Following the huge success of TORQ gel’s launch at the Cycle Show in 2007 and the more recent arrival in 2009 of TORQ’s Banoffee gel (with guarana, our sports nutritionists have been busy dreaming up a flavour for 2011 – one that will catch the imagination of the nation. And so the Rhubarb & Custard TORQ gel has landed…

TORQ’s advertising campaign for the New Year 2011 has been heavily influenced by the classic 1970’s ‘Roobarb and Custard’ cult cartoon, so expect a bit of a 70’s ‘disco’ theme to these ads.

Gel Weight: 45g

Price: £1.35 per gel

Here’s the science behind TORQ gel’s uniqueness:

Research-proven 2:1 Maltodextrin:Fructose formulation for 40% greater carbohydrate delivery.  Wallis et al (2005). “Oxidation of Combined Ingestion of Maltodextrins and Fructose during Exercise.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 37(3):426-432.

Maltodextrin used in isolation has been proven to be considerably more effective than glucose used in isolation because of its lower osmolality in the gut. However, the research stated above compared traditional ‘maltodextrin only’ formulations with a 2:1 Maltodextrin:Fructose blend and the results are nothing short of staggering.

The reason a 2:1 Maltodextrin:Fructose formulation works so well is actually rather simple, but it has been overlooked by research scientists until recently.  This is because Fructose (fruit sugar) has always been deemed slow and ineffective because of its low glycaemic index.  Glucose on the other hand was the preferred sugar for use in sports drinks until Maltodextrin (a polymer containing many glucose molecules) was discovered. 

Maltodextrin is the best carbohydrate to use in isolation, but what happens if you mix Maltodextrin with Fructose?  Basically, unlike Maltodextrin and Glucose, which compete with each other for absorption, Maltodextrin and Fructose are absorbed in parallel, so you get the ultra-fast energy supply from Maltodextrin, plus the slower energy release from Fructose.  In total, there’s a 40% greater delivery of carbohydrate to the working muscle. The peer-reviewed research study stated above is one of many recent pieces of research that have demonstrated these findings and ‘peer reviewed’ means that the results have been published in a reputable scientific journal.  Be wary of claims by manufacturers that cite ‘University Studies’ without referencing a mainstream publication.

Based on the results of these recent studies, we suggest that an athlete consuming TORQ products can use 1.3 to 1.4 grams of carbohydrate per Kg of bodyweight per hour whilst exercising. For years, Sports Scientists have been recommending the much lower level of around 1 gram of carbohydrate per Kg of bodyweight per hour and this is all you can expect to absorb through maltodextrin only or maltodextrin/glucose based products.