07/07/09 BENEO-Palatinit, one of the leading functional ingredient manufacturers, has seen the launch of the latest product containing its scientifically proven functional carbohydrate, Palatinose (generic name: isomaltulose). Following three years on the market, and over 70 products launched, energy boost drink 3Action Guarana - Speed on Top from Luked is the latest RTD beverage to contain Palatinose.

3Action Guarana - Speed on Top is a nutritional supplement targeted at athletes looking to increase their energy levels without using caffeine. The 25ml bottles relieve fatigue while improving performance.

Palatinose is not only proving successful within the beverage sector (sports, dairy, beer, water) but is seeing demand rise in products such as bars and gels, chocolate, nutraceuticals, supplements, and sweeteners.

BENEO-Palatinit is continually developing highly marketable product applications and solutions containing Palatinose that will help address trends relating to physical and mental performance as well as body weight management.  Recent innovations include Göller (single malt beer), Rosbacher Drive (carbonated drink claiming 38% improved alertness) and Gatorade (energy drink delivering increased performance). 

Independent sports medicine studies have shown that Palatinose promotes the body’s own fat oxidation. This means that Palatinose increases the ratio of energy derived from fat relative to the total amount of energy required to burn fat, which is not only true for sportspeople but also for less active and overweight people.   In one study fat and carbohydrate oxidation in sportspeople after ingestion of a Palatinose drink or a high glycaemic maltodextrine drink was investigated; The result was that before, during and after performance, the Palatinose group demonstrated an increased rate of fat burning compared to the controlled group.

Another study conducted confirmed Palatinose’s noticeable performance-boosting effect. During a time trial, a group of cyclists who had ingested a Palatinose drink performed significantly better than a maltodextrin control group, reaching the finishing line about three percent faster. Furthermore, their fat burning rate was about 25 percent higher than the control group’s. 

In addition to several ongoing studies, more than 15 completed studies for isomaltulose are now available. These investigations have already proven the various nutritional and physiological benefits of the functional carbohydrate. Therefore, with Palatinose, manufacturers of functional foods can utilise an ingredient with scientifically substantiated benefits, diverse market potential and versatile positioning possibilities.

Since July 2005, Palatinose has been officially approved as a Novel Food in the EU and enjoys the FDA notified GRAS status (generally recognized as safe) in the US. Moreover, the US food agency approved the carbohydrate as non-cariogenic in September 2007.  Today Palatinose is approved in more than 45 countries.

BENEO-Palatinit manufactures the internationally approved products ISOMALT, Palatinose and galenIQ, all of which are derived from pure beet sugar. Each product is characterised by its toothfriendliness, low glycaemic response and a mild, sugar-like sweetness. Moreover, the sugar replacer ISOMALT contains only half the calories of sugar. With tailor-made variants the ISOMALT family is available for a wide range of applications. Worldwide, almost 2,000 products are made with ISOMALT – in sugar-free hard-boiled candies, it is the internationally most widely used ingredient. The new functional carbohydrate Palatinose is characterised by a long-lasting energy supply. As a result, it has a wide range of application possibilities in foods and beverages with a sports and wellness positioning.

For pharmaceutical applications, BENEO-Palatinit produces the excipient galenIQ, which is chemically also based on hydrogenated isomaltulose, but manufactured according to pharmaceutical guidelines.