Several possible studies
Story checked
There's a Gel for Every Runner. Use These Strategies to Narrow Down the Choices for You (opens in a new tab)
menshealth.com · 2026-09-22
Short answer
Several possible studiesNo clear answer.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.
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The story
There's a Gel for Every Runner. Use These Strategies to Narrow Down the Choices for You
menshealth.com · 2026-09-22
The story’s checkable claims.
Read the original story (opens in a new tab)NewsLink checks it
Several studies could be the source of this story.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
Open claim evidenceSearch result
Several studies could fit.
More than one paper fits the article's details, and none fits well enough to single out. Checking claims against the wrong study would be worse than not checking them at all.
Evidence layer
Claim by claim
What the story asserts. With no source study, there is nothing to check these against.
Reading mode
Scan verdicts. Open evidence only when needed.
Claim 1 of 7Not checkedWhat goes down fine at mile 3 can feel very different at mile 18, so runners should practice race-day fueling before the marathon.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 2 of 7Not checkedGel choice is highly individual, and having more options can make it easier to find a product that helps performance without causing stomach trouble.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 3 of 7Not checkedDifferent gels use different sugar mixes, and the article presents mixed carbohydrate formulas as less likely to cause gastrointestinal problems.View evidenceHide evidence
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 4 of 7Not checkedUCAN uses a low-glycemic 'super starch' carbohydrate and is described as providing long-lasting fuel.View evidenceHide evidence
As statedlong time
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 5 of 7Not checkedHuma gels contain chia seeds, which the article says can help avoid sugar spikes and provide a steady release of energy, though they add about a gram of fiber per packet.View evidenceHide evidence
As statedabout a gram per packet
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 6 of 7Not checkedMaurten gels use hydrogel technology that is described as helping carbohydrates pass through the stomach into the intestines more easily, with less gut trouble.View evidenceHide evidence
As statedless gut trouble
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Claim 7 of 7Not checkedThe article says price matters, with many gels costing about $3 to $4 each, and suggests that buying single packets from TheFeed.com can lower the cost of testing different brands.View evidenceHide evidence
As stated$3 to $4 range
Not checked
NewsLink could not identify one source study, so this claim was not compared against a paper.
Method layer
No single source study was found.
NewsLink still surfaces nearby research so you can inspect the field instead of a single paper.
Nearby research
No exact source, but these papers are close.
PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref · 15 candidate papers
The Effect of a Repetitive Feeding Challenge With Carbohydrate Versus Fat on Markers of Gastrointestinal Integrity and Systemic Outcomes in Response to Endurance Exercise.
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · 2026 · PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref
Carbohydrate Hydrogel Beverage Does Not Improve Gastrointestinal Symptoms Or Running Performance Versus Conventional Carbohydrate Beverages
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2022 · Crossref
Repetitive Feeding-Challenge With Different Nutritional Densities on Markers of Gastrointestinal Function, Substrate Oxidation, and Endurance Exercise Performance.
International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · 2025 · PubMed
The Gastrointestinal Symptoms of Running
New England Journal of Medicine · 1981 · Crossref
Case Report: Stage-by-stage fueling, glucose dynamics, and next-day metabolism and biomarker responses after baseline testing in an 18.5-hour Swedish classic tetrathlon.
2026 · Europe PMC
And 10 more candidates considered.