Table 1.

Studies included within meta-analysis and systematic review

Authors	Participants (training status)	Type of activity during the trials	Performance measure	Experimental beverage	Control beverage	Primary outcomes	Results
Rowe et al. 2021 [31]*	11 M (well-trained)	120 min treadmill running at 68%${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$	5 km time trial	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose	Performance, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	Sig faster time trial and higher CHO oxidation No difference in plasma glucose concentration, lactate or NEFAs
Pettersson et al. 2020 [27]	12 (sex not reported, endurance-trained)	180 min cycling at 55% Wmax	None	1.6 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	(1) 1.6 g min−1 Vitargo Pure® + Vitargo electrolyte® (starch + electrolytes) + amylopectin (2) 1.6 g min−1 Isostar Endurance Plus® (Maltodextrin + sucrose)	Oral health, ExCHO oxidation, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	Sig higher ExCHO oxidation with experimental beverage Sig lower blood glucose concentration 40 min after cessation of CHO feeding with experimental beverage Attenuated decline in teeth pH
McCubbin et al. 2020 [24]*	9 M (recreational and elite)	180 min cycling at 60%${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$	Time to exhaustion	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose	Performance, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	No sig differences
Flood et al. 2020 [29]*	7 M, 7 F (recreational)	90 min cycling at 45% ${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$ in 32 °C and 70% relative humidity	Work completed in 15 min	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose	Performance, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites, intestinal integrity	No sig difference in performance, substrate oxidation, performance or intestinal integrity Greater gut discomfort with experimental beverage
Myrick et al. 2019 [32]	1 (sex and training status not reported)	Treadmill running at 12 min mile−1 until exhaustion	Time to exhaustion	Microgel dispersion + 39 g glucose	Commercial sports drink containing 39 dextrose	AUC blood glucose absorption kinetics	Higher AUC glucose absorption kinetics with microgel dispersion
Mears et al. 2019 [25]*	8 M (well-trained)	120 min cycling at 55% WMax	Time to complete set work	1.1 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	1.1 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose	Performance, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	No sig difference in performance Sig higher RPE and stomach fullness with experimental beverage
Barber et al. 2019 [28]*	9 M (trained)	120 min treadmill running at 60%${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$	None	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	1.5 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose	ExCHO oxidation, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	No sig differences
Pettersson et al. 2019 [33]	12 (6 M, 6 F, trained)	120 min treadmill skiing 69% ${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$ in − 5 °C	2400 m (males) or 2000 m (females) time trial	2.2 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	Non-caloric placebo (sweetened water)	Performance, ExCHO oxidation, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	Sig higher ExCHO, total CHO oxidation and sig lower fat oxidation with experimental beverage. No sig diff in performance
Baur et al. 2019 [26]*	9 M (trained)	98 min varied intensity cycling	10 maximal sprints	1.3 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	1.3 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose	Performance, substrate ox, blood metabolites	No sig differences
Sutehall et al. [30]*	8 M (well-trained)	105 min treadmill running 70%${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$	None	1.2 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose + SA + P	(1) 1.2 g min−1 maltodextrin + fructose (2) Water	ExGluc oxidation, substrate oxidation, blood metabolites	No sig differences

M, male; F, female; ${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{2}max$, maximal oxygen uptake; %WMax, percentage of max Watts; SA, sodium alginate; P, pectin; ExCHO oxidation, exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rate; ExGluc oxidation, exogenous glucose oxidation rate; AUC, area under the curve

*Included within meta-analysis