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Dextrose Monohydrate

Also known as: D-glucose monohydrate, glucose monohydrate, grape sugar, Dextrose Monohydrate

Overview

Dextrose monohydrate is a crystalline form of glucose, a simple sugar naturally found in fruits, vegetables, and honey. It is a highly bioavailable carbohydrate, rapidly absorbed and metabolized to provide glucose for energy. Primarily used as a rapid energy source in sports nutrition, it also plays a significant role in medical and therapeutic settings. In clinical applications, it is utilized in prolotherapy and perineural injection therapies for various musculoskeletal and neuropathic conditions, where it is thought to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Research on dextrose monohydrate is moderate, with well-established evidence for its use as an energy substrate and emerging, yet promising, evidence for its therapeutic applications in injection form.

Benefits

Dextrose monohydrate offers several evidence-based benefits. As an energy source, it is widely used in sports supplements to support high-intensity exercise performance, often serving as a control carbohydrate in studies (e.g., 6.4 g/day in beta-alanine trials). In its injection form (prolotherapy), dextrose shows potential in reducing pain and improving function in knee osteoarthritis, with meta-analyses indicating efficacy, though some studies have a risk of bias. Perineural dextrose injections have demonstrated effectiveness in managing pain and restoring function in peripheral compression neuropathies of the upper limbs. Furthermore, hyperosmolar dextrose injections may benefit conditions like Osgood–Schlatter disease, particularly in patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. The safety profile for injection therapies is favorable, with no major adverse effects reported. Patients with knee osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathies, and certain musculoskeletal disorders are the primary beneficiaries of dextrose injections. For knee osteoarthritis, prolotherapy showed pain improvement comparable to platelet-rich plasma. For neuropathies, meta-analyses support significant pain reduction and functional improvement. Benefits from injection therapies are typically assessed 3 to 6 months post-treatment.

How it works

As a carbohydrate, dextrose monohydrate provides glucose, which is the primary fuel for cellular metabolism and energy production throughout the body. When ingested, it is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract via glucose transporters, quickly elevating blood glucose levels to supply energy. In injection therapies, particularly prolotherapy, hyperosmolar dextrose is believed to induce a localized inflammatory response. This controlled inflammation is thought to stimulate the body's natural healing cascade, promoting tissue repair and regeneration in connective tissues and nerves. This local action helps to alleviate pain and improve function in conditions like osteoarthritis and neuropathies, with minimal systemic absorption.

Side effects

Dextrose monohydrate is generally safe when used orally or via injection in therapeutic doses. For oral consumption, side effects are rare and typically related to excessive intake, such as gastrointestinal upset or blood sugar fluctuations, especially in individuals with glucose metabolism disorders. In injection therapies (prolotherapy), common side effects are minor and localized, including transient injection site discomfort, pain, or mild swelling. Uncommon side effects may involve rare local inflammation. No major adverse effects have been reported in high-quality studies for either oral or injected forms. There are no significant drug interactions documented. Contraindications for oral use include caution in patients with diabetes due to its glucose content. For injections, contraindications depend on the specific clinical context, but generally, it should be used cautiously in diabetic patients due to potential, albeit minimal, systemic glucose absorption.

Dosage

For oral supplementation, particularly in exercise studies, a dosage of 6.4 g/day is often used as a control carbohydrate. However, as a primary ergogenic aid, specific optimal dosages are not well-defined, and intake should consider total daily carbohydrate needs. Oral dextrose is rapidly absorbed, making it suitable for immediate energy replenishment. For injection therapies, dosage protocols vary significantly based on the condition being treated, the specific injection technique (e.g., prolotherapy, perineural), and the concentration of the dextrose solution. These are typically tailored by a clinician. Injections are usually administered in multiple sessions over several weeks or months. The maximum safe dose for oral intake is limited by total carbohydrate intake and individual tolerance, while for injections, it is determined by clinical protocols and the specific therapeutic application. No specific cofactors are required for its action.

FAQs

Is dextrose monohydrate safe for long-term use?

Yes, dextrose monohydrate is generally considered safe for long-term use when consumed orally within appropriate dietary guidelines or administered via injection under medical supervision, with injection therapies having a good safety profile.

Can dextrose injections replace other treatments?

Dextrose injections may be considered as an alternative or adjunctive treatment, especially in musculoskeletal conditions and neuropathies where other conventional options have been limited or ineffective.

How quickly does oral dextrose improve exercise performance?

Oral dextrose provides immediate energy due to its rapid absorption, making it effective for quick energy replenishment during or after exercise, though it's often used as a control in studies rather than a primary ergogenic aid.

Are there risks for diabetics when using dextrose monohydrate?

Oral dextrose can significantly raise blood glucose levels, requiring careful monitoring for diabetic patients. While systemic absorption from injections is minimal, caution is still advised.

Research Sources

https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/34/6/article-p397.xml – This study, likely a review or meta-analysis, discusses the use of carbohydrates like dextrose monohydrate in sports nutrition, often as a control in supplementation trials. It highlights its role as a rapid energy source for high-intensity exercise performance.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34046305/ – This systematic review and meta-analysis on dextrose prolotherapy for knee osteoarthritis (11 RCTs, 837 patients) found potential benefits in pain relief comparable to platelet-rich plasma, despite some study bias. It concluded a favorable safety profile and recommended it for pain relief (Strength B).
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/10/1282 – This systematic review with meta-analysis investigated hyperosmolar dextrose injections for Osgood–Schlatter disease. It indicated a therapeutic role for dextrose injections in musculoskeletal disorders, particularly benefiting patients unresponsive to other treatments.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39866436/ – This systematic review and meta-analysis focused on perineural dextrose injections for upper limb neuropathies. It demonstrated significant pain reduction and functional improvement, supporting the effectiveness of dextrose injection therapy for these conditions based on multiple RCTs.