What is guar gum and how does it affect IBS?
You may have heard of or be taking guar gum as a supplement to help manage IBS symptoms. You may also be wondering what on earth is guar gum!?
What is guar gum?
Guar gum is a type of fibre derived from guar beans, which are a type of legume. It is commonly used as a food additive due to its ability to act as a thickening agent and emulsifier. Foods that commonly contain guar gum include yoghurt, gluten-free baked goods, gravies, sauces and ice cream. Additionally, it can be found as an additive in non-food products such as cosmetics and medications.
Recently, guar gum has been gaining more attention for its use as a supplement in managing IBS symptoms, especially for constipation-predominant IBS.
Guar gum and IBS management
Given guar gum is a type of fibre, it isn’t surprising that it has a role in digestive health. Research has found Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum (PHGG) may support good digestive health and manage IBS symptoms such as diarrhoea, bloating and particularly constipation. For many individuals use of PHGG also resulted in less reliance on laxatives.
PHGG may also have prebiotic properties via promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, specifically bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. One limitation of a low fodmap diet is the restriction of prebiotics, so PHGG may have the potential to help counteract this limitation.
Managing constipation
PHGG is just one strategy that may assist in managing constipation. There are a lot of considerations that come into play when managing constipation.
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Reviewed by the healthylife Advisory Board March 2022
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health you should consult with a health professional.