Acacia gum and heart risk factors in adults
What it found
In adults with or at risk of metabolic syndrome, taking 20 g of Acacia gum daily for 12 weeks lowered blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and calorie and carbohydrate intake, and improved bloating and bowel movements.
It did not change body weight, BMI, or blood fats.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood pressure
After 12 weeks, the gum group had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The placebo group showed no change.
Blood sugar
Fasting blood sugar dropped in the gum group, but there was no difference between the gum and placebo groups at the end. HbA1c did not change in either group.
Body weight and fat
There were no changes in BMI, waist circumference, or body fat in either group. Fat-free body mass decreased in the gum group.
Diet and appetite
The gum group ate less carbohydrate and fewer calories, and ate more fiber. They also felt less hungry an hour after taking the gum compared with the placebo group.
Bloating and bowel movements
The gum group reported less bloating and better bowel movements than the placebo group. There were no big differences in abdominal pain, digestion, or nausea.
Blood fats
There were no changes in cholesterol or triglycerides in either group.
What the authors conclude
“Daily ingestion of 20 g of GA-AS for 12 weeks was shown to improve satiety and significantly reduce energy and carbohydrate intakes.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that daily Acacia gum improved satiety, reduced energy and carbohydrate intake, and improved blood pressure, blood sugar, and bowel movements.
- They conclude that Acacia gum could be a useful addition to managing metabolic syndrome and may help lower the global burden of noncommunicable diseases.
- They call for larger, long-term trials to confirm its effects and find the best dose.
How it was done
Metabolic syndrome raises the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and new ways to help manage it are needed. The authors wanted to see whether Acacia gum could improve key risk factors in people with or at risk of the condition.
They randomly assigned 80 adults aged 18 to 50 to take either 20 g of Acacia gum or a placebo (1 g pectin) daily for 12 weeks. Of these, 61 finished the study (31 in the gum group, 30 in the placebo group); 19 dropped out because they did not stick to the treatment.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a 12-week study, so it cannot show what happens over a longer period.
- The study cannot show whether Acacia gum prevents heart disease or diabetes, only that it changed some risk factors.
- Because 19 people dropped out, the results may not reflect what would happen if everyone had completed the study.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- United Arab Emirates University, UAE; Victoria University, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Australia
The paper
- Title
- The Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adults at Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Jarrar AH, Stojanovska L, Apostolopoulos V, et al (2021). The Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adults at Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu13010194Free full textPubMed 33435475DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error