Evidence supporting the use of: Gum Arabic
For the health condition: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Gum Arabic, also known as acacia gum, is a natural exudate from Acacia trees and is widely used as a dietary fiber supplement. Its use for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is grounded mainly in its role as a prebiotic fiber that can modulate gut microbiota and improve bowel function. Several small-scale human studies and animal research have demonstrated that Gum Arabic can increase the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and increase short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, which is linked to improved gut health and potentially reduced IBS symptoms. For example, a randomized controlled trial by Calame et al. (2008) found that daily intake of Gum Arabic led to significant increases in beneficial bacteria in healthy adults. However, the direct evidence for its efficacy in treating IBS specifically is limited. Most studies focus on general gut health, constipation, or the prebiotic effect rather than IBS symptom relief. A few pilot studies suggest that soluble fibers like Gum Arabic may help some IBS patients, particularly those with constipation-predominant IBS, but results are inconsistent and often not statistically significant. Overall, while there is a biological rationale and some early scientific support for using Gum Arabic to modulate gut health, the direct clinical evidence for its benefit in IBS is limited, and larger, high-quality trials are needed to clarify its efficacy for this specific condition.
Other ingredients used for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
2'-Fucosyllactoseakkermansia muciniphila
aloe vera
alpha-galactosidase
alpha-pinene
amino acids
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
bio ecolian (proprietary)
blackberry
Indian frankincense
butyrate triglyceride
chen pi
chia seed
chlorella
cinnamon
turmeric
curcumin
fennel
flaxseed
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
ginger
green banana
green tea
guar gum
cellulose
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
l-glutamine
lactobacillus acidophilus
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus bulgaricus
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus helveticus
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lactococcus lactis
lovage
marshmallow
oat
pectin
peppermint oil
plum fruit
pomegranate
potato starch
butyric acid
psyllium
quercetin
resveratrol
saccharomyces boulardii
slippery elm bark
spearmint leaf
streptococcus thermophilus
tributyrin
vitamin D
xylooligosaccharides
zinc
hyssop
atractylodes
ferula assafoetida
anise
holarrhena antidysenterica
fumaria parviflora
chrysanthemum
senna
white oak
algae
Agastache
Asafoetida
Alexandrian senna
Agrimonia pilosa
Betony
Bifidobacterium
Bacillus indicus
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Boswellic Acid
Bayleaf
Belleric myrobalan
Bran
Boswellia
Bacillus licheniformis
black salt
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bitter principals
Bacteria
Bifidobacteria
Bacillus
Cumin
Coriander
Citron
Cannabidiol
Clerodendrum indicum
Dragonhead
Dichrostachys glomerata
Enterococcus
Enzyme Blend
Fig
Fiber
Quince
Rhubarb
Other health conditions supported by Gum Arabic
Cholesterol (high)Diabetes
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Inflammation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Liver Detoxification
Ulcers
Wounds and Sores