Supplements Uses and Benefits of Guar Gum By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on August 05, 2016 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on July 05, 2020 Print Echo / Cultura / Getty Images Guar gum is a type of fiber extracted from guar beans (a plant mainly found in India and Pakistan). It's used as an ingredient in certain foods, and guar gum is available in dietary supplement form. Uses In alternative medicine, guar gum is often used as a laxative. In addition, guar gum is touted as a natural remedy for the following conditions:ConstipationDiabetesDiarrheaHigh cholesterolIrritable bowel syndrome Guar gum is also said to promote weight loss and prevent atherosclerosis. Benefits Although research on the health effects of guar gum is fairly limited, there's some evidence that guar gum may offer certain advantages. Here's a look at some key findings from the available studies: Constipation Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (a commonly available form of guar gum) may help treat childhood constipation, according to a study from the Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology. For the study, 61 children with constipation were given either partially hydrolyzed guar gum or lactulose (a laxative) for four weeks. Study results revealed that both treatments were similarly effective in relieving constipation and the associated abdominal pain. However, partially hydrolyzed guar gum appeared to produce fewer side effects than lactulose. Irritable Bowel Syndrome A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences indicates that guar gum may be beneficial in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. For the study, 86 patients with irritable bowel syndrome took either five or 10 grams of partially hydrolyzed guar gum every day for three months. By the end of the treatment period, both groups showed significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life. Diabetes Preliminary research suggests that guar gum may help protect against diabetes. In a study published in the Iranian journal Pharmacognosy, for instance, scientists demonstrated that guar gum was more effective than the anti-diabetes drug glibenclamide in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels in diabetic rats. The study also determined that guar gum helped reduce body weight and food intake. However, it's too soon to tell whether guar gum may have a similar effect on human health. Caveats Although guar gum is generally considered safe for most people, it may cause several side effects (including loose stools, gas, and diarrhea). When taken in high doses, guar gum may obstruct the esophagus or the intestines. Because there's some concern that guar gum may alter your blood sugar levels, it's important to avoid the use of guar gum within two weeks of surgery. In addition, people taking diabetes medication should seek medical advice before using guar gum. It's important to keep in mind that supplements haven't been tested for safety and dietary supplements are mostly unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. Also, the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Where to Find It Widely available for purchase online, guar gum also can be found in many natural-foods stores and stores specializing in dietary supplements. Using It for Health Although there's some evidence that guar gum may help with specific health problems (such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome), it's important to consult your primary care provider before using guar gum in the treatment of any health problem. Self-treating a chronic condition with guar gum and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. What Is Guar Gum and Can You Trust It? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Üstündağ G, Kuloğlu Z, Kirbaş N, Kansu A. Can partially hydrolyzed guar gum be an alternative to lactulose in treatment of childhood constipation?. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2010;21(4):360-4.doi:10.4318/tjg.2010.0121 Parisi G, Bottona E, Carrara M, et al. Treatment effects of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on symptoms and quality of life of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. A multicenter randomized open trial. Dig Dis Sci. 2005;50(6):1107-12. doi:10.1007/s10620-005-2713-7 Samarghandian S, Hadjzadeh MA, et al. Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of guar gum on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male rats. Pharmacogn Mag. 2012;8(29):65-72. doi:10.4103/0973-1296.93328 National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated April 6, 2020.