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Limited evidenceLongevity & antioxidants

Trehalose

A glucose disaccharide used as a food sugar and studied as an autophagy activator. One small trial improved small-vessel function in older adults and one found it a useful low-glycemic exercise fuel; the anti-aging case is still mostly mouse work.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

  • Microvascular function in middle-aged and older adults Limited evidence

    Thirty-two healthy adults aged 50–77 took 100 g/day of trehalose or an isocaloric maltose control for 12 weeks. Forearm blood flow responses improved by roughly 30% with trehalose, but only in the subgroup whose body weight stayed stable, and there was no effect on large-artery stiffness or on circulating markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.

  • Endurance fuel during prolonged exercise Limited evidence

    In a double-blind crossover trial, 13 male cyclists received trehalose (30 g/h), isomaltulose (30 g/h), maltodextrin (60 g/h) or water during 100 minutes of cycling followed by a 20-minute time trial. Only trehalose beat placebo for total work done; the other two carbohydrate sources did not differ from placebo. A single small crossover trial is thin ground for a fuelling recommendation.

  • The autophagy and anti-aging story Limited evidence

    Trehalose induces autophagy and reverses arterial aging in mice, which is why it appears in longevity stacks. In humans the only long-term data are the 12-week vascular trial above and a small number of recent orthopaedic and trauma trials; nothing tests aging outcomes.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseTrial doses vary enormously: 100 g/day in the vascular study, 30 g/hour as an exercise fuel. Retail powders are typically used at 5–15 g/day, a dose no trial has tested for a health outcome.
SafetyA widely used food sugar with a long record of safe consumption. It supplies 4 kcal/g and does raise blood glucose, though more slowly than glucose, so it is not a free sugar for people managing diabetes. Doses of tens of grams cause gas, bloating and osmotic diarrhoea. People with the rare trehalase deficiency react to small amounts. A proposed link between dietary trehalose and virulent Clostridioides difficile strains has been debated in the literature and remains unproven.

Scientific references

Where to buy

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