Posted by Team Tune
on July 04, 2026
Liquid I.V. is probably the most recognizable name in hydration. Their pitch is Cellular Transport Technology, or CTT: a specific ratio of sodium, glucose, and potassium based on oral rehydration science. And the science behind that ratio is real. It was developed to treat acute dehydration from illness in settings where every percentage point of water absorption mattered.
Here is the part that matters for your daily routine: that mechanism runs on sugar. Eleven grams of it per stick.
The labels, side by side
| Per serving | Tune Current | Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 0 g | 11 g |
| Sodium | 500 mg | 500 mg |
| Potassium | 330 mg | 370 mg |
| Magnesium | 220 mg, three forms | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 500 mg | ~73 mg |
| Vitamin D3 | 25 mcg | none |
| B vitamins | 6, methylated and bioactive forms | 4, synthetic forms |
| Trace minerals | 75+ | none |
| Antioxidants | VitAlign complex, 50 mg | none |
| Sweetener | stevia, monk fruit | cane sugar, dextrose, stevia |
Numbers from each brand's published label at time of writing. Check current labels, formulas change.
When sugar-driven hydration makes sense
Being fair: if you are acutely dehydrated from illness, or mid-race in hour three of an endurance event, glucose co-transport genuinely speeds water absorption. That is what oral rehydration solutions were invented for.
But most people are not drinking these products in a medical tent. They are drinking them at a desk, after a workout, or instead of a soda. In that context, 11 g of added sugar a day is 4 kg of sugar a year from your daily routine. The American Heart Association's suggested cap on added sugar is 25 g a day for women and 36 g for men. One stick spends a third to almost half of it.
The magnesium gap
Liquid I.V. contains no magnesium at all. Zero. For a product positioned as complete hydration, that is a striking omission, because magnesium sits inside more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including the ones that regulate fluid balance and muscle function. It is also the industry norm, as our audit of magnesium in 8 electrolyte mixes shows.
Tune Current delivers 220 mg per stick from magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium malate, and ionic magnesium from inland seawater concentrate. That is 52% of your daily value, built into a complete nutritional foundation: multi-mineral, multi-vitamin, hydration, and super antioxidant support in one glass.
B vitamins: form matters
Both products include B vitamins. The difference is the form. Liquid I.V. uses standard synthetic forms, including cyanocobalamin for B12. Current uses the bioactive and methylated versions: methylcobalamin for B12, 5-MTHF for folate, and P5P for B6. These are the forms your body can use without conversion steps, which matters for the meaningful share of people with MTHFR gene variants. It is part of a bigger design principle: nutrients chosen as a system, with the cofactors that help each other absorb and activate.
Who should pick which
Pick Liquid I.V. if: you need rapid rehydration during illness or ultra-endurance events and the sugar is a feature, not a bug.
Pick Tune Current if: you want a daily nutritional foundation, not just a hydration product: zero sugar, real magnesium, full vitamin, trace mineral, and antioxidant coverage with the cofactors to work well together.
FAQ
How much sugar is in Liquid I.V.?
11 g of added sugar per stick in the classic Hydration Multiplier. A sugar-free version exists with a different, allulose-based formula.
Does Liquid I.V. have magnesium?
No. The classic Hydration Multiplier contains no magnesium. Tune Current has 220 mg per stick.
Is Tune Current sweet?
Yes, lightly, from stevia and monk fruit extract. No sugar and no artificial sweeteners.
Keep exploring: see how 8 electrolyte powders compare, dig into the magnesium data, or make Tune Current your daily foundation.
Current is a dietary supplement. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
