Glucomannan powder benefits: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews
Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews
Overview
Glucomannan is a dietary fiber usually made from the root of the konjac plant. It’s historically been used as food and medicine in Asian cultures.
Glucomannan might work in the stomach and intestines by absorbing water to form a bulky fiber which treats constipation. It might also slow the absorption of sugar and cholesterol in the gut, helping to control sugar levels in people with diabetes and reduce cholesterol levels.
People commonly use glucomannan for constipation, diabetes, and high cholesterol. It’s also used for high blood pressure, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Uses & Effectiveness ?
Possibly Effective for
- Constipation. Taking glucomannan by mouth seems to relieve constipation in adults, but it’s not clear if it helps in children.
- Diabetes. Taking glucomannan by mouth seems to reduce cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure in people with diabetes.
- High cholesterol. Taking glucomannan by mouth seems to improve cholesterol levels in people with or without high cholesterol.
There is interest in using glucomannan for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Glucomannan powder and flour are commonly consumed in foods. Glucomannan powder and capsules are possibly safe when taken with plenty of water for up to 4 months. But taking glucomannan products without water, especially as tablets, is possibly unsafe. These products might cause choking and other serious side effects when taken without water.
Special Precautions and Warnings
When taken by mouth: Glucomannan powder and flour are commonly consumed in foods. Glucomannan powder and capsules are possibly safe when taken with plenty of water for up to 4 months. But taking glucomannan products without water, especially as tablets, is possibly unsafe.
These products might cause choking and other serious side effects when taken without water. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if glucomannan is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: Glucomannan powder and capsules are possibly safe for most children when taken with plenty of water for up to 4 months. But taking glucomannan products without water, especially as tablets, is likely unsafe. These products might cause choking and other serious side effects when taken without water.
Interactions ?
Taking glucomannan along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine the body absorbs. To prevent this interaction, take glucomannan at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
Dosing
In foods, glucomannan powder or flour is commonly used as a thickening agent and as a source of dietary fiber.
As medicine, glucomannan has most often been used by adults in doses of 3-4 grams by mouth daily for up to 3 months. In children, glucomannan has most often been used in doses of 2-5 grams by mouth daily for up to 4 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.
This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.
15 Glucomannan Health Benefits, Risks & Side Effects
Glucomannan is a complex sugar that may lower cholesterol and blood sugar and prevent constipation. Early research suggests that it may also be helpful for managing weight, improving gut health, and protecting the skin. Read on for more about its potential.
What Is Glucomannan?
Glucomannan is a complex sugar and soluble fiber. The most commonly used type is konjac glucomannan, which is taken from the tubers of konjac, a plant native to Asia [1].
It is also extracted from [1]:
- Eastern white pine
- Higanbana
- Lily
- Orchid
- Ramie
- Redwood
- Suisen
It absorbs water extremely well and has the highest viscosity of any known dietary fiber [2].
A few grams of glucomannan powder can turn a whole glass (eight ounces) of water into a gel.
This fiber has been used in food for thickening and binding, as a fat substitute, and as a preservative [1].
It has gained popularity as a dietary supplement, mainly due to its reputation for weight loss.
Mechanisms of Action
Glucomannan works by:
- Taking up space in the stomach, making you feel full and eat less
- Decreasing the amount of hunger hormone ghrelin [3]
- Decreasing the absorption of nutrients (proteins, fats, and sugars) [4, 1]
- Removing bile acids [5]
- Promoting the growth of good bacteria in the gut [6, 7]
Potential Benefits of Glucomannan
Glucomannan is approved as a food additive, but supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective.
Speak with your doctor before supplementing.
Possibly Effective For
1) Cholesterol
Bile acids are made from cholesterol. Glucomannan binds to bile acids and helps remove them from the body. As a result, the body has to convert more cholesterol into bile acids, lowering cholesterol levels [5].
In two meta-analyses, one including 12 studies and the other including 14 studies, this supplement significantly lowered LDL and non-HDL cholesterol types. LDL and non-HDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease when elevated [8, 9].
In a with 120 people with high cholesterol, glucomannan combined with policosanol or chromium-polynicotinate reduced total and LDL cholesterol but didn’t affect HDL or triglyceride levels [10].
