Glucose Powder Mostly glucose, with some calcium and vitamin D

This white crystalline powder is readily absorbed in the bloodstream and hence it is a good source of energy. This also happens to be the unique proposition offered by glucose powder. It helps to replenish the energy stores, especially during and just after workout. There are several brands of glucose powder in the market and one may note that most of these are proprietary food – this means there are no specifications for these in the food regulations. So, what does one look for? You may know by now that the use-by date is important and that adulteration is not acceptable. A good product will also be devoid of lumps or any discolouration. What else?

The major ingredient in glucose powder is dextrose monohydrate. Interestingly, all of the seven brands we tested claim to have 99.4 per cent of glucose. We also tested brands’ claims with regard to calcium and vitamin D. While the variations among the brands in glucose content are marginal, for calcium and vitamin D the variations are relatively wide. As consumers, we may want to keep these aspects in mind while choosing a particular brand. The words ‘glucose’ and ‘dextrose’ are used interchangeably. The full name is dextrose monohydrate and it is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) generated from starch, most commonly of corn (maize).