How polydextrose is broken down in the large intestine
What it found
Polydextrose is slowly fermented by gut bacteria in the large intestine, producing moderate amounts of gas and short chain fatty acids.
It changes the mix of gut bacteria and has been shown to affect appetite and gut function in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Appetite and gut function
In people, polydextrose has been shown to affect appetite and feelings of fullness. It also improves how the gut works.
Studies in people and animals
Slow fermentation by gut bacteria
Many different types of gut bacteria are needed to break polydextrose down, so the process happens slowly. This gradual breakdown produces moderate amounts of gas and short chain fatty acids.
Reaching the far colon
The production of these breakdown products continues into the far end of the colon. That part of the gut usually runs out of fermentable material.
Gut bacteria changes
Breaking down polydextrose changes the mix of bacteria living in the colon.
Other findings
Structure and digestion
Polydextrose is made of glucose units joined in a highly branched, complex pattern. Because of this shape, it resists digestion in the upper gut.
What the authors conclude
- They set out to bring together lab, animal and human research on how polydextrose is fermented in the large intestine.
- Their summary shows that its complex structure leads to slow fermentation that reaches the far end of the colon.
How it was done
Polydextrose passes through the upper gut without being digested and reaches the large intestine. Scientists wanted to gather what is known about how it is broken down there and what that does.
The authors gathered and summarised lab tests, animal studies and human research on how polydextrose is fermented in the large intestine. The summary does not state how many studies were included or how long they lasted.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Because this work gathers many different studies, it cannot measure the exact size of the effects in people on its own.
- Lab and animal findings on gut bacteria may not match exactly what happens in the human gut.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- 20014 University of Turku, Finland
The paper
- Title
- The fermentation of polydextrose in the large intestine and its beneficial effects
- 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
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Röytiö H, Ouwehand AC (2014). The fermentation of polydextrose in the large intestine and its beneficial effects. Beneficial microbes. doi:10.3920/BM2013.0065PubMed 24736314DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error