OPENFUEL
Open-Source Endurance Fuel
Carbohydrate GelMTC-30 Gel
Carbohydrate Gelv1.0

MTC-30 Gel

A 30 g/serving carbohydrate gel built on a 1:0.8 maltodextrin-to-fructose ratio, delivering multi-transportable carbohydrates with a moderate sodium load optimised for 1–3 hour efforts.

high-carbmulti-transportablerace-daygel
Research Alignment
88
out of 100
Target Use Case

Race-day fuel for events lasting 1–3 hours. Take one gel every 20–30 minutes alongside water.

Full Ingredient Breakdown

Per 40 g serving

10 ingredients · 34.0 g total
1Maltodextrin DE 10-15High

Primary carbohydrate — glucose-transporter substrate

DE 10-15 gives a neutral flavour profile and manageable viscosity at this concentration.

16.7 g
49.1% of serving
$0.0518/serving
2FructoseHigh

Secondary carbohydrate — GLUT-5 transporter substrate

Paired with maltodextrin to saturate both SGLT-1 and GLUT-5 pathways.

13.3 g
39.1% of serving
$0.0559/serving
3Sodium Citrate DihydrateModerate

Electrolyte / alkalising buffer

Contributes ~100 mg sodium; milder on GI than sodium chloride at this dose.

0.45 g
1.3% of serving
$0.0029/serving
4Sodium ChlorideHigh

Electrolyte / osmolality tuning

Contributes ~100 mg sodium. Standard food-grade salt.

0.24 g
0.7% of serving
$0.0002/serving
5Potassium ChlorideModerate

Electrolyte — potassium replacement

Contributes ~50 mg potassium.

0.1 g
0.3% of serving
$0.0005/serving
6Citric AcidFunctional

pH adjustment / flavour

Drops pH to ~3.8–4.2; improves palatability and acts as mild preservative.

0.15 g
0.4% of serving
$0.0007/serving
7Xanthan GumFunctional

Thickener / texture agent

0.08 g per 40 g serving (0.2%) gives a viscous gel texture without being sticky.

0.08 g
0.2% of serving
$0.0011/serving
8Potassium SorbateFunctional

Preservative

GRAS preservative; active against yeast and mould at ≤0.1% use level.

0.04 g
0.1% of serving
$0.0005/serving
9Natural FlavorFunctional

Flavour

WONF (with other natural flavors) — source-dependent. Placeholder cost used.

0.1 g
0.3% of serving
$0.0030/serving
10Water (to 40 g)Functional

Carrier / activity water

Deionised or RO water. Exact amount adjusted to hit 40 g total.

2.84 g
8.4% of serving
Research Alignment Notes

Multi-transportable carbohydrate strategy (maltodextrin + fructose) aligns with the 2023/24 Critical Reviews meta-analysis finding 2:1 or higher ratios maximise oxidation rates.

Sodium load (~200 mg/serving) is consistent with race-day sweat loss replacement recommendations.

Designed to pair with ~200–250 mL water per gel to achieve isotonic conditions in the stomach.

Gel viscosity (via xanthan gum) remains pumpable at temperatures above 10°C.

Formulation Warnings

Hypertonic when consumed without water — always instruct athletes to chase with 150–250 mL water.

Fructose content may cause GI distress in athletes with fructose malabsorption; tolerance should be tested in training.

No tested shelf-life data available; potassium sorbate at 0.1% provides baseline protection but commercial shelf-life requires validation.

Batch Production Notes

Batch production: dissolve sodium citrate and NaCl in water first, blend in maltodextrin and fructose, then add xanthan slurry. Citric acid and potassium sorbate added last. Fill into 40 g foil sachets.

Nutrition Targets
Carbs / serving30 g
Sodium200 mg
Potassium50 mg
Carb Ratio1:0.8 glucose:fructose
Target pH3.8–4.2
Osmolality~1200 mOsm/kg (hypertonic — designed to be consumed with water)
Cost Estimate
Per Serving
$0.117
Per batch (20 servings)$2.33

Based on indicative supplier pricing. Actual costs vary by order volume and supplier.

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Disclaimer

This formula is provided for educational and research purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the FDA or any regulatory authority. Always consult a registered dietitian or sports nutritionist before using any homemade supplement.