NOVAFIT gels combine five carbohydrate sources—Golden Sugar, glucose syrup, fructose syrup, maltodextrin and isomaltulose (Palatinosa™)—in an approximate 1:0.8 ratio of glucose to fructose. That combination activates two separate intestinal transporters (SGLT1 and GLUT5), lets you absorb more carbs per hour without overwhelming the gut, and adds a slow-release source that steadies your energy through the second half of the effort.
The real challenge: absorbing energy fast without punishing your gut
When you train or race at high intensity, your body can need between 60 and 120 grams of carbohydrate per hour to sustain performance. But there is a physiological bottleneck that limits every gel on the market: the small intestine cannot absorb unlimited amounts of carbohydrate if it all comes from a single source.
The reason is strictly physiological. Each type of carbohydrate uses a specific, saturable intestinal transporter. Glucose and its derivatives (maltodextrin, starches) rely on the SGLT1 transporter. Fructose uses the GLUT5 transporter. Once you reach 60 g/hour of glucose, SGLT1 saturates: the unabsorbed carbohydrate ferments in the colon, and the result is something every athlete knows—bloating, gas and discomfort in the middle of a race.
The solution science has been investigating for two decades is to combine sources that use different transporters. On that point, NOVAFIT agrees with the best brands in the world. Where we stand apart is in one element that virtually no gel on the market has adopted yet: Palatinosa™.
Four immediate-energy sources: the science-backed foundation
NOVAFIT gels combine four fast-absorbing carbohydrate sources in an approximate 1:0.8 ratio of glucose-based to fructose-based sources:
Golden Sugar (whole cane sugar)
Sucrose—a disaccharide of glucose + fructose in a 1:1 ratio—simultaneously activates the SGLT1 and GLUT5 transporters, delivering immediate energy through both pathways. In its golden sugar form (whole cane sugar), it also retains natural micronutrients such as potassium, calcium and traces of B-group vitamins, absent from conventional refined sugars.
Glucose syrup
A very fast-absorbing energy source via SGLT1. It provides the immediate substrate the muscle needs from the very first minutes of the effort.
Fructose syrup
Activates the GLUT5 transporter, independent of SGLT1, making it possible to break past the 60 g/hour glucose absorption ceiling. Jeukendrup and colleagues showed that the glucose + fructose combination raises the oxidation rate of exogenous carbohydrate by up to 65% more than glucose alone, reaching rates of 1.75 g/min when 1 g/min had previously been considered the absolute maximum possible.
Maltodextrin
A glucose polymer with a lower osmolality than simple sugars. This detail is key for gastric tolerance: hypertonic products slow gastric emptying and increase the risk of digestive discomfort. Maltodextrin delivers high energy density with a lower osmotic impact, making it easier to absorb fluids at the same time.
This four-source combination in a 1:0.8 ratio matches the standard that the most advanced scientific research points to as optimal for maximizing carbohydrate absorption during endurance exercise. It is no coincidence: it is what intestinal physiology demands.
The fifth source: where NOVAFIT goes one step further
Palatinosa™ (isomaltulose): sustained energy when you need it most
Palatinosa™ is a disaccharide of glucose + fructose with a different molecular bond from sucrose (α-1,6-glucosidic instead of α-1,2-glucosidic). This apparently minor structural detail has an important physiological consequence: intestinal hydrolysis is considerably slower, giving it a glycemic index of roughly 32, versus 100 for free glucose.
What does this mean during exercise? While the other four sources deliver energy in the first 20-40 minutes, Palatinosa™ acts as a sustained-release reserve: it stabilizes blood glucose in the second half of the effort and reduces the risk of the dreaded energy crashes that appear when the fast sources run out.
The most recent scientific evidence backs this effect. A study from Swansea University (Hamilton et al., 2025, European Journal of Sport Science) showed in ultra-endurance athletes that adding Palatinosa™ to the nutrition strategy was associated with more time within the optimal blood-glucose range (70–140 mg/dL), greater glycemic stability and significantly higher fat oxidation—which implies better glycogen sparing for the decisive moments of a race.
Earlier studies published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (Wenig et al., 2021) and in Nutrients (2016) had pointed in the same direction, showing more stable glucose profiles and a higher proportion of lipid oxidation with isomaltulose compared with maltodextrin or glucose alone.
Why don't most gels on the market include it? It is not a matter of scientific ignorance. Palatinosa™ is a trademarked ingredient with a significantly higher cost than conventional maltodextrin, and adding it makes the formulation more complex. At an industrial scale of millions of units, that decision has a direct impact on margin. At NOVAFIT, producing in small artisanal batches at our workshop in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, we have prioritized the formula over the cost.
