Wheat dextrin as a soluble fiber and its health effects
What it found
Wheat dextrin is a soluble fiber that feeds gut bacteria and may help with bowel regularity, blood sugar and cholesterol.
The evidence comes from lab tests, animal studies and some studies in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Bowel regularity
In healthy men, 100 g/day of wheat dextrin increased wet fecal output by 45% and dry fecal output by 70%. Other soluble fibers like inulin and psyllium also helped with constipation.
Animal and lab studies
Fermentation in lab tests
In lab tests, wheat dextrin fermented slowly over 24 hours and produced more total short-chain fatty acids, propionate and butyrate than partially hydrolysed guar gum. Slow fermentation may mean less gas.
Gut bacteria
Wheat dextrin led to a lower colonic pH, more beneficial lactobacilli and fewer harmful Clostridium perfringens. It also increased fecal glucosidase concentrations.
Studies in people and animals
Mineral absorption
In healthy men given 100 g/day of wheat dextrin, magnesium absorption rose significantly and calcium absorption tended to rise. Animal studies found similar effects for other soluble fibers.
Blood sugar and cholesterol
Wheat dextrin had a low glycemic index and insulin response compared with dextrose. Resistant dextrins lowered blood glucose and insulin in rats and in people with type 2 diabetes. Wheat dextrin's cholesterol-lowering effect was shown in animal trials.
Other findings
How it is made
Wheat dextrin is made by heating wheat starch at high temperature, then treating it with an enzyme. It dissolves in water and is slowly fermented in the large intestine.
What the authors conclude
“Wheat dextrin is one example of a soluble fiber supplement that has been shown to help normalize bowel function and is well tolerated, even at large intakes.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that soluble fermentable fibers, including wheat dextrin, have positive effects that may improve bowel regularity and bring some health benefits.
- They say that daily fiber supplementation could be beneficial for people who are at risk of not getting enough fiber from their diet.
- They state that wheat dextrin is well tolerated even at large intakes and should be useful for people who need to reach recommended daily fiber levels.
How it was done
Fiber is widely recognized as beneficial, but most people do not eat enough. The authors wanted to see whether adding soluble fibers like wheat dextrin to the diet brings health benefits.
The authors searched PubMed up to July 2007 for studies on wheat dextrin and soluble fiber. They selected studies that looked at the body or clinical effects of soluble fibers. They did not do a quantitative analysis.
What it can’t tell you
- This is a review, not a single study. It cannot prove that wheat dextrin causes any health benefit.
- Many of the findings come from lab tests or animal studies, which cannot show what happens in people.
- The review was not systematic, so it may have missed some studies.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Minnesota, USA
The paper
- Title
- A review of the role of soluble fiber in health with specific reference to wheat dextrin
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Slavin JL, Savarino V, Paredes-Diaz A, Fotopoulos G (2009). A review of the role of soluble fiber in health with specific reference to wheat dextrin. The Journal of international medical research. doi:10.1177/147323000903700101Free full textPubMed 19215668DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error