BETA Fuel + Electrolyte Gels

BETA Fuel Energy + Electrolyte Gel forms part of Science in Sport’s advanced endurance fuelling range, alongside powders and chews. Each gel delivers 40g of carbohydrate in an optimised 1:0.8 maltodextrin-to-fructose ratio, designed to enhance carbohydrate absorption (1), promote power output (1), and minimise gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort (1). For endurance athletes, particularly during events lasting longer than 2 hours, carbohydrate intakes of 90 - 120g per hour is critical for sustaining maximal performance. BETA Fuel Energy + Electrolyte Gel offers a convenient, single-serving solution, providing 40g of dual-source carbohydrate with minimal GI distress.

Research demonstrates that fuelling with BETA Fuel gels at 120 g/hour during 3 hours of cycling reports peak exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates of 1.6 g/min (1). This confirms the superiority of the 1:0.8 ratio over traditional 2:1 blends and highlights the metabolic advantages of dual-source carbohydrates in prolonged endurance performance (2).

Furthermore, consuming three gels per hour (120g/hour) not only supplies 50% of energy needs in the third hour of exercise but also helps maintain carbohydrate availability, delaying the shift to fat oxidation and preserving performance (1). Importantly, BETA Fuel gels are oxidised at rates comparable to BETA Fuel drinks and chews, enabling flexible fuelling strategies across formats while achieving optimal carbohydrate delivery (1).

1. Hearris et al. (2022). 13C-glucose-fructose labeling reveals comparable exogenous CHO oxidation during exercise when consuming 120 g/h in fluid, gel, jelly chew, or coingestion; J Appl Physiol, 132(6), 1394-1406.

2. O'Brien et al. (2013). Fructose-maltodextrin ratio governs exogenous and other CHO oxidation and performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 45(9): 1814 - 1824.

3. Shirreffs et al. (2011). Fluid and electrolyte needs for training, competition, and recovery. J Sports Sci, 29: 39 - 46. .

4. Choi et al. (2021). Effects of Electrolyte Supplements on Body Water Homeostasis and Exercise Performance during Exhaustive Exercise. Applied Science, 11(19): 9093

5. McCubbin et al. (2024). Effect of personalised sodium replacement on fluid and sodium balance and thermophysiological strain during and after ultra endurance running in the heat. Intr J Sports Physiol Perform, 19(2); 105 – 115.

6. Patterson and Gray (2007). Carbohydrate-Gel supplementation and endurance performance during intermittent high-intensity shuttle running. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 17(5): 445 - 455.

7. Ali and Williams (2009). Carbohydrate ingestion and soccer skill performance during prolonged intermittent exercise. J Sports Sci, 27(14): 1499 – 1508.

8. Willems et al. (2011). Effects of pre-exercise ingestion of a carbohydrate-electrolyte gel on cycling performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 8(1), 28.

9. Carbohydrate solutions contribute to the improvement of physical performance during a high-intensity and long-lasting physical exercise in trained adults. The beneficial effect is obtained only by trained adults performing high-intensity (at least at 65 % of the VO2max) and long-lasting (at least 60 min) physical exercise. 

10. Jentjens et al. (2004). Oxidation of combined ingestion of glucose and fructose during exercise. J Appl Physiol,96: 1277-1284.

In addition to carbohydrate provision, the inclusion of additional electrolytes can provide a further performance benefit by replacing some of the key electrolytes that are often lost in sweat during exercise (3,4,5,6,7,8). The provision of electrolytes, particularly sodium, during exercise can help to improve sodium balance during exercise, thereby stimulating thirst, promoting hydration and fluid retention during exercise (3,4). For these reasons, the BETA Fuel Energy + Electrolyte Gel is especially beneficial during exercise completed in warmer ambient training or competitive conditions and when sweat rate is higher than normal, thereby supporting thermoregulation and overall physiological and perceptual function (3).

The BETA Fuel Energy + Electrolytes Gel therefore provides a highly effective fuelling solution in those warmer situations were consuming up to 120g of carbohydrate per hour is the fuelling target.

1. Hearris et al. (2022). 13C-glucose-fructose labeling reveals comparable exogenous CHO oxidation during exercise when consuming 120 g/h in fluid, gel, jelly chew, or coingestion; J Appl Physiol, 132(6), 1394-1406.

2. O'Brien et al. (2013). Fructose-maltodextrin ratio governs exogenous and other CHO oxidation and performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 45(9): 1814 - 1824.

3. Shirreffs et al. (2011). Fluid and electrolyte needs for training, competition, and recovery. J Sports Sci, 29: 39 - 46. .

4. Choi et al. (2021). Effects of Electrolyte Supplements on Body Water Homeostasis and Exercise Performance during Exhaustive Exercise. Applied Science, 11(19): 9093

5. McCubbin et al. (2024). Effect of personalised sodium replacement on fluid and sodium balance and thermophysiological strain during and after ultra endurance running in the heat. Intr J Sports Physiol Perform, 19(2); 105 – 115.

6. Patterson and Gray (2007). Carbohydrate-Gel supplementation and endurance performance during intermittent high-intensity shuttle running. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 17(5): 445 - 455.

7. Ali and Williams (2009). Carbohydrate ingestion and soccer skill performance during prolonged intermittent exercise. J Sports Sci, 27(14): 1499 – 1508.

8. Willems et al. (2011). Effects of pre-exercise ingestion of a carbohydrate-electrolyte gel on cycling performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 8(1), 28.

9. Carbohydrate solutions contribute to the improvement of physical performance during a high-intensity and long-lasting physical exercise in trained adults. The beneficial effect is obtained only by trained adults performing high-intensity (at least at 65 % of the VO2max) and long-lasting (at least 60 min) physical exercise. 

10. Jentjens et al. (2004). Oxidation of combined ingestion of glucose and fructose during exercise. J Appl Physiol,96: 1277-1284.