Tapioca
What the research shows
PrototypeNo concerns
none of the findings here link it to harm
2 health findings on this page, all in people · See the findings
What research says
Studies in people
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Benefit
Blood sugar control3
In people, a drink with tapioca resistant maltodextrin lowered insulin after meals and HbA1c over 12 weeks.
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Benefit
Blood sugar response4
In men, a modified tapioca starch raised blood sugar far less than regular tapioca starch.
How it’s made and used
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Low-fat cheese texture5
Adding tapioca maltodextrin to low-fat cheese may improve its texture and how well people accept it.
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 two findings in people. 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.
Products
The 6 most-scanned of 16,621 products on Open Food Facts that list tapioca.
- Protein Nut Bar Fruit & Chocolate Nature Valley · 160 g 4 additives
- Barrette Proteiche al Caramello Salato Nature Valley · 40 g 3 additives
- SNACK POPPÉ TOO GOOD · 85 g 2 additives
- Beef Flavour Yum Yum · 60 g 8 additives
- Crunchy Nut Bars with Peanuts & Chocolate Eat Natural · 3 x 45 g 1 additive
- Vitamin & Protein Bar Fulfil · 55 g 5 additives
References
- 1tapioca: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
- 2Tapioca. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
- 3Astina J, Saphyakhajorn W, Borompichaichartkul C, Sapwarobol S. Tapioca Resistant Maltodextrin as a Carbohydrate Source of Oral Nutrition Supplement (ONS) on Metabolic Indicators: A Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2022;14(5). doi:10.3390/nu14050916
- 4Tachibe M, Ohga H, Nishibata T, Ebihara K. Digestibility, fermentability, and energy value of highly cross-linked phosphate tapioca starch in men. J Food Sci. 2011;76(6):H152-5. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02247.x
- 5Iakovchenko NV, Arseneva TP. Tapioca maltodextrin in the production of soft unripened cheese. Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment. 2016;15(1):47-56. doi:10.17306/J.AFS.2016.1.5