Does Dextrose Cause Inflammation? The Link Between this Sugar and Your Health

November 2, 2025 •

3 min read

Research indicates that diets high in added sugar are linked to chronic, low-grade inflammation. This raises the critical question for many concerned with their health: does dextrose cause inflammation, and what is its role in the body's inflammatory response?

Quick Summary

This article explores the relationship between dextrose consumption and inflammation. It details how the high glycemic index and metabolic pathways of dextrose can contribute to chronic inflammation, and offers insights into mitigating these effects through dietary choices.

Key Points

High Glycemic Index: Dextrose has a GI of 100, causing a rapid blood sugar spike that triggers inflammatory responses in the body.
Excessive Intake is Key: The issue lies with excessive and frequent dietary consumption of dextrose, which contrasts with its controlled medical application.
Multiple Inflammatory Pathways: Excess dextrose contributes to inflammation through the formation of AGEs, increased oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and an imbalance in the gut microbiome.
Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation: Injected dextrose for prolotherapy causes a beneficial, localized acute inflammation, while excessive dietary intake promotes harmful chronic, systemic inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet is a Defense: Mitigating sugar's inflammatory effects requires a diet rich in whole foods, fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants, while limiting added sugars and processed carbohydrates.
Read Labels and Be Mindful: Awareness of dextrose as an added sugar in processed foods is crucial for controlling intake and supporting a less inflammatory lifestyle.

What is Dextrose?

Dextrose is a simple sugar chemically identical to glucose, the body's primary energy source. Due to its high purity and rapid absorption, it is used medically to quickly raise blood sugar in cases of hypoglycemia and is an ingredient in many processed foods and drinks, especially for athletes.

A key feature of dextrose is its glycemic index (GI) of 100. This means it rapidly raises blood sugar, a significant factor in promoting inflammation when consumed excessively. This rapid effect differs from the slower energy release from complex carbohydrates.

The Mechanisms Linking Dextrose to Inflammation

High consumption of dextrose can trigger several mechanisms that contribute to inflammation, particularly when it occurs consistently. These include:

Hyperglycemia and Oxidative Stress: Rapid blood sugar spikes from high dextrose intake increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative stress and triggering pro-inflammatory pathways.
Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs): Excess sugar forms AGEs with proteins or fats, contributing to oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage.
Insulin Resistance: Consistent high-sugar intake can lead to insulin resistance, creating a cycle of high blood sugar and inflammation.
Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis: High-sugar diets can unbalance gut bacteria, promoting pro-inflammatory species and potentially increasing intestinal permeability.
Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Release: Excessive sugar can trigger the release of inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-α, central to the inflammatory response and potentially worsening chronic conditions.

Dextrose in Medical Contexts

It is important to differentiate between dietary dextrose and its medical use. Dextrose prolotherapy involves injecting a concentrated dextrose solution into joints or ligaments to create localized inflammation. This acute response is intended to stimulate healing, unlike the chronic, systemic inflammation from excessive dietary sugar.

Dextrose vs. Other Sugars: Inflammatory Potential

Different sugars have varying impacts on inflammation:


Sugar Type	Glycemic Index (GI)	Primary Metabolism	Inflammatory Potential (Excess Intake)
Dextrose (Glucose)	100 (Reference)	Readily absorbed into the bloodstream; metabolized by all cells for energy.	High. Causes rapid blood sugar spikes, increasing oxidative stress, AGEs, and cytokine release.
Sucrose (Table Sugar)	~65	Composed of 50% glucose and 50% fructose; glucose absorbed quickly, fructose is processed by the liver.	Moderate to High. Contains glucose, which raises blood sugar, and fructose, which is linked to fatty liver disease.
Fructose	~15-25	Primarily metabolized by the liver, with a lower immediate impact on blood glucose levels.	Variable. While low GI, excessive intake is linked to fatty liver disease and metabolic issues that can promote inflammation.

Practical Strategies to Counteract Sugar-Induced Inflammation

To reduce inflammation from dextrose and other added sugars, adopt an anti-inflammatory diet:

Prioritize Whole Foods: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Their fiber slows sugar absorption and stabilizes blood sugar.
Increase Omega-3 Intake: Eat fatty fish, nuts, and seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties.
Use Anti-Inflammatory Spices: Add turmeric, ginger, and garlic to meals. Curcumin and gingerols are known for anti-inflammatory effects.
Read Labels: Identify hidden added sugars like dextrose, sucrose, and high-fructose corn syrup.
Stay Active: Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and reduces inflammatory markers.
Manage Stress and Sleep: Chronic stress and lack of sleep contribute to inflammation. Prioritize stress management and adequate rest.

Conclusion

While medically useful for quick glucose delivery, excessive dietary dextrose significantly contributes to chronic inflammation. Its high GI causes rapid blood sugar spikes, leading to oxidative stress, AGEs, and metabolic issues. Reducing added sugars, especially high-GI options like dextrose, and focusing on a whole-foods-based, anti-inflammatory diet rich in fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3s can mitigate these risks and support health.

For more information on diet and inflammation, resources from institutions like the National Institutes of Health are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, dextrose is chemically identical to glucose. It is a simple sugar, or monosaccharide, that the body uses as its primary source of energy.

With a glycemic index (GI) of 100, dextrose causes a very rapid and significant spike in blood sugar levels. This hyperglycemia triggers oxidative stress and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to inflammation.

Excessive intake of dextrose can contribute to weight gain, and higher body fat is associated with increased inflammation. Fat tissue, particularly visceral fat, can secrete inflammatory compounds, linking obesity to chronic inflammation.

No. Dextrose, being pure glucose with a GI of 100, is one of the most potent at causing blood sugar spikes and related inflammation. Other sugars like fructose and sucrose have different metabolic pathways and inflammatory impacts, though excessive intake of any added sugar is generally pro-inflammatory.

Dietary dextrose promotes systemic inflammation when consumed in excess. In contrast, dextrose injections used in prolotherapy are a controlled medical procedure designed to intentionally cause a localized, acute inflammatory response to stimulate healing.

To reduce sugar-induced inflammation, prioritize a diet high in whole foods, fiber, and healthy fats while reducing added sugars and refined carbohydrates. Increasing physical activity, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep are also effective.

Sugar naturally present in whole foods, like fruit, is not linked to inflammation. The fiber and other nutrients in fruit slow down sugar absorption, preventing the rapid blood sugar spikes associated with added sugars like dextrose.

Athletes use dextrose for rapid energy replenishment during and after intense exercise. For them, the timing of intake is crucial and differs from general dietary consumption, but moderation is still important to avoid negative effects.