Xanthan Gum For Fat Loss?

Let us have a closer look at what Xanthan gum is and how, if indeed it does, cause fat-loss.

What is Xanthan gum?

Xanthan gum is produced as a result of the fermentation of corn sugar. Xanthomonas campestris bacteria are held to be responsible for this fermentation. It may also be produced from other sources like wheat and soy.

The sticky, slimy chemical so produced is collected, made to dry and then converted into a fine, white powder to be included into a variety of food products – salad dressings, sauces and ice creams amongst others.

Possible mechanism of action of Xanthan gum to cause fat-loss

Xanthan is a complex carbohydrate – an indigestible fiber, to be precise. One teaspoonful of xanthan gum should ideally contain 7gm of fiber. As we all know, consumption of increased amount of fiber is likely to inhibit the absorption of fat present in ingested food.

Furthermore, presence of xanthan if food allegedly reduces the amount of oil that is absorbed into food during cooking processes, especially frying (Sakhale, Badgujar, Pawar, & Sananse, 2011). Also, the more the amount of xanthan gum in the food products, more likely is the retention of moisture, keeping the food item fresh, Furthermore, the study quoted above also reported that addition of xanthan gum increases the eventual taste and flavour of the dish (Sakhale et al., 2011).

Also, xanthan gum – which forms a part of the group called hydrocolloids – is added to food products to increase shelf-life (Saha & Bhattacharya, 2010). This is so because it is an emulsifier and thickener. For instance, xanthan in ice-cream prevents formation of ice crystal and keeps the product nice and smooth.

Having mentioned the above benefits, it cannot be denied that there isn’t much evidence to the ‘health benefits’ or ‘fat-burning’ abilities of xanthan gum.

Other uses of Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum is used in sustained release capsules. This is so because it xanthan is a non-gelling gum and been shown to retard the release of the drug contained within the capsule (Verhoeven, Vervaet, & Remon, 2006; Mughal, Iqbal, & Neau, 2011; Varshosaz, Tavakoli, & Kheirolahi, 2006).

How safe are Xanthan-containing Products?

Although xanthan is considered quite safe for consumption, those with gluten-sensitivity are recommended to observe caution when using food products with xanthan gum in them. The good thing is that if you are in the habit of cooking your own food, there’s a very slim chance of you adding xanthan to your dishes. The only time that you’ve got to be careful is when you are at the grocer’s; it always makes sense to read the food label for presence of xanthan gum.

For those, without any gluten or other food allergies, xanthan should be safe enough for consumption.

Our Verdict on Xanthan Gum for Fat Loss

Although, the health benefits of xanthan gum sound good in theory, there isn’t much evidence that xanthan gum indeed improves heath parameters or causes fat-loss. Under such circumstances, Diet Pills Watchdog finds it pretty difficult to recommend xanthan gum for such purpose

About the author: Rachel Butler

Rachel has been with us since we launched back in 2012.

Rachel has reviewed countless products over the years, and has written many articles offering sound advice. Her professional opinions are widely respected.

Rachel graduated a BSc in Clinical Science from the University of Leicester, U.K.

She lives in York with her husband and young daughter and their dog, a little terrier named Betsy.