Contents
Xanthan gum is a dietary supplement that few people have heard the name of, but most people take with food several times a week.
Many people are concerned about its safety, given that it is found in many industrial foods, and may harm the digestive system.
But the FDA considers xanthan gum safe for consumption as a dietary supplement. What’s more, popularity as a dietary supplement, especially in gluten-free products, is on the rise. It may even have health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Characteristics of the food additive
Xanthan gum is a popular dietary supplement that is commonly added to food as a thickener or stabilizer.
It is created by the fermentation of sugar by bacteria such as Xanthomonas campestris. When sugar is fermented, it creates a viscous substance that becomes solid when alcohol is added. It is then dried and turned into a powder.
When xanthan gum is added to a liquid, it quickly disperses and forms a viscous and stable solution. Due to this property, it is considered a strong thickening, suspending and stabilizing agent for many products.
Xanthan gum was discovered by scientists in 1963 and has since been well researched and found to be safe. Approved as a dietary supplement and there is no limit to the amount of xanthan gum a food can contain.
Even though xanthan gum is made in a lab, it is a soluble fiber. Soluble fibers are carbohydrates that the human body cannot break down. Instead, they absorb water and turn into a gel-like substance in the digestive system, which slows down digestion. Therefore, the body is not able to digest and absorb xanthan gum, and it does not contain calories and nutrients, thus does not harm or benefit the human body, in normal concentrations.
Use in the food industry
Xanthan gum is often used in the preparation of gluten-free products because it provides the elasticity and fluffiness that gluten gives to traditional baked goods. Due to this property, it is widely used in this type of food industry. Most often found in such products:
- salad dressing;
- baking;
- fruit juices;
- soups;
- ice cream;
- sauces and gravies;
- syrups;
- gluten free products.
Xanthan gum can improve the texture, consistency, aroma, and extend the shelf life of many foods. Also useful is that it stabilizes food, helping some foods to withstand different temperatures and pH levels. In addition, in production, it prevents products from falling apart and allows them to smoothly flow out of their containers.
Use in personal care products
Xanthan gum is also found in many personal care products and cosmetics. The benefit is that it makes them firm but still easy to pour out of their containers. It also allows solids to be suspended in liquids. The following are some common products containing xanthan gum: toothpaste, creams, lotions, shampoo
Use in industry
Xanthan gum is used in many industrial products because of its ability to withstand varying temperatures and pH levels, adhere to surfaces and thicken liquids while maintaining good fluidity, which is especially important in the manufacture of paints, adhesives, etc. Industrial products containing xanthan gum: fungicides, herbicides and insecticides tiles, toilet bowls, paints, oil drilling fluids, wallpaper paste.
Effect on the human body
The health benefits of xanthan gum are that it can lower blood sugar by slowing digestion and affecting how quickly sugar can enter the bloodstream. Large doses of this dietary supplement may have some benefits, including lower cholesterol levels, increased satiety, and cancer-fighting properties. However, there is little evidence for these effects and more clinical studies are needed.
The harm of xanthan gum for most people can only be indigestion, which occurs with a single dose of large doses. Possible side effects of large doses: increased frequency of bowel movements, increased stool volume, soft stools, increased gas production.
Xanthan gum is found in many foods and is in great demand in the cosmetic industry, but it is used in such low concentrations that it does not have a big effect on the human body, it is also recognized as safe and is used in such countries: Russia, Canada, USA, Ukraine, China .