In another trial, 2.4 g/day of chitosan and glucomannan reduced total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol but not triglycerides in 21 overweight people [11].
2) Diabetes
According to some researchers, glucomannan may cause a more gradual absorption of sugar, which reduces spikes in blood sugar levels [1].
In a study of 22 diabetic subjects, this fiber helped decrease blood glucose levels and cholesterol [12].
In addition, in two studies, each of 20 diabetic adults, glucomannan taken before a meal decreased the spike in blood sugar levels and decreased appetite by decreasing ghrelin [13, 3].
Similarly, glucomannan-enriched food reduced blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetic patients [14].
In another study of 11 type 2 diabetic patients, this supplement didn’t lower blood sugar, but it lowered total: HDL cholesterol ratio and blood pressure [15].
A study of 34 pregnant women showed that this fiber safely decreased blood glucose levels in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients [16].
3) Constipation
In six studies, glucomannan relieved constipation without side-effects [17, 18, 19, 6, 7, 20].
However, in a study of 72 children, this fiber was not more effective than the placebo in treating constipation [21].
Insufficient Evidence For
The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of glucomannan for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking glucomannan supplements, and never use them in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.
4) Weight Management
In multiple clinical studies, glucomannan supplementation increased weight loss compared to a placebo [22, 23, 24, 25, 26].
However, in other studies, it did not have a significant impact on weight loss [27, 28, 29].
Glucomannan may help with weight loss in certain groups of people but doesn’t seem to have an effect on others. Future studies will be required to clarify.
5) Gut Health
Glucomannan increased the proportion of beneficial gut bacteria (lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria) in seven constipated subjects and eight healthy adults [6, 7].
A small dose of this fiber also increased the number of beneficial bacteria and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut of mice and rats [30, 31].
6) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) can cause insulin resistance. In a study of 30 women with PCOS, glucomannan supplements reduced their glucose and insulin levels [32].
7) Hyperthyroidism
In a study with 48 hyperthyroid patients, those who received glucomannan, in addition to standard therapy, had significantly lower thyroid hormone levels during the first weeks of treatment [33].
8) Skin Damage
Glucomannan decreased UV-induced skin redness in 5 human volunteers and protected skin cells against UVB-induced damage [34].
Animal & Cell Studies (Lacking Evidence)
No clinical evidence supports the use of glucomannan for any of the conditions listed in this section. Below is a summary of the existing animal and cell-based research, which should guide further investigational efforts.
However, the studies listed below should not be interpreted as supportive of any health benefit.
9) Acne
Glucomannan and probiotic bacteria blocked the growth of acne-causing bacteria in a cell study [35].
10) Inflammation
This supplement decreased inflammation in rats with arthritis [36].
It also decreased gut and skin inflammation in mice [37, 38].
In these studies, glucomannan decreased Th3 response (IL-4 and IL-13).
11) Allergies
This supplement prevented allergic rhinitis and dermatitis (nose and skin allergies) in mice [39, 40].
It did so by decreasing IgE levels [41, 42].
12) Antioxidant Activity
This supplement increased antioxidant and antioxidant enzyme levels in mice and rats [43, 44, 45].
13) Aging
Long-term feeding with this supplement delays aging in mice and rats [46, 47].
Side Effects & Precautions
Glucomannan has been recognized as safe by the FDA since 1994.
Since 1996, it’s been approved as a binder in the food industry [48, 1].
Side effects of supplementation may include flatulence, stomach pain, and gut obstruction [2, 49].
To prevent it from expanding prematurely and blocking the gut, make sure you take enough water or other liquids. Some people also recommend not taking it immediately before going to bed.
Glucomannan may, in addition, interfere with the bioavailability of ingested drugs [2, 49].
This supplement lowers blood glucose. Mixed with diabetic medication, it can cause low blood sugar [1].
To avoid adverse effects and unexpected interactions, talk to your doctor before using glucomannan supplements.
Supplementation
Dosage
There is no safe and effective dose of glucomannan for any health purpose because no sufficiently powered study has been conducted to determine one. That being said, clinical studies have found benefits associated with certain doses.
