Soluble Dietary Fiber — Polydextrose
Polydextrose is a synthetically produced soluble dietary fiber. It is formed through the high-temperature polymerization of raw materials such as glucose, sorbitol, and citric acid. This substance appears as white or off-white solid granules, is odorless, has a slightly sweet taste, and is easily soluble in water. A 10% aqueous solution has a pH of 2.5-7.0, and it remains stable under both high temperature and acidic conditions.
What are the advantages of Polydextrose?
01 Low Calorie
Polydextrose is difficult for the body's digestive enzymes to break down, producing only about 1 kcal per gram (less than 1/4 of carbohydrates), making it a true "low-calorie champion." It aids weight management through two main mechanisms:
Enhancing Satiety: It absorbs water and expands in the stomach, creating a physical barrier that delays gastric emptying and reduces cravings for high-calorie foods.
Blocking Fat Absorption: It entraps some fats within the intestines, limiting the digestive tract's absorption of lipids and promoting the excretion of excess fat.
02 Gut Health
As a soluble dietary fiber, polydextrose serves as a "precision nutrient source" for gut microbiota:
Bidirectional Regulation of Flora: Promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, while inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria like E. coli, thereby balancing the intestinal microecology.
Fermentation Produces 'Healthy Signaling Molecules': Fermented in the large intestine to produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, acetate, and isobutyrate. These not only provide energy for colon cells but also regulate intestinal pH, enhance intestinal mucosal barrier function, and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Intestinal 'Scavenger': Its strong water-holding capacity softens stool, promotes intestinal peristalsis, facilitates smoother bowel movements, and easily alleviates constipation troubles.
03 Reducing the "Three Highs" (High Blood Sugar, High Blood Lipids, High Blood Pressure)
Stabilizes Blood Sugar: Does not stimulate insulin secretion and delays glucose absorption, making it suitable for diabetics and individuals sensitive to blood sugar spikes.
Regulates Blood Lipids: Adsorbs bile acids and promotes their excretion from the body, prompting the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, thereby lowering levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in the blood.
Protects Blood Vessels: Improves vascular endothelial function, reduces inflammatory responses, and lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases at the source.
04 Enhances Immunity
The gut is the body's largest immune organ. Polydextrose enhances immunity through a dual pathway:
Direct Action: Maintains the integrity of the intestinal mucosa, blocking pathogen invasion.
Indirect Regulation: Optimizes gut microbiota, stimulates immune cell activity, and enhances the body's overall ability to resist infections.
05 Promotes Calcium Absorption
Experimentally proven, polydextrose can significantly increase calcium absorption. This characteristic is particularly beneficial for children, the elderly, and individuals with calcium deficiency, providing long-term support for bone mineralization.
06 Safe and Non-Burdensome
Polydextrose is not broken down by oral bacteria, preventing dental caries. It also has a wide tolerance range, with no significant side effects at daily intakes of ≤90g, making it safe for consumption by everyone from infants to the elderly.
Applications of Polydextrose
01 Beverages
Added to various drinks such as fruit juice beverages, functional drinks, carbonated drinks, and tea beverages, polydextrose can supplement dietary fiber, improve beverage mouthfeel (adding body and smoothness), and maintain good stability during beverage processing and storage without causing precipitation or separation.
02 Baked Goods
Used in baked products like bread, cakes, and biscuits, it can increase the dietary fiber content, improve the rheological properties of the dough (making it easier to process and shape), enhance product moisture retention and softness, extend shelf life, and, due to its low-calorie nature, align with consumer demand for healthy baked goods.
03 Dairy Products
Added to dairy products like yogurt, lactic acid bacteria beverages, liquid milk, and milk powder, polydextrose can optimize product taste and texture, prevent whey separation, and, acting as a prebiotic, promote the growth and reproduction of beneficial intestinal bacteria. This enhances the functionality and nutritional value of products, meeting consumer demand for high-quality, healthy dairy products and driving innovation and upgrades in the dairy industry.
04 Confectionery
Used as a filler and functional ingredient in candies and chocolate products, it reduces the usage of sucrose and fat, lowers product calorie content, and imparts the health attribute of dietary fiber. It also improves product chewiness and flavor release characteristics, catering to consumer trends for low-sugar, low-fat, high-fiber candies and chocolates, thereby enhancing product appeal and competitiveness in the market.
05 Health Supplements
It is one of the core ingredients in many dietary fiber supplements, weight loss products, and gut-regulating health supplements. Products are available in various forms including capsules, tablets, powders, and oral liquids. They primarily target individuals with constipation, obesity, high blood lipids, diabetes, and those focused on gut health and overall health management. These products help supplement dietary fiber, regulate intestinal function, assist in controlling weight, blood lipids, and blood sugar, enhance immunity, and improve overall health and quality of life.
06 Pharmaceutical Industry
In pharmaceutical preparations, polydextrose can be used as a drug excipient for preparing certain sustained/controlled-release formulations, dietary fiber supplements, and auxiliary treatments for intestinal diseases. Through its unique physicochemical properties, it can modulate drug release rates, improve drug absorption and utilization efficiency, while simultaneously exerting the beneficial effects of dietary fiber on the intestines. This enhances drug efficacy and patient compliance, providing strong support and assurance for clinical treatment.
