Vitargo is a unique carbohydrate because it is specially processed to yield a high molecular weight profile that is massively different from the carbohydrates that make up sugars (e.g. glucose, fructose, sucrose) and maltodextrin found in ordinary sport, energy, and recovery drinks. Most importantly, Vitargo is proven to work in athletes—in peer-reviewed published university studies. Part of the secret of Vitargo’s technology is the molecular size of Vitargo. Scientists use molecular weight (how heavy the molecule is) to determine the size of molecules. As shown in the table, Vitargo is hundreds and thousands of times larger than maltodextrin and sucrose (dextrose).

CARBOHYDRATE MOLECULAR WEIGHT

High Molecular Weight Vitargo.     500,000 to 700,000
Maltodextrin.                                1,000 to 10,000
Starch syrup.                                     250 to 1,000
Sucrose (Dextrose).                               180

But molecular size alone does not make Vitargo unique. Vitargo is made through a special fractionation process that makes it rapidly digestible and therefore capable of delivering glucose to the blood, liver, and muscle at least twice as fast as other ordinary carbohydrates. Other so-called “high molecular weight” carbohydrates are “weightless” when it comes to proof—they have zero university studies showing superior fuel delivery or performance in humans.

Vitargo is a super complex high molecular weight starch molecule that dwarfs sugars (e.g glucose, fructose, and sucrose) as well as maltodextrin, the carbs found in ordinary energy and recovery drinks. Vitargo’s larger size minimizes its osmolality, which refers to how much water it attracts around itself, or pulls into your intestines. Less water means less sense of bloating. Vitargo®’s low osmolality allows it to move through the stomach 2.3 times faster than other carbohydrates, which tend to act more like a sponge in the stomach. This helps you feel emptier compared to any other carbohydrate drink. Spending less time in the stomach allows Vitargo to be delivered faster to the intestinal tract where it is rapidly digested and absorbed. This provides a near immediate energy boost to blood and muscle, superior to other ordinary carbohydrates. After training or competition, Vitargo recovers glycogen stores 77% faster, allowing for an increase in performance up to 23% greater after just two hours when compared to carbohydrates found in ordinary sport and recovery drinks.

Vitargo can be made from most plant starches. What makes Vitargo very special is not the source of the starch but the unique, patented molecular “handprint”, proven in university studies in athletes to greatly outperform other ordinary carbohydrates in speed, endurance and resistance training performance. In fact, the first two studies done on Vitargo used potato starch as the starting source. For several years through 2005, Vitargo was made from a special strain of corn that is higher in starch—waxy maize. Today, depending on where in the world you purchase Vitargo, it can originate from barley starch or waxy maize starch.

Vitargo is a unique, patented carbohydrate form that has an extremely high molecular weight, giving it the property of very low osmolality, or very low tendency to attract or draw water out of the surrounding tissues. This all by itself will create a sense of comfort and no bloating. All other sports beverages have a lower molecular weight and a higher osmolality than Vitargo. It is also proven to empty from the stomach 2.3 times faster and be absorbed into the body more quickly compared to a comparable beverage with sugars and maltodextrin, the types of carbohydrates used in many popular sports/energy and recovery drinks and powders. This is why Vitargo can help you be fully fueled yet feel empty enough to train.

Our elite and pro athlete users notice no bloating or “heavy stomach” feeling when they use Vitargo® before or during training or competition.

The honest answer here is that you certainly can eat those foods, but if you are pre-fueling before training, you will need to eat those foods many hours prior to training to ensure that the carbs are digested and in your bloodstream, liver and muscle cells to fuel your training. If you eat them right before training you won’t have fueled your muscles, and you will most likely feel too full to train well. Without question, these foods will help refuel muscle and liver glycogen stores. However, the question really should be will they refuel and recover glycogen stores as fast as Vitargo and without the bloating and “heavy stomach” feeling? If you are training or competing in multiple same-day bouts or the very next day you need to choose the carbohydrate source that is research proven to accelerate refueling and recovery after exhaustive exercise.

Vitargo is a huge carbohydrate molecule compared to ordinary carbohydrates used in sports drinks. Because of this Vitargo is more difficult to dissolve. Use a blender ball in your shaker bottle, and fill the bottle/shaker with 200 ml of water, then add the powder and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Add 500-600 ml of water and shake vigorously for another 30 seconds.  Always make sure to add the powder to the water, and not the other way around.

Yes, Vitargo contains less than 20 ppm gluten (test:ELISA, r-Biopharm)

Carbohydrate improves creatine absorption by causing an increase in insulin secretion which improves the storage of creatine. Creatine storage can be improved by taking Vitargo together with creatine. Ingesting Vitargo raises blood sugar levels and therefore the secretion of insulin, an endogenous hormone.  The improved uptake of creatine into the muscles is attributed to stimulation of creatine transporters mediated by insulin.

Many people ask the glycemic Index of carbs in common. A sports drink should have a high glycemic index, giving a rapid and easily accessible energy to the bloodstream and this is the case of Vitargo. No exact value is known at the moment, but insulin and blood glucose values indicates higher GI than for maltodextrin (glucose polymer) ~137.