Maltodextrin:A natural active ingredient for noticeably more volume in the hair

Maltodextrin is found in many everyday products and is of natural origin. Most people are familiar with this substance, especially in the areas of sports and fitness. The carbohydrate mixture is primarily known as a source of energy in sports drinks and as a fat substitute in diet products. But is it really sensible and harmless to consume larger amounts of maltodextrin What are the differences between the different types of maltodextrin Are there cases in which the consumption of this saccharide should be avoided as a matter of principlest?

In this magazine article we show the components of maltodextrin, what it is produced and used for and for whom the consumption of this saccharide is suitable or not. We also explain how the different types of maltodextrin differ and what properties they each have.

TIP: We use maltodextrin in ours, for examplevegan conditioner. Maltodextrin ensures that the hair is easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny. The alcohol- and silicone-free Follicle Treatment supplies and cares for the scalp with valuable blueberry seed oil and vitamins and ensures more hair volume directly over the scalp.

THAT DOES MALTODEXTRIN

1. Maltodextrin is found in both personal care products and foods.
2. It is a practical and healthy source of energy.
3. Makes the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or gives it volume, suppleness and shine.

Overview:

What is maltodextrin?
How is maltodextrin made and classified
What is maltodextrin used for?
What foods contain maltodextrin
Which care products contain maltodextrin
What is the function of maltodextrin in cosmetics
Is maltodextrin healthy?
Is maltodextrin dangerous?
Conclusion

What is maltodextrin?

Maltodextrin is a multiple sugar, tooPolysaccharide called. This mixture of different carbohydrates is produced by hydrosyls of starch. It consists of monomers, dimers, oligomers and polymers of the poly-α-glucose. The designationMaltodextrin is based on the termsMaltose andDextrose.Maltose stands for malt sugar, which is a dimer of two different glucose molecules. Dextrose stands for grape sugar, which is a monomer. The respective percentages of the various sugars differ depending on the degree of hydrolysis. The energy content of maltodextrin is 4 kilocalories per gram. Maltodextrin is water-soluble and odorless. The taste is slightly sweet, but almost neutral. It is mainly used in the food and beverage industry and partly also in biotechnology.

How is maltodextrin made and classified

Maltodextrin is a vegetable, but not purely natural substance. It is only made through the chemical processing of starch, known ashydrolysis produced. Corn starch is often used as the basis for the production of maltodextrin, but also other starchy foods such as potatoes, cereals or rice. The first step is to boil the starch in water. Next, acids and enzymes are added to the cooking starch. The aim is to split the long starch molecule chains into shorter chains of glucose molecules, which are then dried so that a white powder remains.

Depending on the degree to which the starch is broken down into individual glucose components, i.e. hydrolyzed, the end product is described as a dextrose equivalent. If it were dextrose, i.e. pure glucose, the value of the dextrose equivalent would be, which is international withDE abbreviated, exactly 100. The natural starch has a DE value of 0 to 3, while the DE value of maltodextrin is between 3 and 19.9.

Commercially available maltodextrin is in turn divided into maltodextrin 6, maltodextrin 12 and maltodextrin 19. Maltodextrin 6 has the most long-chain carbohydrates and the sweetest taste. It increases the blood sugar level over a comparatively long period of time, during which it supplies the consumer with energy evenly, which is why it is particularly popular with endurance athletes. Maltodextrin 19, on the other hand, hardly tastes sweet and contains the fewest long-chain carbohydrates. It supplies the body with energy relatively quickly, but only for a short time, which makes it particularly suitable for weight training that involves heavy loads over a relatively short period of time.

What is maltodextrin used for?

Maltodextrin is used in large quantities in the industrial production of food, for example as a filler and extender and as a thickener for liquid or creamy ready-made meals and instant products. Maltodextrin is also used as a stabilizer and preservative to extend the shelf life of food. It is also contained in diet products as a fat substitute. In addition, maltodextrin also serves as a carrier for certain aromas, for example in spices, and, conversely, also for balancing or avoiding undesirable tastes or aromas.

Due to its water-soluble properties, maltodextrin is used both in the fitness industry and in medicine for the production of special beverages with the help of which many calories can be added to the body without the consumer actually having to eat. In this way, athletes can specifically recharge their batteries and people who cannot eat normally due to certain diseases still take in calories. Sometimes maltodextrin is also added to baby food, for example to promote general growth or to regulate the osmotic concentration in the intestine, which is sometimes disturbed in infants.

Maltodextrin is also used in the manufacture of some soaps, creams, shampoos, and other personal care products.

