Acacia gum effects on weight and blood sugar in adults
What it found
In 476 adults across six trials, acacia gum lowered body weight, BMI, and fasting blood sugar compared with a placebo.
The drop in blood sugar varied widely between studies.
What they found
Studies in people
Weight and BMI
People taking acacia gum lost about 1 unit more in weight than those on placebo. Their BMI also dropped slightly more than the placebo group.
Fasting blood sugar
Fasting blood sugar fell by an average of 29.76 units more with acacia gum than with placebo. However, this result varied a lot between the different trials.
Healthy versus non-healthy adults
When researchers looked only at healthy participants, acacia gum still led to a meaningful drop in weight compared with placebo.
What the authors conclude
- They say acacia gum showed some ability to lower weight, BMI, and blood sugar in adults.
- They suggest it could be a useful dietary addition for managing weight and heart risk factors.
- The authors advise treating these results with caution because there were few trials, short follow-up times, and wide variation in blood sugar findings.
How it was done
Earlier work suggested acacia gum might improve blood sugar, cholesterol, and heart health markers in adults, but results were mixed. No one had yet combined the trial data to measure its overall effect.
They searched medical databases for randomised controlled trials comparing oral acacia gum to a placebo or standard treatment in adults. They found six trials involving 476 people, including healthy adults and those with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. They measured changes in weight, BMI, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and blood fats.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- With only six trials and short follow-up periods, scientists do not yet know the long-term effects of acacia gum.
- Because the blood sugar results varied so much between studies, the true size of that effect is uncertain.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados; Geisinger Medical Center, PA US; Nobles Hospital, UK
The paper
- Title
- Effects of oral gum arabic supplementation on glycemic and lipid outcomes in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Jumaa MA, Budh DP, Nazir Q, Rahman MJ, Radix C (2026). Effects of oral gum arabic supplementation on glycemic and lipid outcomes in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders. doi:10.1007/s40200-026-02034-yFree full textPubMed 42571068DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error