What Is Dextrose?

Dextrose is glucose. FDA rules for corn sugar at 21 CFR 184.1857 say it is commonly called D-glucose or dextrose, and is produced by the complete hydrolysis of corn starch with safe and suitable acids or enzymes, followed by refinement and crystallization. The FDA's standard of identity for dextrose monohydrate describes it as purified and crystallized D-glucose containing one molecule of water of crystallization with each molecule of D-glucose, and allows it to be named dextrose or for its food source, such as corn sugar.

FDA rules say the ingredients listed in part 184 have been reviewed by the agency and affirmed as generally recognized as safe for the purposes and conditions prescribed, and the corn sugar rule says it is used in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. On the Nutrition Facts label, the FDA says added sugars include sugars added during processing, such as sucrose or dextrose, but not naturally occurring sugars found in milk, fruits and vegetables.

Dextrose is also a medicine. The label for a 5 and 10 percent dextrose injection, posted on the National Library of Medicine's DailyMed, says it is indicated as a source of water and calories and may also be used as a diluent for reconstituting a powder or liquid drug product, and that each 100 mL of the 5 percent solution contains 5 grams of hydrous dextrose in water for injection, with a caloric value of 170 kcal per liter.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • Regulatory filingFDA rules at 21 CFR 184.1857 say corn sugar, commonly called D-glucose or dextrose, is produced by complete hydrolysis of corn starch followed by refinement and crystallization. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1857 (eCFR) ↗
  • Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 184.1857, corn sugar is used in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1857 (eCFR) ↗
  • Regulatory filingFDA rules at 21 CFR 184.1 say the direct food ingredients listed in part 184 have been reviewed by the FDA and affirmed as generally recognized as safe. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1 (eCFR) ↗
  • Regulatory filingThe FDA's standard of identity defines dextrose monohydrate as purified and crystallized D-glucose with one molecule of water of crystallization per molecule. US FDA, 21 CFR 168.111 (eCFR) ↗
  • Regulatory filing21 CFR 168.111 allows the food to be named dextrose monohydrate or dextrose, or for its food source, such as corn sugar. US FDA, 21 CFR 168.111 (eCFR) ↗
  • Government sourceThe FDA says added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label include sugars added during processing, such as sucrose or dextrose, but not natural sugars in milk, fruits and vegetables. US FDA ↗
  • Medical referenceA dextrose injection label on DailyMed says the 5 and 10 percent solutions are indicated as a source of water and calories and may be used as a diluent for drug products. Drug label on National Library of Medicine DailyMed ↗
  • Medical referenceThe DailyMed label says each 100 mL of 5 percent dextrose injection contains 5 grams of hydrous dextrose, with a caloric value of 170 kcal per liter. Drug label on National Library of Medicine DailyMed ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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