Vitargo S2 Natural Tropical Fruit Flavor Review

Vitargo S2 Natural Tropical Fruit Flavor is a powdered carbohydrate fuel and recovery supplement made by Genr8. Its main ingredient is Vitargo, a patented, high-molecular-weight carbohydrate. It is sold in tubs of about 25 servings, and a serving is roughly 70 g of carbohydrate (about 280 calories). It is aimed at endurance and strength athletes who want to refuel quickly and replenish muscle glycogen after hard training. This flavor is naturally flavored and sweetened. The unflavored version has no sweetness. The carbohydrate is a starch-derived, branched-chain glucose polymer with a very high molecular weight, in the hundreds of thousands of daltons. The mechanism rests on its osmolality. Simple sugars such as dextrose or maltodextrin dissolve into many small particles, which pull water into the gut and slow the stomach from emptying. Vitargo's large molecules produce very few dissolved particles, so the drink has low osmolality. The stomach empties it faster, which the manufacturer describes as more than twice as fast as ordinary sugars. This also tends to cause less bloating and gastric heaviness. Once the carbohydrate reaches the small intestine, it is broken down to glucose and absorbed. The brand says this delivers fuel to muscle and the rest of the body more than twice as fast, within about 10 minutes after exhaustive exercise. The glucose raises blood glucose and insulin. Insulin promotes GLUT4 translocation in muscle cells and activates glycogen synthase, so glucose is stored as glycogen. The manufacturer cites university research reporting glycogen resynthesis up to 168% higher than with a comparison carbohydrate. Independent studies have been less consistent, so treat the strongest claims with some caution. The marketing is the source of the figures above. In practice, people mix it with water and take it before, during or after exercise. It contains only carbohydrate, so it pairs with protein or amino acid supplements. Reviewers note that mixing it with protein powder may affect how it feels. Because it supplies concentrated carbohydrate, it suits people with high training volumes and short recovery windows, such as multiple sessions in a day. It is less suited to sedentary people or anyone restricting carbohydrate.