
Carbohydrates contribute to the recovery of normal muscle function (contraction) after intense or long-duration physical exercise that leads to muscle fatigue and depletion of stored glycogen in skeletal muscles. 1
Physical performance in intense and prolonged trainings
Trehalose is especially useful when the goal is to maintain performance during prolonged sessions or high-intensity efforts. In fact, it’s a carbohydrate mainly intended to be used in combination with other glucose and fructose sources for intra-workout drinks or gels.
Carbohydrate solutions contribute to the improvement of physical performance during high-intensity and long-duration exercise in trained adults. 2
Pair it with fructose and electrolytes to make your isotonic
Thanks to its balanced profile, mild taste and great solubility, trehalose (enduracarb™) is an ideal companion for designing sports drinks that provide energy and rehydrate during exercise.
To obtain a complete functional drink, you can combine it with:
Bibliography
- Hamada, N., Wadazumi, T., Hirata, Y., Kuriyama, M., Watanabe, K., Watanabe, H., … Arai, N. (2021). Single ingestion of trehalose enhances prolonged exercise performance by effective use of glucose and lipid in healthy men. Nutrients, 13(5).
- Wadazumi, T., Watanabe, K., Watanabe, H., Yokoyama, H., Hongu, N., & Arai, N. (2019). Effects of a single ingestion of trehalose during prolonged exercise. Sports, 7(5).
- Chen, A., & Gibney, P. A. (2023). Dietary Trehalose as a Bioactive Nutrient. Nutrients, 15(6).
- de Oliveira, N. G., de Oliveira, L. F., da Silva, R. P., Oliveira, T. N., Möller, G. B., Murasaki, J., … Saunders, B. (2024). Trehalose Improved 20-min Cycling Time-Trial Performance After 100-min Cycling in Amateur Cyclists. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 34(4), 199–206.
- Hamada, N., Wadazumi, T., Hirata, Y., Watanabe, H., Hongu, N., & Arai, N. (2022). Effects of Trehalose Solutions at Different Concentrations on High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise Performance. Nutrients, 14(9).
1 The beneficial effect is obtained by consuming carbohydrates from all sources in a total intake of 4 g per kg body weight, in doses taken before four hours (or, at most, six) after finishing a high-intensity or long-duration physical exercise that leads to muscle fatigue and depletion of glycogen stored in skeletal muscles.
2 To obtain this benefit it is necessary to prepare a carbohydrate solution that delivers between 30 and 90 g of carbohydrates per hour, under the following conditions: a) fructose must not represent more than one third of total carbohydrates, and b) glucose must not exceed 60 g/h. Only trained adults performing high-intensity (at least 65 % of VO₂max) and long-duration exercise (at least 60 min) obtain the beneficial effect.
