- What other names is Glucomannan known by?
- What is Glucomannan?
- How does Glucomannan work?
- Are there safety concerns?
- Are there any interactions with medications?
- Dosing considerations for Glucomannan.
Glucomannan is used for constipation, weight loss in adults and children, type 2 diabetes, blood sugar control, and lowering cholesterol.
In foods, glucomannan is used as a thickener or gelling agent. Glucommanan flour and powder are used in food.
Possibly Effective for...
- Constipation. Research suggests that taking glucomannan by mouth can relieve constipation in children and adults.
- Diabetes. Taking glucomannan by mouth seems to reduce cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure in people with diabetes.
- High cholesterol. Taking glucomannan by mouth seems to improve cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol, with or without diabetes.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Stomach condition called dumping syndrome. Some early research suggests that taking a specific glucomannan product (Propol, Pharmacia, Woerden, The Netherlands) reduces the risk of blood sugar becoming too low after eating in people who have had stomach surgery. However, not all research agrees. Some research suggests that glucomannan does not improve blood sugar absorption in children after stomach surgery.
- High blood pressure. Some early research suggests that glucomannan might improve blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Early research suggests that glucomannan plus methimazole and propranolol reduce thyroid hormone levels in people with too much thyroid hormone in the body.
- Obesity. There is early research that suggests taking glucomannan by mouth might improve weight loss in overweight and obese adults and children. However, not all research agrees.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
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