Definition:

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NutuFibraz®Polydextrose Health Benefits:

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose is a water-soluble dietary fiber that belongs to the category of low-calorie, low-glycemic index polysaccharides. Produced through the high-temperature melt condensation of glucose, sorbitol, and citric acid, it exhibits unique physical and chemical properties, as well as physiological functions. NutuFibraz®Polydextrose is widely used in the food industry and health sector.

Particularities of NutuFibraz®Polydextrose:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● GB 25541, Food grade, In-house

▶ Regulate intestinal function

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose Applications:

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose cannot be digested and absorbed by the small intestine. Once it enters the large intestine, it absorbs water and expands, increasing stool volume and stimulating intestinal peristalsis, which helps relieve constipation. NutuFibraz®Polydextrose serves as "food" for beneficial intestinal bacteria, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. It promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, maintains intestinal microecological balance, enhances intestinal barrier function, and reduces the risk of intestinal infection.

■ Source

Dr. H.H. Rennhard of the Pfizer Central Laboratory in the United States invented polydextrose in 1965. By the late 1980s, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO) had approved polydextrose as a safe food additive and listed it in the U.S. Food Chemicals Codex. Several countries, including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and China, subsequently approved the use of polydextrose. After receiving FDA approval in 1981, polydextrose entered the market in developed countries such as the United States, where it was used as a low-calorie filler. It is a synthetic, water-soluble dietary fiber made by mixing glucose, sorbitol, and citric acid in specific proportions, then heating and refining the mixture at high temperatures. All three raw materials are derived from corn.

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  NutuFibraz®Polydextrose powder 90%

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose can be added to beverages as a dietary fiber fortifier, leveraging its water-solubility and low viscosity to maintain clarity and taste. In dairy products, polydextrose can replace some of the milk fat or sugar. This enhances product viscosity and smoothness, promotes gut microbiota activity, and improves thermal stability and reduces precipitation in flavored milk. Adding 5-10% polydextrose to baked goods increases dough water retention, delays staling, and extends shelf life. In low-sugar pastries, polydextrose can replace 20-30% of sucrose, reducing calories while maintaining softness and chewiness. In low-sugar candies, polydextrose can replace up to 30-50% of the sucrose, reducing the candy's energy content while using its water-holding capacity to prevent hardening or crystallization. As a thickener and stabilizer, polydextrose can replace some of the starch or fat in sauces, improving their viscosity and texture while reducing their fat content. NutuFibraz®polydextrose can be made into capsules, tablets, or powdered supplements to help regulate intestinal health and treat constipation or intestinal dysfunction. It can also be used in special diets for diabetics and obese individuals as a low glycemic index (GI) ingredient to help control blood sugar and weight. 

NutuFibraz®polydextrose is used as an excipient or sustained-release carrier in drug formulations. Its biocompatibility and stability help drugs release slowly, thereby improving efficacy. It can also be added to pet food or livestock feed to promote intestinal health in animals and increase feed utilization.

■ Structural Characteristics

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose is an irregular, branched polymer primarily composed of glucose units linked by α-1,6 glycosidic bonds. It is supplemented by α-1,2, α-1,3, and α-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Its molecular weight typically ranges from 2,000 to 20,000. The molecule also contains small amounts of terminal sorbitol groups and carboxyl groups derived from citric acid cross-linking. This complex structure makes it difficult for human digestive enzymes to break down. NutuFibraz®polydextrose is highly soluble in water, forming a colorless, transparent, viscous solution that is stable. It has an extremely low digestibility rate by humans, providing only 1-2 kilocalories per gram. Its sweetness is only 10% to 20% that of sucrose, and it minimally impacts the original flavor of foods. This makes it suitable for use with high-intensity sweeteners.

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose binds to bile acids in the intestine, promoting their excretion from the body. In order to replenish the bile acids, the liver consumes more cholesterol. This lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis.

▶ Cardiovascular health

Ingredients:

● Polydextrose and does not contain any other additives.

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose has a high viscosity, which can slow gastric emptying and reduce glucose absorption in the small intestine. This lowers postprandial blood sugar levels and helps maintain stable blood sugar. Moderate long-term intake may indirectly improve insulin sensitivity by regulating intestinal flora and metabolism, which could benefit people with prediabetes or diabetes.

▶ Stabilize blood sugar

NutuFibraz®Polydextrose absorbs water and expands in the stomach, creating a strong feeling of fullness. This reduces appetite and lowers total calorie intake, helping to control weight. Polydextrose has an energy value of only about 1 kcal/g, far lower than sucrose's 4 kcal/g. When used as a food additive to replace sugar or fat, polydextrose can reduce the total energy content of food, making it suitable for people who need to control their calorie intake.

▶ Weight management

■ Technical characteristics

Glucose is the primary monomer, usually obtained through cornstarch hydrolysis. Corn is the most common source of raw material, and the glucose must be food-grade quality (99% or higher). Sorbitol acts as a chain terminator that regulates the molecular weight of polymers and is generally produced through the hydrogenation of glucose. Citric acid acts as a catalyst and cross-linking agent that promotes the formation of glycosidic bonds and controls the direction of the reaction. It must also meet food-grade standards. The typical ratio is approximately 90:10:1 (by mass) for glucose, sorbitol, and citric acid, though it can be adjusted slightly based on the target product's molecular weight. The melt condensation reaction is the core step in producing polydextrose. Three raw materials are mixed in the proper proportions, and a small amount of water is added (or none is added, utilizing the trace moisture in the raw materials). The mixture is heated to 80-100°C while stirring to dissolve the mixture initially and remove free moisture, forming a viscous liquid. Then, the mixture is transferred to a reactor and heated to 160-180°C under vacuum conditions to prevent oxidation and darkening of the color. With the help of citric acid as a catalyst, glucose molecules form branched polymers via α-glycosidic bonds (primarily α-1,6 bonds, supplemented by other bond types). Sorbitol terminates chain growth by binding to the glucose chain via its terminal hydroxyl group. This controls the molecular weight to be within the range of 2,000-20,000. The reaction time is typically 1-3 hours, and the endpoint is determined by monitoring viscosity and molecular weight distribution. Once the reaction has finished, cool the molten material to 80-100°C. Then, add sodium hydroxide (or sodium bicarbonate) to neutralize any residual citric acid. Next, adjust the pH to 5.0-7.0 to terminate the reaction and prevent the acidity from affecting subsequent steps. The neutralized product dissolves in water to form an aqueous solution with an approximate concentration of 50%. Then, add activated carbon to absorb pigments and impurities. Next, remove the activated carbon and insoluble substances via plate-and-frame filtration or centrifugal separation. To achieve a higher level of purity, residual salts and small-molecule impurities can be removed using ion-exchange resin. Concentrate the purified solution under vacuum at a temperature of 60-70°C to increase the solid content to 70-80%. Spray drying (inlet temperature: 180-200°C; outlet temperature: 80-90°C) or drum drying can be used to obtain a white-to-light-yellow powdered polydextrose product. Richtek can adjust the reaction temperature, time, and raw material ratios to produce polydextrose with different molecular weights for various applications (e.g., beverages require low viscosity, while baked goods require high stability).