Cluster Dextrin – The Perfect Intra Workout Shake for Maximum Muscle Repair and Growth

What Is Cluster Dextrin AKA Cyclic Dextrin

Highly Branched Cluster Dextrin (HBCD), also known as Cyclic Dextrin, is a carbohydrate that is made up of designer glucose polymers. The names Cluster Dextrin and Cyclic Dextrin can be used interchangeably.

Highly Branched Cluster Dextrin is formed through the breakdown of amylopectin using enzymatic treatments into clusters, which are then formed into larger chains using additional branching enzymes.

By increasing the molecular weight, osmolality is reduced which means that this carbohydrate source will be rapidly digested while providing your body with a sustained release of energy.

This makes the use of Cyclic Dextrin an excellent choice to be used around the time of your workouts. 

What Are The Benefits Of Using Cluster Dextrin

The key benefits of using Cluster Dextrin are:

• It has been shown to increase performance in athletes.
• It has a greater mix-ability and solubility than other sports nutrition carbohydrates like dextrose, maltodextrin or waxy maize..
• Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin has been shown to lower markers for the stress hormone cortisol after intense exercise when compared to other carbohydrates.

Cluster Dextrin For Athletic Performance

There have been many studies done with Highly Branched Cluster Dextrin using mice as test subjects. The mice who were given the Cyclic Dextrin showed an increase in swimming rate while mice that were not given Cyclic Dextrin were shown to show fatigue much quicker.

This can be linked to the fact that Cluster Dextrin is absorbed rapidly for use  but also provides a sustained release of energy over an extended period of time.

The Perfect Intra Workout Shake Using Cluster Dextrin

Now that we know that Cyclic Dextrin is rapidly absorbed and provides the body with a sustained release of energy, it makes logical sense to include this carbohydrate source during your workouts. 

Another supplement that should be added to the intra workout shake is Essential Amino Acids (EAAs). Essential Amino Acids are the building blocks to protein which are essential to the body and help our muscles to repair and recover during and after your workouts.

By combining the Cyclic Dextrin with the Essential Amino Acids you are creating an environment that is primed for repair and growth. The Cyclic Dextrin will increase your insulin which will help shuttle the EAA’s into your muscles during your workout.

An optimal intra workout shake would include 30-60g of Cyclic Dextrin combined with 5-10g of EAAs.

How To Use Cluster Dextrin For Muscle Growth  and Recovery

Studies have shown that by using the combination of Cyclic Dextrin and EAA’s, athletes were able to recover much faster from their intense training sessions. They also showed that by taking the Cluster Dextrin during your workout helped to prevent inflammation and the release of cortisol which is a stress hormone that contributes to the breaking down of muscle.

By limiting these factors you help to create an environment that is ready for growth and repair allowing you to recover faster which will lead to being able to train harder more frequently and ultimately being able to build more muscle in less time.

Will Using Cluster Dextrin Cause Weight Gain?

Cyclic Dextrin is merely just a carbohydrate source which means that it’s just technically food that has calories like any other food source. Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram so if you’re consuming 30g of Cyclic Dextrin then you are consuming 120 calories. As long as you’re counting these calories as part of your overall daily caloric intake then you can use Cluster Dextrin to lose, gain, or maintain your current weight.