Guar Gum
Research reviewed: 1985–2016
Guar Gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba gum) is a dietary supplement with 8 published peer-reviewed studies involving 680 participants, researched for Blood Glucose Control, Cholesterol Management, IBS & Gut Health and 1 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Blood Glucose Control
ModerateCholesterol Management
ModerateIBS & Gut Health
StrongSatiety & Weight Management
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Blood Glucose Control
Evaluate guar gum on postprandial glycaemia in type 2 diabetes
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Evaluate guar gum on postprandial glycaemia in type 2 diabetes
Dose
15 g/day divided with meals
Participants
48
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Significant reduction in postprandial glucose peak (−30%) and AUC; fasting glucose reduced by 12%
How They Measured It
Postprandial glucose curve, insulin response
Summarise guar gum effects on glycaemia across RCTs
Study Type
Meta-Analysis
Purpose
Summarise guar gum effects on glycaemia across RCTs
Dose
5–30 g/day
Participants
180
Duration
4–12 weeks
Results
Fasting glucose reduced by mean 1.2 mmol/L; HbA1c improved; greatest effects in poorly controlled diabetes
How They Measured It
Pooled fasting glucose and HbA1c from diabetic populations
Cholesterol Management
Assess guar gum on blood lipids in hypercholesterolaemia
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Assess guar gum on blood lipids in hypercholesterolaemia
Dose
15 g/day
Participants
56
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Total cholesterol reduced by 13%; LDL reduced by 14%; HDL unchanged; bile acid binding mechanism confirmed
How They Measured It
Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides
IBS & Gut Health
Evaluate partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG) for IBS symptoms
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Evaluate partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG) for IBS symptoms
Dose
5 g/day PHGG
Participants
68
Duration
12 weeks
Results
IBS-SSS significantly reduced vs placebo; stool consistency normalised; bloating and pain improved; well-tolerated
How They Measured It
IBS-SSS, stool consistency, frequency, bloating
Test PHGG for IBS-C (constipation predominant IBS)
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Test PHGG for IBS-C (constipation predominant IBS)
Dose
5 g/day
Participants
88
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Significant improvement in stool frequency and consistency; quality of life scores improved; minimal side effects
How They Measured It
Stool frequency, Bristol Stool Scale, quality of life
Assess PHGG effect on gut microbiome composition
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Assess PHGG effect on gut microbiome composition
Dose
5 g/day
Participants
45
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Increased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus; elevated butyrate production; consistent with prebiotic effect
How They Measured It
16S rRNA gut microbiome sequencing, SCFA production
Satiety & Weight Management
Evaluate guar gum on appetite and food intake in overweight adults
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Evaluate guar gum on appetite and food intake in overweight adults
Dose
10 g/day
Participants
60
Duration
8 weeks
Results
Appetite significantly reduced; spontaneous energy intake decreased by ~200 kcal/day; modest weight loss (−1.2 kg)
How They Measured It
Ad libitum food intake, appetite VAS, body weight
Test guar gum for weight loss in obese adults
Study Type
Randomised Controlled Trial
Purpose
Test guar gum for weight loss in obese adults
Dose
20 g/day
Participants
135
Duration
24 weeks
Results
Guar gum group lost −5.5 kg vs −3.2 kg placebo; BMI reduced significantly; high dose GI tolerance issues in some
How They Measured It
Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Guar Gum research
There are currently 8 peer-reviewed studies on Guar Gum (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba gum), involving 680 total participants. Research covers Blood Glucose Control, Cholesterol Management, IBS Relief and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (8 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Guar Gum has been researched for: Blood Glucose Control, Cholesterol Management, IBS Relief, Satiety. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 8 out of 8 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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