Isomaltulose supports better sleep by stabilizing blood sugar overnight
Poor sleep quality is a global issue, with prevalence rates ranging from 10–30%, and in some cases even reaching 60% (Bhaskar et al. 2016). Insomnia has been linked to obesity, impaired metabolism, and cognitive decline. Nutrition plays a key role in supporting sleep – and a new clinical study highlights the benefits of isomaltulose as a bedtime carbohydrate.
In a randomized, controlled, cross-over study, 20 healthy young men consumed a drink containing either 50g of isomaltulose or glucose before bedtime. Their sleep patterns and blood glucose levels were closely monitored in a laboratory setting (Gaylor et al. 2025).
Key outcomes:
- More balanced blood glucose levels with isomaltulose, particularly during the first half of the night.
- Longer deep sleep phase, extended by an average of 22 minutes compared to glucose – if there was sufficient time to acclimatize to the study setup.
- Improved memory performance for neutral content the next morning.
Isomaltulose’s low-glycaemic, sustained energy release helps avoid nighttime glucose dips that can disrupt sleep. These findings suggest that choosing the right carbohydrate before bed may improve sleep and support overall wellbeing.
Isomaltulose supports more stable blood glucose levels during the night, which has been linked to reduced activation of neurons that trigger the release of awakening-related hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
References:
Bhaskar S, Hemavathy D, Prasad S. (2016) Prevalence of chronic insomnia in adult patients and its correlation with medical comorbidities. J Family Med Prim Care 5(4):780-784. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28348990/
Gaylor CM, Brennan A, Blagrove M, Tulip C, Bloxham A, Williams S, Benton D, Young HA (2024) Low and High Glycemic Index Drinks Differentially Affect Sleep Polysomnography and Memory Consolidation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutr Res 134:49-59. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39854800/