Cyborg Sport HBCD is an unflavoured carbohydrate powder made from 100% highly branched cyclic dextrin, produced from waxy corn starch. Each 15 g scoop gives 14.1 g of carbohydrate, 0.1 g of sugars and 234 kJ, and the 900 g pack holds 60 serves. It suits people who want to add carbohydrate to a training drink without changing the flavour. Shop Cyborg Sport HBCD 900g.
At a glance
| Detail | Cyborg Sport HBCD |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cyborg Sport (Essentials range) |
| Type | Carbohydrate powder, labelled as a formulated supplementary sports food |
| Serve size | 1 scoop (15 g) |
| Per serve | 14.1 g carbohydrate, 0.1 g sugars, 0.0 g protein, 0.0 g fat, 14 mg sodium, 234 kJ (56 Cal) |
| Per 100 g | 94 g carbohydrate, 1 g sugars, 1,556 kJ |
| Servings / sizes we list | 900 g pack, 60 serves |
| Flavours we list | Unflavoured (one variant) |
| Dietary notes | Single ingredient: highly branched cyclic dextrin produced from waxy corn starch |
What is in Cyborg Sport HBCD
Just one ingredient: highly branched cyclic dextrin, also called cyclic dextrin. It is a carbohydrate made from waxy corn starch. Cyborg Sport says it mixes clear with almost no taste, and that it delivers energy quickly and over time, with less of a spike in blood sugar than other simple carbs. Those are the brand's claims.
What does the research say? A 2021 brief review in the Journal of Exercise and Nutrition explains that HBCD is thought to empty from the stomach and be absorbed faster because of its high molecular weight and low osmolality, and it draws on both animal and human studies. One early human study, published in 2005 by researchers at the Japanese company Ezaki Glico, tested drinks in 10 healthy volunteers. A sports drink made with 10% HBCD and adjusted with minerals, vitamins and organic acids left the stomach faster than a plain 10% HBCD solution or a sports drink made with 10% ordinary dextrin.
That is a small study, so it is fair to treat HBCD as a convenient, easy-mixing carbohydrate rather than a proven upgrade on every other sports carb.
How much carbohydrate do you actually need during training? The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) sports drinks fact sheet gives these guidelines for carbohydrate during exercise:
- Under 45 minutes: not needed.
- 45 to 75 minutes of sustained high-intensity exercise: small amounts, including a mouth rinse.
- 1 to 2.5 hours of endurance exercise, including stop-and-start sports: 30 to 60 g per hour.
- More than 2.5 to 3 hours: up to 90 g per hour.
One 15 g scoop gives 14.1 g of carbohydrate, so it is a modest top-up rather than a full fuelling plan for long events. The AIS suggests practising your fuelling plan in training to find what suits your goals and gut comfort.
Who it suits
- Endurance athletes, team sport players and people doing long sessions who want extra carbohydrate in a drink.
- Anyone who wants an unflavoured carb to add to a pre-workout, intra-workout aminos or a protein shake.
- People who prefer a single-ingredient label. If you are building a routine, our build your stack tool can help.
Who should check first
- Children under 15 and pregnant women: the label says it is not suitable and should only be used under medical or dietetic supervision. FSANZ requires this warning on formulated supplementary sports foods.
- Diabetes or blood glucose concerns: each scoop is 14.1 g of carbohydrate, so talk to your doctor or dietitian about where it fits.
- Short sessions or managing energy intake: the AIS says carbohydrate is not needed during exercise under 45 minutes, and that overusing energy-dense drinks can make energy balance harder.
- Avoiding corn: it is made from waxy corn starch.
- Drug-tested athletes: the pack shows a "Safe for Sport" mark and says it is made in an NSF certified facility. These are Cyborg Sport's statements, so check the HASTA and Informed Sport databases and Sport Integrity Australia guidance yourself before use.
How to use Cyborg Sport HBCD
Cyborg Sport's label directions:
- Pre-workout: 15 g (1 scoop) in water or added to your pre-workout.
- Intra-workout: 15 g (1 scoop) in water or added to intra-workout aminos.
- Post-workout: 15 g (1 scoop) in water or added to a protein shake.
Store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, and expel the air and reseal tightly after opening. As a formulated supplementary sports food, it is not a sole source of nutrition and should be used with a nutritious diet and an appropriate training program.
For long sessions in the heat, plan fluid and electrolytes too. Our hot weather hydration guide covers the basics.
How it compares
- SiS GO Isotonic Energy Gels: a ready-to-use isotonic gel made from maltodextrin, so there is nothing to mix and no extra water needed.
- Pure Cream of Rice: a food-style carbohydrate made from rice that you mix with hot water or milk into a bowl, rather than a drink.
- Intrawar 3.0 by Primabolics: an intra-workout amino acid and electrolyte powder. The HBCD label suggests adding a scoop to intra-workout aminos, so the two can be mixed.
Where to buy Cyborg Sport HBCD in Melbourne and Australia
You can buy Cyborg Sport HBCD online at Supps247 with Australia-wide delivery (see shipping and returns), or order online and collect from one of 11 Supps247 stores that offer click and collect pickup. Supps247 has 18 stores, 17 in Victoria plus Richlands in Queensland. Find your nearest one with our store locator. Our staff are happy to help you compare labels side by side in store.
Supps247 members are also covered by our price match guarantee. Conditions apply.
HBCD cyclic dextrin review: our verdict
Cyborg Sport HBCD is a handy, no-fuss carb powder: one ingredient, almost no taste, and it mixes into water, aminos or a protein shake without changing the flavour. That makes it a good fit for endurance athletes and long-session lifters who build their own drinks. The honest trade-off is the research. The faster stomach-emptying claims rest on a small amount of evidence, so buy it for convenience rather than as a proven upgrade on other carbs. Each scoop is also only 14.1 g of carbohydrate, so long events need several scoops or other fuel, and for sessions under 45 minutes you do not need it at all.
FAQs
What is highly branched cyclic dextrin?
It is a carbohydrate made from waxy corn starch, also called cyclic dextrin. In Cyborg Sport HBCD it is the only ingredient, and 94 g of every 100 g is carbohydrate, with 1 g of sugars.
How many carbs are in a scoop of HBCD?
Each 15 g scoop has 14.1 g of carbohydrate, 0.1 g of sugars and 234 kJ. There are 60 scoops in the 900 g pack.
When should I take HBCD?
The label gives three options: 1 scoop before, during or after training, in water or mixed into another drink. The AIS says carbohydrate during exercise is not needed for sessions under 45 minutes, and suggests more carbohydrate as sessions get longer.
Does HBCD have a flavour?
No flavour is added. Cyborg Sport says it mixes clear with almost no taste, which makes it easy to add to a pre-workout, aminos or a protein shake.
Is HBCD suitable for teenagers?
The label says it is not suitable for children under 15 years of age or pregnant women, and should only be used under medical or dietetic supervision in these cases. Older teens should check with a sports dietitian about their fuelling needs.
Label details checked against the official Cyborg Sport product page on 19 October 2026. Formulas can change, so always read the label on the product you buy and follow the directions.
Sources: Cyborg Sport, HBCD Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin 900g product page and label; Wilburn, Machek and Ismaeel (2021), Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin and its Ergogenic Effects in Athletes: A Brief Review, Journal of Exercise and Nutrition; Takii et al. (2005), Fluids containing a highly branched cyclic dextrin influence the gastric emptying rate, International Journal of Sports Medicine (PubMed); Australian Institute of Sport, Group A supplements (sports drinks fact sheet); FSANZ, Sports foods; Sport Integrity Australia, Supplements in sport
