Xanthan gum

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after eating³

  In people, xanthan gum in a liquid meal kept blood sugar lower 20 minutes after eating.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar in diabetes⁴

  In diabetic people, xanthan gum in muffins lowered fasting and after-meal blood sugar and fasting cholesterol.

• Concern

  Swallowing and throat leftovers⁶

  In people with moderate-to-severe swallowing trouble, xanthan gum thickener left more food stuck in the throat than a gelling agent.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Nutrient absorption from food¹⁰

  In lab studies, xanthan gum helped a carrot nutrient stay stable in food and be better absorbed.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Food thickening uses⁷

  Xanthan gum thickens and stabilizes many foods, especially plant-based ones, but scientists still study its challenges and opportunities.

• Open question

  Gut bacteria and digestion⁸

  Xanthan gum can feed certain gut bacteria, and scientists are still learning what that means for people.

• Open question

  Swallowing difficulty⁹

  Xanthan gum thickens drinks for people with swallowing trouble, but the thickness may not match what doctors recommend.

How it’s made and used

• Cake texture after baking⁵

  Xanthan gum made gluten-free fava bean cakes firmer after cooking, though tasters still liked them.

• Fat digestion¹¹

  In lab studies, xanthan gum with whey protein slowed how fast fat was broken down during digestion.

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.

Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.

• UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2016

  No daily limit needed (“ADI not specified”, JECFA’s term for very low toxicity).