Benefits
Satiety and appetite
In a double-blind crossover study in 19 healthy adults, 10 g taken in tea with a meal delayed the return of hunger and kept people fuller for 1.5 to 2 hours, and raised the gut hormones PYY and GLP-1. A 5 g dose had no effect. Each test lasted about 4 hours, and body weight was not measured.
Supports healthy post-meal blood sugar
A meta-analysis of 37 placebo-controlled trials in healthy adults found that resistant maltodextrin taken with a carbohydrate food lowered the blood sugar rise, more with larger doses: about 20 percent for 6 g in a drink and about 10 percent when mixed into food. The maker funded the review, and one of its two authors worked there.
Gut bacteria and butyrate fermentation
In a 3-week double-blind study in 38 healthy adults, 7.5 or 15 g a day shifted fermentation in the colon toward butyrate and changed the mix of stool bacteria. Bifidobacteria only tended to rise, without reaching statistical significance, and digestive side effects were very minor.
Visceral fat and waist size
In two 12-week double-blind trials run with the maker, resistant maltodextrin taken three times a day reduced visceral (belly) fat on scans versus placebo. With 9 g doses, 30 adults with metabolic syndrome also lost waist size and had lower triglycerides; with 5 g doses, 140 healthy adults saw a small drop in fat area.
Mechanism of action
Low-viscosity soluble fiber
Resistant maltodextrin resists digestion in the small intestine. Unlike gel-forming fibers it dissolves without thickening, yet in pooled trials it still lowered the blood sugar rise when taken with a carbohydrate meal, especially in drinks.
Colonic fermentation
Part of the fiber is fermented by colon bacteria into short-chain fatty acids. In a 3-week study the mix shifted toward butyrate, the main fuel for cells lining the colon, and the balance of stool bacteria changed.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study: a standard meal with tea containing 0, 5 or 10 g of Fibersol-2, with appetite ratings every 30 minutes and gut hormones measured for 4 hours. One author worked for ADM. (Ye et al. 2015, Nutr Res)
19 healthy adults (9 men, 10 women).
10 g delayed hunger and increased fullness for 1.5 to 2 hours and raised PYY and GLP-1 compared with 0 or 5 g. The 5 g dose had no effect on hunger. Body weight was not studied.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial: tea with 9 g resistant maltodextrin or placebo tea at each of three meals for 12 weeks. Four of the six authors worked for Matsutani, the maker. (Hashizume et al. 2012, J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo))
30 adults with metabolic syndrome.
Waist circumference, visceral fat area, insulin resistance (HOMA-R) and triglycerides fell more over time than on placebo (time-by-treatment p = 0.044, 0.012, 0.032 and 0.049). Fasting glucose fell within the fiber group. The trial was small.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial of a drink with 5 g resistant maltodextrin or a placebo drink three times daily for 12 weeks, with CT scans of abdominal fat. Authors included employees of Matsutani and Coca-Cola Japan. (Kitagawa et al. 2020, J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo))
140 healthy adults.
Visceral fat area fell in the fiber group from about 105 to 101 square centimeters and differed significantly from placebo (p < 0.05). No serious adverse events or abnormal blood or urine findings were seen.
Randomized, double-blind study comparing 15 g/day maltodextrin, 7.5 g each of maltodextrin and Fibersol-2, or 15 g/day Fibersol-2 for a 3-week treatment period. (Fastinger et al. 2008, J Am Coll Nutr)
38 healthy adults.
Fibersol-2 shifted short-chain fatty acids in stool toward butyrate and changed bacterial populations from baseline. Bifidobacteria only tended to rise (p = 0.12). Effects on digestive tolerance were very minor.