- October 1, 2021
- Posted by: Sibongile Manyangadze
- Category: Food Ingredients
Dextrose is a form of corn-derived simple sugar. It is used in medicine and food ingredients for a variety of purposes. Its mainly used as a sweetener in foods and as a therapy for dehydration and low blood sugar. It’s identical to glucose chemically and more like fructose. Dextrose is found in foods like honey, bread, and sugar just like other simple sugars like glucose and fructose.
What Are The Side Effects Of Dextrose
If a person takes an excessive amount of simple sugar, the system will retain any excess as fat.
Whilst the body requires sufficient simple carbohydrates for energy, excessive consumption can raise the danger of the following:
- heart disease
- weight gain
- low energy
- diabetes
- acne and other skin problems
- depression
However, it is important to note that if used properly dextrose can be of great benefit to people using it.
Dextrose Uses in food
Dextrose’s principal application in food is as a sweetener, particularly in baked foods. It is mainly found in packaged foods. Dextrose, in addition to sweetening meals, may help counteract food that is otherwise highly salty or spicy. It is also used by various companies to increase some product’s shelf life
Dextrose Medical uses
To treat dehydration, doctors may blend saline solutions with dextrose to create a re-hydration drip for dehydrated patients.
Other reasons why doctors use dextrose include, treating low blood sugar faster and supplying nutrition together with other components like amino acids. In some cases, doctors advise people with low blood sugar to always have dextrose tablets with them as they quickly dissolve in one’s mouth leaving the body absorbing them even quicker making them better again.
In some cases where patients are not able to eat or absorb nutrients through the drip, doctors can opt for the use of a central venous catheter using substances with dextrose.
Other Uses Of Dextrose
Dextrose has a wide range of various uses and applications and is found in a wide range of daily products, which include:
- animal feeds
- bath products
- hair care products
- skincare products
- makeup
Dextrose is used by some bodybuilders as a post-workout supplement to replace glycogen levels. Glycogen is a kind of glucose that the body uses as an energy source.
When a person engages in strenuous exercise, the body expends some of its glycogen reserves. So using the dextrose tablets or powder will restore the glycogen levels quickly which in turn helps muscle repair. Muscle strength and size grow throughout the muscle healing process, which is important for bodybuilders.
However, the use of excessive dextrose can result In the side effects below:
- swelling rapid breathing
- swelling
- diarrhea
- excessive thirst
- fluid in lungs
- high blood sugar
- low blood phosphate
- loss of consciousness
- confusion
Doctors should use precaution when administering dextrose to patients who have certain medical issues.
Dextrose consumption can result in extremely high blood sugar levels or fluid accumulation in the body, which can induce inflammation and fluid retention in the lungs.
Dextrose is not recommended for people with:
- high blood sugar
- pulmonary edema
- swelling in legs, feet, and arms
To avoid severely high blood sugar levels, anybody taking dextrose must closely watch their blood sugar levels.
High blood sugar symptoms include:
- nausea and vomiting
- increased thirst
- frequent urination
- upset stomach
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- sweet-smelling breath