Acacia gum is also known as gum Arabic. Gum Arabic is obtained from the Acacia tree. The Acacia tree grows in a region that stretches from Senegal to Sudan in Africa. This gum is made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal. The Senegal gum acacia is an average sized tree with thorns that grows on the African savanna grassland. Acacia gum fiber is widely used in both the pharmaceutical and food industries as an emulsifier and stabilizer. Acacia gum is composed of saccharides and glycoproteins and is fit to be consumed by humans.
Health
benefit
Acacia gum may be useful in those with kidney disease, for instance
chronic renal failure.
Acacia Gum and kidney disease
research studies
Acacia gum supplementation of a low-protein diet in children with end-stage
renal disease.
Pediatr Nephrol. 2004 Oct;19(10):1156-9. Epub 2004 Aug 4.
Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) die in the absence of renal
replacement therapy (RRT). In developing countries RRT is not uniformly
available and treatment often relies on conservative management and intermittent
peritoneal dialysis (IPD). This study investigates the possibility of using
acacia gum supplementation to improve the quality of life and provide children
with ESRD with a dialysis-free period. Three patients referred to our hospital
with ESRD during a 3-month period were enrolled in a therapeutic trial to
investigate the efficacy of acacia gum (1 g/kg per day in divided doses) as a
complementary conservative measure aimed at improving the quality of life.
Inclusion criteria included a pre-dialysis creatinine clearance of <5 ml/min,
current dietary restrictions and supplementation, at least one dialysis session
to control uremic symptoms, absence of life-threatening complications, and
sufficient motivation to ensure compliance with the study protocol. One patient
complied with the protocol for only 10 days and died after 6 months, despite IPD.
Two patients completed the study. Both reported improved well-being. Neither
became acidotic or uremic, and neither required dialysis during the study
period. Both patients maintained urinary creatinine and urea levels not
previously achieved without dialysis. In conclusion, dietary supplementation
with acacia gum may be an alternative to renal replacement therapy to improve
the quality of life and reduce or eliminate the need for dialysis in children
with end stage renal disease in some developing countries.
The effects of gum arabic oral
treatment on the metabolic profile of chronic renal failure patients under
regular haemodialysis in Central Sudan.
Nat Prod Res. 2008 Jan. Faculty of Medicine, Department of
Biochemistry and Nutrition, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
This study aimed at assessing the effect of acacia gum oral treatment on
the metabolic profile of chronic renal failure patients. A total of
36 chronic renal failure patients (under regular haemodialysis) and 10 normal subjects
participated in this study. From this study, we conclude that oral
administration of gum arabic could conceivably alleviate adverse effects
of chronic renal failure.
Effects of gum arabic ( Acacia
senegal ) on water and electrolyte balance in healthy mice.
Ren Nutr. 2008 Mar;18(2):230-8. Department of Physiology, University
of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Acacia gum is a dietary fiber is used in the traditional treatment of
patients with chronic kidney disease in Middle Eastern countries. We
explored the effects of acacia gum on the water and electrolyte balance of
healthy wild-type mice. In conclusion, treatment with acacia gum resulted
in moderate but significant increases of creatinine clearance and altered
electrolyte excretion, i.e., effects favorable in renal insufficiency.
Acacia Gum emails
Q. Is acacia gum a glyconutrient?
A. I have not come across a good definition of what a
glyconutrient is,
so I really can't say for sure at this time.
Q. Can acacia gum be taken with an
ahcc pill?
A. Perhaps you can take them a few hours apart, we are not sure if
acacia gum would interfere with
AHCC absorption.
Q. Are there any apparent contraindications using
Artichoke leaf extract and acacia gum?
A. I don't suspect any untoward interactions.
Q. Would the use of acacia gum interfere with the
benefit of a multivitamin
supplement used for more stamina?
A. I don't think there should be any interference.