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Xanthan gum

What is xanthan gum?

Xanthan gum is a substance that is used in the manufacture of some foods and medicines. Xanthan gum has different effects in these products: it can thicken, it can prevent changes in texture and it can hold ingredients in place. Xanthan g um is found in many types of medicines. These include tablets that dissolve slowly in the body and liquid drops for the eyes. Xanthan gum is produced by fermenting a carbohydrate with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.

What is xanthan gum used for?

Scientific research into the health effects of xanthan gum is limited. Xanthan gum is used for a variety of purposes, including attempts to treat the following conditions:

  • Constipation: as part of a study, the authors of the study administered xanthan gum to 18 volunteers for 10 days. The volunteers consumed 15 grams of this ingredient daily. The results of the study showed that xanthan gum was a highly effective laxative.
  • Diabetes: In a study, nine subjects suffering from diabetes and 4 healthy subjects ate muffins containing 12 grams of xanthan gum daily for 6 weeks. The xanthan gum was associated with lower blood sugar levels and lower total cholesterol levels in diabetics.
  • Celiac disease: People who suffer from this condition must avoid a protein called gluten. This protein is found in many cereals including wheat, barley and rye and therefore also in many baked goods and pasta. Gluten makes dough stretchy and gives baked goods an airy texture. When making baked goods, some people who need to avoid gluten mix xanthan gum with gluten-free flour to achieve the same effects.
  • Swallowing problems: Some people who suffer from swallowing problems mix a product called SimplyThick, which contains xanthan gum, into foods and drinks to make them easier to swallow.

Can xanthan gum be taken naturally with food?

No. Xanthan g um is a food additive that is a common ingredient in processed foods. Xanthan gum is available in some supermarkets and online as a baking ingredient or food additive.

Risks and side effects

Side effects

Xanthan gum rarely appears to cause side effects. In a study in which healthy men consumed between 10 and 13 grams of xanthan gum per day, no side effects were observed. However, xanthan gum can cause flatulence in some people.

Risks

Products containing xanthan gum should not be given to premature infants as they have been associated with a serious digestive problem called necrotizing enteropathy in premature infants.

References

  1. Thacker, A. AAPS PharmSciTech, December 2010; vol 11: pp 1619-1626.
  2. Center for Science in the Public Interest: "Chemical cuisine - learn about food additives."
  3. Daly, J. British Journal of Nutrition, May 1993; vol 69: pp. 897-902.
  4. Osilesi, O. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October 1985; vol 42: pp 597-603.

Colorado State University Extension: "Gluten-free baking."

Woods, C. Journal of Perinatology, February 2012; vol 32: pp 150-152.

SimplyThick web site.

Eastwood, M. Food Additives and Contaminants, January-March 1987; vol 4: pp 17-26.

News release, FDA, May 20, 2011.