Does Polydextrose Elevate Blood Sugar?

Polydextrose is a water-soluble dietary fiber, low in calories, and has the characteristics of soluble dietary fiber and prebiotics. Polydextrose is a polysaccharide composed of randomly cross-linked glucose, which is formed by high-temperature melt polycondensation of naturally occurring glucose and a small amount of sorbitol and citric acid. It has the effects of reducing sugar absorption, preventing constipation and nourishing skin.

What physiological functions will the body produce after ingestion?

Increase stool volume and promote intestinal peristalsis, thereby preventing constipation.

Adjust the function of the gastrointestinal tract, increase the content of beneficial bacteria, promote the absorption of nutritious substances, and also reduce the contact time between harmful substances in the intestine and the intestinal wall.

Block sugar absorption and regulate blood sugar. Polydextrose is difficult to absorb and has a very low glycemic index (4% to 7% compared to glucose). It does not easily increase blood sugar after ingestion and does not stimulate the secretion of insulin. It is very suitable for diabetic patients. Polydextrose can also be used to replace high-glycemic index carbohydrates in a variety of foods, reducing the overall glycemic load of the final product.

The multiple “identities” of polydextrose.

1. Common food ingredients.

2. Food additives.

3. Nutritional supplements.

Because polydextrose has a low caloric value, it has the characteristics of low cholesterol and low fat. Therefore, it is mainly used as a food additive, and can also be used as a thickener, filler, etc. Polydextrose can be used to produce low-energy, slimming health foods. For example, the common health products, yogurt, ice cream, baked goods, candies, drinks, etc.

Which group of people is polydextrose suitable for?

People who need to regulate lipid metabolism. Polydextrose can form a membrane in the small intestine and wrap part of the food fat, which can effectively limit the absorption of fat in the digestive tract, promote the excretion of lipid compounds, increase satiety, reduce food intake, thereby regulating blood lipids and reducing fat accumulation. 

People who need to lower their cholesterol. Polydextrose can absorb organic molecules such as bile acids and cholesterol mutators, inhibit the increase in total cholesterol (TC) concentration, reduce the synthesis and absorption of bile acids and salts, reduce human plasma and liver cholesterol levels, and prevent and treat coronary arteriosclerosis and cholelithiasis.  

People who want to reduce the amount of sugar they absorb. Polydextrose can prevent food from fully contacting digestive juices, inhibit the secretion of glucagon, and slow down glucose absorption, thereby reducing postprandial blood sugar levels, giving full play to the role of insulin, and preventing diabetes.

People with constipation problems. Polydextrose can absorb water, swell and retain water in the human intestine, increase stool volume, stimulate intestinal peristalsis, accelerate defecation frequency, and play a role in laxative and constipation prevention.

People who want to be more beautiful. Polydextrose can effectively regulate the pH value of the intestine, improve the breeding environment of beneficial bacteria, and rapidly expand the beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, thereby inhibiting the growth of saprophytic bacteria, preventing intestinal mucosal atrophy, and promptly excreting toxins and metabolic wastes from the body. It can prevent the discharge of toxins from the skin, achieve skin beautification and beauty, and prevent the occurrence of hemorrhoids, gastroenteritis, colon cancer and other diseases.

Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and colon cancer caused by unbalanced dietary intake have become major diseases that endanger people's health. Therefore, it is particularly important to supplement dietary fiber in daily life. As a soluble dietary fiber, polydextrose has physiological properties such as adjusting the gastrointestinal microecological environment, laxative, and preventing intestinal diseases, making it widely used in various foods, especially in low-energy and high-fiber functional foods.