Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate, made by breaking down vegetable starch into shorter chains of glucose molecules. It is often used as an ingredient carrier and flow agent in foods and dietary supplements to help evenly disperse small amounts of other ingredients, such as flavors. It may also be used as a thickener, such as in beverages, sauces, and gravies.

In addition, some of our products contain another form of maltodextrin called resistant maltodextrin, or soluble corn fiber. Because resistant maltodextrin is not broken down by our digestive enzymes, it is not absorbed into the bloodstream, and it has a lower glycemic index than regular maltodextrin. Resistant maltodextrin passes relatively intact into the large intestine where your gut microorganisms reside, and it is classified as a fiber that “feeds” your beneficial gut microorganisms (prebiotic).

Dietary supplements in the U.S. are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, also referred to as DSHEA. Dietary supplements are defined as products intended to supplement the diet and contain one or more of the following dietary ingredients: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances such as enzymes and metabolites.

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, dietary supplements do not require pre-approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they can be sold. However, there are many regulations in DSHEA that apply to dietary supplements in the U.S. to ensure the product is safe and properly labeled. The FDA also requires dietary supplement manufacturers and distributors to follow current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), which ensure consistent quality of the products.

Unicity has a stringent quality program to ensure we meet and exceed all regulatory requirements set forth by the FDA and DSHEA. Furthermore, we have several products that have received third-party certifications such as NSF Certified for Sport, and manufacturing facilities with third-party certification for good manufacturing practices.

Experts agree that most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, while pregnant women should not consume more than 200 mg daily. (In general, a caffeinated soda contains about 30–40 mg of caffeine and a high-quality cup of coffee contains about 75–100 mg of caffeine.) However, each individual’s sensitivity to caffeine can vary greatly, and you may wish to adjust your consumption accordingly.

For adults, the general recommendation is to consume at least 0.36 g of protein per pound of body weight, per day. For example, a 150-pound individual would need 54 grams of protein per day. Individuals looking to add more muscle mass would most likely need more than that. Other factors at play include age, gender, activity level, body composition, and other health considerations such as pregnancy, lactation, and illness. When it comes to planning for very specific nutritional needs, it is best to consult with a registered dietician who can provide personalized guidance for your situation.