Overview

Arabinoxylan is a dietary fiber found in cereal grains such as wheat, corn, rice, rye, oat, and barley. It is used as a medicine.

Arabinoxylan is taken by mouth for heart disease, constipation, diabetes, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, and weight loss, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Arabinoxylan might work by reducing the amount of sugar and cholesterol that is absorbed in the stomach and intestines. It might also change the makeup of the bacteria in the gut.

Arabinoxylan might work by reducing the amount of sugar and cholesterol that is absorbed in the stomach and intestines. It might also change the makeup of the bacteria in the gut.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Diabetes. Early research shows that eating food fortified with arabinoxylan for 5 weeks lowers blood sugar levels and insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also seems to improve blood sugar control.
  • Prediabetes. Early research shows that eating food fortified with arabinoxylan for 6 weeks lowers blood sugar levels and levels of a bloodfat called triglycerides.
  • A grouping of symptoms that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (metabolic syndrome). Early research shows that eating a diet containing arabinoxylan does not seem to improve blood sugar or cholesterol levels in most people with metabolic syndrome.
  • Heart disease.
  • Constipation.
  • Weight loss.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of arabinoxylan for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Arabinoxylan is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 6 weeks. It might cause diarrhea, gas, bloating, or stomach pain.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Arabinoxylan is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 6 weeks. It might cause diarrhea, gas, bloating, or stomach pain. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if arabinoxylan is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Arabinoxylan might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Monitor blood sugar levels closely. Doses of conventional antidiabetes medications may need adjustment.

Surgery: Arabinoxylan might affect blood sugar levels. There is concern that arabinoxylan might affect blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking arabinoxylan at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with ARABINOXYLAN

    Arabinoxylan might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking arabinoxylan along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

    Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of arabinoxylan depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time, there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for arabinoxylan. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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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.