What Exactly is Resistant Dextrin?

1. Resistant dextrin definition

Resistant dextrins are soluble dietary substances that are largely resistant to digestion in the small intestine and are fermented primarily in the colon. According to one definition (Roberfroid, 2005) and various circulars published by official committees in various countries (eg Italy and France), it is soluble dietary fiber.

Therefore, the resistant dextrin added to food can reach 20%-25% (weight/weight ratio), and resistant dextrin is also officially recognized and labeled as soluble fiber in many countries, including China. Therefore, it can be a very useful tool to help achieve the nutritional fiber goals of the WHO/FAO and the Chinese Nutrition Society.

In addition, accumulating evidence shows that resistant dextrins can be part of a balanced diet to promote health, such as reducing blood sugar response and improving intestinal health. Its digestive tolerance threshold is also very prominent, making the amount it digests optimally suited to achieve the desired benign changes in the gut ecosystem.

As a fully soluble fiber, it is well tolerated in extremes of temperature and handling conditions, making it an ideal ingredient for enhancing the fiber content of foods and beverages.

2. Resistant dextrin for weight control and fat loss

As a low molecular weight water-soluble dietary fiber, resistant dextrin can significantly reduce blood cholesterol and the risk of atherosclerosis, and continuous intake can also reduce serum cholesterol and neutral fat concentration and body fat mass.

At the same time, it can also absorb bile acid, fat, etc. to reduce the absorption rate, and the resistant dextrin can lower blood fat and improve lipid metabolism in patients with various types of hyperlipidemia. So as to achieve weight control and fat loss.

3. Resistant dextrin as a meal replacement

Dietary fiber is known as the seventh largest nutrient in the human body. It has a feeling of fullness, a low glycemic index, and can help clean the intestinal tract. At present, many beverages are added with dietary fiber such as resistant dextrin.

Resistant dextrin is an indigestible dietary fiber, which absorbs water and swells, making people feel full and helping to delay the regeneration of hunger, so as to achieve the effect of reducing food intake and complete meal replacement.

4. Resistant dextrin relieves constipation

Resistant dextrin, unlike standard starch, like resistant starch, is actually hydrolyzed in the upper part of the digestive tract: only 15% is digested by enzymes in the small intestine, while the rest enters the large intestine, where 75% of the initial amount is slowly and gradually fermented in the large intestine, and 10% is excreted from the body, increasing the stool volume and softening the stool, and resisting dextrin to achieve the effect of improving constipation.

In China, resistant dextrin has been recognized as a prebiotic product by the "Public Nutrition Improvement Microecology Project" at the end of 2008. Its goal is to increase the use of prebiotic products in China to improve intestinal flora imbalance, while other soluble dietary fibers have been identified as a key factor in sub-health.