In biotechnical laboratories, the carbohydrate mixture is also used in various fermentation processes, where it serves as a nutrient for certain bacteria.

What foods contain maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is found in many industrially produced foods as a thickener or filler. It is also often used as an energy source, extender or carrier substance for volatile aromatic substances. The foods listed below contain maltodextrin:

• Dairy products like cheese, cream, yogurt, and butter
• margarine
• Mayonnaise, salad dressings and most instant and instant sauces
• Thick or creamy soups
• Processed meat and sausage products
• Instant desserts such as puddings and creams
• Porridge and other baby foods
• Bread, rolls and cakes
• Sweets
• Artificial sweeteners
• Muesli and granola rule
• Sports drinks and special food for athletes
• beer
• Coffee
• Medical liquid food
• Some spices and pastes

Which care products contain maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is mainly consumed in the form of food, but it can also be found in the following personal care products:

• Moisturizing day and night creams
• Eye creams
• Various serums, for example rose serum
• Sunscreens
• Scrubs for cleaning the skin
• Soap
• Shampoos
• Hair dyes

What is the function of maltodextrin in cosmetics

• Absorbent: absorbs water or oil in dissolved form or in fine particles.n.
• Agent fixation: Allows different cosmetic ingredients to stick together
• Emulsion stabilizer: Promotes the emulsification process and improves the stability and shelf life of the emulsion
• Film former: Creates a continuous film on skin, hair or nails
• Conditioner: Makes the hair manageable, supple, soft and shiny and / or gives it volume, lightness and shine
• Skin Care Products: Keeps the skin in good condition

Is maltodextrin healthy?

The carbohydrate mixture maltodextrin has some useful properties that can have a positive effect on health, which is why it is also used in medical, sports and baby food. It ensures a smooth, lump-free consistency of pulpy foods, inhibits crystallization and is easier to digest in the small intestine than some other saccharides. If the maltodextrin is made from corn or potatoes, it does not contain wheat and is therefore naturally gluten-free and a suitable source of carbohydrates for people with gluten intolerance.

Maltodextrin is sometimes used in diet products and special food for athletes as a fat substitute, although it has fewer calories than real fat. Because it contains both long and short chain carbohydrates, it provides an energy supply that is very popular with athletes. Endurance athletes usually prefer maltodextrin with a DE value of 6, as it contains many long-chain carbohydrates, which provide the body with energy over a longer period of time. Meanwhile, strength athletes benefit more from the short-chain carbohydrates in maltodextrin with higher DE values such as 12 or 19, as they provide a quick but comparatively short energy boost.

Maltodextrin also has the ability to balance the osmotic concentration in the intestine, which is sometimes disturbed in babies and small children, for example. This helps ensure that the digestive organs are better supplied with fluids.

Since maltodextrin is water-soluble, it can be used well in drinks and liquid food, with the help of which one can supply the body with sufficient energy without having to eat. This is beneficial for both athletes and people with various digestive and other diseases.

Is maltodextrin dangerous?

Basically, maltodextrin is a harmless substance that is mainly used as a food additive. Consumption of small or normal amounts of this saccharide is generally not associated with any dangers in healthy people. However, it is recommended not to secure more than half of your carbohydrate intake through maltodextrin.

In all probability, maltodextrin is not dangerous for care products and is not irritating due to the often only small amounts on the skin areas to be applied. Of course, you have to try this out yourself for your own skin.

Since the consumption of maltodextrin can greatly increase blood sugar levels, diabetics in particular should exercise some caution with it, although this also applies to other carbohydrates. In addition, maltodextrin has an influence on the composition of the bacteria and can, for example, promote the growth of E-Coli bacteria. Excessive growth of such bacteria in turn favors the development of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, especially people who belong to a risk group for autoimmune diseases, should not consume large amounts of maltodextrin.

Conclusion

In summary, it can be said that maltodextrin is a very useful substance that is used to carry out biotechnological processes and that is suitable for the manufacture of various care products and foods. The carbohydrate mixture can provide the consumer with a lot of energy in the form of sports nutrition, whereby the respective DE value of the maltodextrin must be observed depending on the type of sport performed. As a component of diet products or as an additive in various foods, maltodextrin is largely harmless. Only people with health problems, such as autoimmune diseases or diabetes, or who are particularly at risk of developing such diseases, should avoid consuming products containing maltodextrin as a precaution.

In cosmetics it is used as a stabilizer for the formula or as a film former. Maltodextrin can improve antiaging activity, reduce skin irritation, and generally keep the skin in good condition. In hair, maltodextrin makes the hair easier to comb, supple and softer and gives it more volume.