The 1:0.8 ratio: the standard backed by current science
The carbohydrate ratio in NOVAFIT gels—roughly 1 part glucose-based sources to 0.8 fructose-based sources—is not arbitrary. It is backed by Jeukendrup's work and by studies such as Podlogar et al. (2022, European Journal of Applied Physiology), which compared different carbohydrate ratios and doses in elite cyclists and concluded that the 1:0.8 ratio maximizes exogenous carbohydrate oxidation by balancing the load across both intestinal transporters without saturating either one.
Beyond carbohydrates: sodium and magnesium done right
The NOVAFIT formula is rounded out by two elements that broaden its effectiveness:
400 mg of sodium in citrate form
Sodium is the key electrolyte for maintaining plasma volume and the thirst signal during exercise. The citrate form offers an added advantage over conventional sodium chloride: the citrate ion acts as a mild buffer of blood pH, helping to neutralize the metabolic acidosis generated during high-intensity effort.
125 mg of magnesium bisglycinate
Magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including ATP synthesis and muscle contraction. The bisglycinate form—magnesium chelated with two glycine molecules—has the highest bioavailability and the best gastrointestinal tolerance of all the magnesium salts available. A detail that matters especially when the digestive system is already under stress during intense exercise.
Summary: what each source contributes
| Source | Transporter | Kinetics | Main function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Sugar | SGLT1 + GLUT5 | Fast | Immediate energy + dual transporter activation |
| Glucose syrup | SGLT1 | Very fast | Initial energy peak |
| Fructose syrup | GLUT5 | Fast | Break past the 60 g/h absorption ceiling |
| Maltodextrin | SGLT1 | Medium | Energy density with low osmolality |
| Palatinosa™ | SGLT1 + GLUT5 | Slow-sustained | Glycemic stability + glycogen preservation |
In summary
NOVAFIT gels combine the scientific foundation that current research endorses for maximizing carbohydrate absorption—a 1:0.8 ratio, dual activation of the SGLT1 and GLUT5 transporters—with a distinguishing element that virtually no gel on the market has adopted until now: Palatinosa™, with its own evidence for glycemic stability and glycogen sparing in endurance efforts. Add to that 30% natural fruit pulp and an artisanal production process that pulls the product away from industrial logic and closer to what many sports nutritionists have been asking for over the years: more complete formulas that are more honest about the athlete's real physiology.
Frequently asked questions
What is isomaltulose (Palatinosa™)?
It is a carbohydrate made of glucose and fructose, just like common sugar, but with a different molecular bond that the intestine hydrolyzes more slowly. That is why it has a glycemic index of roughly 32 (versus 100 for glucose) and releases energy in a sustained way, helping to avoid the crash when the fast sources run out.
What does the 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio mean?
It is the proportion between glucose and fructose sources in the formula. Because glucose uses the SGLT1 transporter and fructose uses GLUT5, combining them in this proportion lets you increase the total amount of carbohydrate the muscle can oxidize per hour without saturating either pathway, while at the same time reducing the risk of digestive discomfort.
How many carbs per hour can you absorb?
From a single glucose source, the practical ceiling is around 60 g/hour because the SGLT1 transporter saturates. By combining glucose and fructose—which use different transporters—exogenous carbohydrate oxidation can rise significantly, approaching 90 g/hour in trained, well-adapted athletes.
Why magnesium bisglycinate and not another form?
Because it is a chelated form, with magnesium bound to two glycine molecules, that stands out for its bioavailability and its good gastrointestinal tolerance compared with inorganic salts. It is especially useful when the digestive system is already under stress during exercise. Each NOVAFIT gel provides 125 mg.
Do NOVAFIT gels contain refined sugar?
No. One of the five carbohydrate sources is Golden Sugar, a whole, non-centrifugal cane sugar that retains natural minerals and polyphenols, instead of conventional refined white sugar.
Scientific references
- Jeukendrup, A.E. (2010). Carbohydrate and exercise performance: the role of multiple transportable carbohydrates. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care.
- Rowlands, D.S. et al. (2015). Fructose–Glucose Composite Carbohydrates and Endurance Performance. Sports Medicine.
- Podlogar, T. et al. (2022). Increased exogenous but unaltered endogenous carbohydrate oxidation with combined fructose-maltodextrin ingested at 120 g/h versus 90 g/h at different ratios. European Journal of Applied Physiology.
- Hamilton, R.A. et al. (2025). Glycaemic Impact of Low- and High-Glycaemic Index Carbohydrate Diets in Ultra-Endurance Athletes. European Journal of Sport Science.
- Wenig, P. et al. (2021). Metabolic, hormonal and performance effects of isomaltulose ingestion before prolonged aerobic exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
- Gatorade Sports Science Institute (2024). SSE #108: Multiple Transportable Carbohydrates and Their Benefits.
This content is informational and educational and does not replace the advice of a sports nutrition professional. NOVAFIT products are food supplements for athletes; do not exceed the recommended dose.
