Maltodextrin

Studies in people

• Concern

  Gut bacteria changes²

  In studies of people, maltodextrin often changed gut bacteria and immune markers, so scientists question whether it truly works as a placebo.

• Open question

  Bowel movements³

  Resistant maltodextrin, a fiber, made stool volume and frequency go up in people who took it.

• Benefit

  Gut bacteria balance⁷

  In people, maltodextrin used as a placebo helped gut bifidobacteria grow, so it may act like a prebiotic.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar control⁸

  In 17 healthy adults, a drink with 30% tapioca resistant maltodextrin lowered insulin after meals.

• Benefit

  Post-run inflammation⁹

  In runners, maltodextrin-fructose taken around a hard run lowered signs of inflammation afterward.

• No harm found

  Tooth decay¹⁰

  In people, maltodextrin mixed with sugar did not change how much the sugar caused tooth decay.

• Benefit

  Appetite and fullness¹¹

  In men, a soup with maltodextrin before lunch left them less hungry and they ate less.

• No harm found

  Newborn feeding¹³

  Newborns given maltodextrin when breast milk ran short did as well as those given formula.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Gut inflammation¹⁵

  In lab studies, maltodextrin weakened cells' ability to fight bacteria and their gut defenses.

• Benefit

  Colon cancer growth¹⁶

  In lab and animal studies, maltodextrin (Fibersol-2) slowed colon cancer cell growth, but it is not known if this happens in people.

• Concern

  Gut inflammation in mice¹⁷

  In mice, maltodextrin made colitis worse and cut the mucus that protects the gut lining.

• Open question

  Diarrhea germ toxin growth¹⁸

  In baby formula containing maltodextrin, a germ that causes diarrhea grew and made toxin.

How it’s made and used

• Muscle fuel during exercise⁴

  In people, taking maltodextrin before leg press exercise did not improve how many reps they could do.

• Stomach emptying in labour⁵

  In labouring women, maltodextrin left the stomach faster than coffee with milk or orange juice.

• Fiber and fish oil effects⁶

  In older adults, maltodextrin plus corn oil differed from fish oil plus fiber in gut bacteria and cell pathways.

• Endurance during recovery¹²

  In athletes, taking maltodextrin with fructose during recovery let them run longer afterward than maltodextrin with glucose.

• Cheese texture and taste¹⁴

  Adding maltodextrin to low-fat soft cheese made it creamier and smoother, though too much gave a starchy taste.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.