Studies usually administer 1 to 5 grams, 1 to 3 times a day. Subjects take the supplements with water, an hour before a meal [23, 24, 25, 9, 18].
User Reviews
Users say glucomannan is good for:
- Controlling blood sugar levels
- Weight loss
- Hunger control
- Constipation
- Lowering cholesterol
- Insulin resistance in PCOS
However, some also report:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Bloating and gas
Buy Glucomannan
- Capsules: Amazon or iHerb
- Powder: Amazon or iHerb
Glucomannan powder (Bio)
The effectiveness of glucomannan in overweight
The effect of konjac on body weight was studied by American scientists. The experimental group was divided into two parts: some subjects took glucomannan for two months, while others took a placebo. The diet remained the same, physical activity was also not provided.
The results of the experiment surprised even doctors: part of the konjac group lost an average of 8 kg in two months, while other subjects lost only about 1 kg.
Since then, glucomannan has been commercially available in powder and capsule form (for ease of use). Moreover, konjac is useful not only for weight loss, but also for the general improvement of the gastrointestinal tract, which helps to “fix” the result after successfully getting rid of extra pounds. Key benefits of glucomannan:
Feeling full. Already ten minutes after entering the stomach, konjac significantly increases in size and turns into a gel of a dense structure. It slightly stretches the walls of the stomach and mimics a natural meal. This is exactly what all losing weight people in the world dream of: feeling full with virtually no calories!
Lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Glucomannan is a coarse-fiber plant that contains high levels of fiber. And fiber, as you know, removes bad cholesterol from the blood, regulates the production of insulin and reduces the level of glucose in the blood serum.
Thus, “clean” blood actively circulates through the tissues, saturating them with oxygen and stimulating the proper functioning of the whole organism.
Effective bowel cleansing. Coarse fiber, passing through the entire food tract, absorbs toxins like a sponge, directing them directly to the intestines. In the intestines, the cleaning process continues: konjac attracts unsplit acids and fats, and successfully removes them from the body. In fact, glucomannan produces a gentle mechanical cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract.
Restoration of microflora. In the slagged intestine, the beneficial microflora shifts towards the pathogenic one. Unhealthy microflora provokes such unpleasant symptoms as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, intestinal colic and constipation. Glucomannan removes pathogenic bacteria from the body and establishes the correct balance of microflora.
Slowing down the absorption of fats. A pleasant addition to the above advantages of konjac is that its use with fatty foods prevents active absorption (and, as a result, deposition) of fats.
The main thing is not to abuse fatty foods, otherwise the effect of taking konjac will not be so pronounced.
Peculiarities of taking glucomannan
During the course of taking konjac it is extremely important to drink at least two liters of clean water per day. If this rule is not followed, glucomannan can harm the body and lead to consequences such as constipation, bloating and stomach pain. The problem is that the coarse fiber that makes up konjac softens and swells only after contact with water.
That is why, if there is not enough water, it remains too hard and rough for the delicate mucous membranes of the digestive tract! Thus, if you want to lose extra pounds and improve bowel function, try glucomannan, strictly adhering to the rules for taking the drug.
Konjac Glucomannan Powder – Glucomannan Konjac Powder
What is Konjac Glucomannan Powder?
Konjac glucomannan powder dietary fibre. It is usually made from the root of the konjac plant.
Glucommanan powder, capsules and tablets are used as medicine.
Konjac glucomannan powder is used for constipation, diabetes and high cholesterol. Some people take glucomannan by mouth for high blood pressure, obesity, and other conditions, but there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support these other uses of glucomannan.
In foods, glucomannan is used as a thickener or gelling agent. It is also included in food products as a dietary fiber.
