Glucose and fructose are absorbed in the intestine via different transporters:
- Glucose is absorbed through the SGLT1 transporter (sodium-glucose co-transporter 1).
- Fructose is absorbed via the GLUT5 transporter.
By combining the two, you can increase total carbohydrate absorption capacity beyond what glucose alone can achieve. This is especially useful during prolonged exercise (>1 hour), where maximizing carbohydrate availability is critical.
