Maltodextrin
Application in various pharmaceutical industries:
- Common excipient in tablets
- Preparation of edible films
- Equipment for direct compression of active drugs that are difficult to compress
- Prebiotic function
- Microencapsulation
- Formulation of energy drinks, supplements and sports powders
The use of maltodextrin as a prebiotic substance
Probiotic bacteria are bacteria that help maintain the balance of intestinal microbial flora and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Probiotics affect the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut and change this balance in favor of increasing the population of beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that are necessary to stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria in the body. These components selectively provide a suitable environment for probiotic bacteria in the body so that they can have the best growth and development in it, and thus exert their positive effects on the host. Maltodextrin as a prebiotic substance stimulates the growth of probiotic bacteria. Also, in the spray drying of some types of bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, the use of maltodextrin while protecting the bacteria against temperature stress, combines the effects of probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotic).
Use of maltodextrin in microencapsulation
Microencapsulation is a technology in which target compounds are coated by a wall to form microcapsule particles. These capsules can release their contents at a controlled speed or defined under certain conditions. In this technique, all kinds of flavors, essences, oils, enzymes, microorganisms, etc. can be made by biopolymer compounds such as carbohydrates, cultures and coatings. Microcapsule is a physicochemical or mechanical operation to enclose a component in a coating and produce particles of very small size, and a hydrophobic core is protected by a hydrophilic wall. Maltodextrin has been one of the most common carbohydrates used in the encapsulation process and has been used in various combinations of vitamin C, carotenoids, antibiotics and vitamins. Usually, maltodextrin is used together with gum arabic or emulsifiers in the encapsulation process.
The use of maltodextrin in sports powders
Maltodextrin plays an important role in strengthening the muscles for intense sports training and restoring the level of glycogen loss and consuming this substance causes glycogen to start after training. Since maltodextrin originates from fasting, it is easily and quickly converted into glucose and absorbed, the glucose produced is used for re-storing glycogen. Maltodextrin can also be consumed in drinks before the start of training and maintain energy for training. If maltodextrin is to be used post-workout, it should be mixed with powders to increase muscle growth and recovery time. Maltodextrin can be used in recovery powders before and after training with oral consumption.