Basic information:
Subjects | Standards | Results 90 005 |
Physical analysis | ||
Description | White powder | Compliant |
Assay | Glucomannan 95% | 95.11% | Mesh size | 100% pass 80 mesh | Complies with |
Ash | ≤ 5. 0% | 2.85% |
| Drying Loss | ≤ 5.0% | 2.85% |
| Chemical Analysis 90 046 | ||
| Heavy metal | ≤ 10.0 mg / kg 2.0 mg/kg | Corresponds to |
| As | ≤ 1.0 mg/kg | Complies with |
| Hg | ≤ 0.1 mg/kg | Complies with |
| Microbiological analysis | ||
| Pesticide residue | Negative | Negative |
| Total Plates | ≤ 1000 CFU/g | Compliant |
| ≤ 100 cfu/g | Compliant | |
| E.coil | Negative | Negative |
| Salmonella | Negative | Negative |
Advantages of Konjac Glucomannan Powder:
Glucomannan is also believed to promote weight loss, slow down the aging process and even fight some forms of cancer.
Some of these claims are better supported by research than others. Here are some of the key findings:
1. high cholesterol
Konjac glucomannan powder may help control cholesterol levels, according to a 2008 review of studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Based on a review of 14 clinical trials, glucomannan lowers total cholesterol and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. On the other hand, it did nothing to improve “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or blood pressure.
The quality of the studies reviewed was moderate to poor. Further research is needed to establish whether glucomannan is a safe and viable treatment option for hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
2. constipation
Soluble fiber of any kind helps support or improve digestion. Most health authorities recommend a total intake of dietary fiber of 25 to 30 grams per day, with about a quarter – 6 to 8 grams – coming from soluble fiber.
Konjac powder glucomannan is a smart option, especially if you have chronic constipation. It also appears to be safe for short-term use by children and pregnant women.
A 2018 study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care reports that glucomannan is more effective at relieving constipation than magnesium hydroxide (used in Mylanta and Milk of Magnesia) in the third trimester of pregnancy.
3. weight loss
There are some opinions as to whether the metabolic effects of konjac glucomannan powder can lead to weight loss. The results of clinical studies are largely mixed. A 2005 review of studies published in Alternative Therapies and Medicine concluded that glucomannan supplements taken in daily doses of 2 to 4 grams increase weight loss in overweight or obese adults. feeling full after eating certain foods). Recent studies have not reached such conclusions.
4. diabetes
Contrary to popular belief, konjac glucomannan powder has less effect on blood sugar than expected.
This is surprising considering that glucomannan passes through the intestines virtually unchanged and can absorb water up to 50 times its weight.
Application:
1. Used in the food industry.
Preparation of gelling food used as a food thickener and adhesive such as jelly, ice cream, porridge, meat, flour products, hard drinks, jam, etc.
2. Applied in the health sector.
Modulate lipid metabolism, lower serum triglycerides and cholesterol, improve sugar tolerance and prevent diabetes, relieve constipation and prevent bowel cancer, produce energy and prevent obesity, modulate immune function.
3. Used in the chemical industry.
Because the average molecular weight of konjac glucomannan powder from 200,000 to 2,000,000 is so large, the viscosity is high, and the fluidity is good, it has been applied in the chemical industry, such as oil industry, dye printing cataplasm, terra film, etc.
diaper , medicine capsule and so on.
Best konjac glucomannan powder supplier,
manufacturers Undersun maintains long-term relationships with our customers because we focus on customer service and providing excellent products. If you are interested in our products, we have the flexibility to customize orders to suit your specific needs, and our fast order fulfillment ensures you can try our products on time.
We also focus on value-added services. We are available to answer service questions and provide information to support your business.
Where can I buy konjac glucomannan powder?
Just send an email to [email protected], or send your requirement in the below form, we are ready to help anytime!
Packaging & Storage :
Packaging: 25 kg / fiber drum, double plastic bag inside.
1kg/bag, aluminum foil vacuum packed
Or customized.
Storage: Keep away from strong light and heat.
Shelf life: 24 months for powder.
Logistics transportation:
Payment terms:
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Q1: | Can I get samples? |
A: | Yes, we can provide free sample, but the shipping cost is paid by our customers. |
Q2: | How do I start placing orders or making payments? |
A: | Proforma invoice will be sent first after order confirmation with our banking information. Payment by T/T, Western Union or Escrow. |
Q3: | What’s your MOQ? |
A: | Our MOQ is 1kg. But usually we accept smaller quantity, such as 100g, as long as the sample fee is 100% paid. |
