Carbo Bar 2:1 Jelly

Carbo BAR 2:1 in the Jelly version is the innovative bar from the Yamamoto Sport range, specifically formulated for athletes who train at high intensity, for endurance athletes or those undertaking prolonged exertion. A tasty alternative to the classic energy bar, useful even during the most intense performances, ideal for maximising carbohydrate intake whilst reducing digestion time. It is formulated with a balanced blend of glucose and fructose in a 2:1 ratio, designed to provide the athlete with rapid and sustained energy, improving carbohydrate absorption and optimising their utilisation during physical activity, and is available in blueberry or citrus flavours.

Thanks to the use of carbohydrates with different rates of intestinal absorption (glucose and fructose), Carbo BAR 2:1 helps to support performance. Consuming carbohydrates during prolonged training sessions and competitions helps delay the onset of fatigue and supports the maintenance of energy reserves. This carbohydrate blend is also optimised to maximise intestinal absorption and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort, whilst providing approximately 40g of carbohydrates per bar1,2,3,4. Glucose is absorbed in the gut via SGLT1 transporters, which, however, become saturated quite quickly, whilst fructose is absorbed by a different transporter, GLUT5, which does not compete with glucose and represents an ‘alternative route’ for carbohydrates to enter the cell.

Benefits of the 2:1 ratio of glucose to fructose

• Optimal absorption: this carbohydrate ratio allows for the uptake of more carbohydrates (up to 90g/hour) compared to formulations containing a single type of sugar (e.g. a maximum of around 60g/hour of glucose alone), reducing the risk of digestive problems and consequently improving gastrointestinal tolerance.

• Reduced intestinal build-up and utilisation of different transporters.

• Ideal for endurance sports, long-duration exertion and demanding or prolonged performance.

• The most extensively studied ratio: sufficient glucose to rapidly fuel the muscles, but also sufficient fructose to increase total carbohydrate absorption without overloading the gut.

Each 50g jelly bar provides approximately 40–42g of carbohydrates, an ideal amount to support endurance sports or intense training sessions.

Let’s take a closer look at the Carbo BAR 2:1 formula, composed of glucose and fructose, which are beneficial for athletes for various reasons:

• Glucose – a rapidly available carbohydrate, absorbed in the intestine via the SGLT1 transporter and used directly by the muscles as an immediate source of energy. It helps maintain blood glucose levels during exercise and provides ready energy during high-intensity activities, but when taken on its own, its intestinal absorption is limited.

• Fructose - a carbohydrate utilising a different intestinal transporter (GLUT5), it allows for greater total carbohydrate absorption and more efficient energy utilisation when combined with glucose.

The 2:1 combination overcomes the absorption limit of a single carbohydrate, optimising energy supply during prolonged exercise.

Scientific references

1. Jeukendrup AE, Moseley L. Multiple transportable carbohydrates enhance gastric emptying and fluid delivery. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010 Feb;20(1):112-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00862.x. PMID: 19000102.

2. Jeukendrup AE. Carbohydrates and exercise performance: the role of multiple transportable carbohydrates. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. July 2010;13(4):452-7. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328339de9f. PMID: 20574242.

3. Currell K, Jeukendrup AE. Superior endurance performance with ingestion of multiple transportable carbohydrates. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Feb;40(2):275-81. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e31815adf19. PMID: 18202575.

4. Rowlands DS, Houltham SD. Effect of multiple transportable carbohydrates on long-distance triathlon performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017 Aug;49(8):1734-1744. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001278. PMID: 28350714