Polydextrose
Also called PDX, Litesse, polydextrose fiber, soluble fiber polydextrose.
Best grade C across 10 graded outcomes Other Last checked
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The short answer
From 11 sourcesConstipation trials disagree. In 192 adults, 12 g a day raised bowel movements, but in 128 adults 8 to 12 g a day did not speed transit or raise stool frequency. Small trials found bulkier, softer stools and less food eaten at the next meal. Polydextrose did not lower after-meal blood sugar in a 53-person test.
Every graded outcome on this page
10 rows · line = participants- CGrade CColonic transit and bowel movements in functional constipationConstipationn 192
- CGrade CStool frequency in hemodialysis patients on laxativesConstipationn 50
- DGrade DStool consistency and bowel movements in functional constipationConstipationn 97
- DGrade DFecal weight, stool frequency and softnessStool bulkn 36
- DGrade DConstipation symptoms in hemodialysis patientsConstipationn 28
- DGrade DFood eaten at the next mealAppetiten 21
- DGrade DFat burning, blood sugar and appetiteMetabolismn 18
- DGrade DCognitive flexibility and sustained attentionCognitionn 18
- ∅No effectTransit time and stool frequency in chronic constipationConstipationn 128
- ∅No effectAfter-meal blood sugar and insulinBlood sugarn 53
- 7 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Constipation (two trials)
- More bowel movements at 12 g a day in 192 adults; no change in transit or frequency in 128 adults23
- Stool bulk (36 adults)
- 20 g a day raised fecal weight and stool frequency and softened stools vs low-fiber control5
- Appetite (21 adults)
- Lunch energy intake fell with each dose: 5,756 kJ at 0 g vs 4,362 kJ at 25 g6
What it is
Polydextrose is a synthetic soluble fiber made from glucose, added to foods and fiber supplements; most of it is not digested.
How it works
EstablishedUndigested polydextrose reaches the colon, where it is fermented; trials found higher fecal weight and lower fecal pH, consistent with a bulking, fermentable fiber.5
Forms
Form
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polydextrose powder or fiber-fortified foods | Varies25Not applicable (a fiber dosed in grams) | Mostly not digested; fermented in the colon, lowering fecal pH.5 | Well tolerated at 8 to 16 g; 20 g a day brought more gas and gut noises than a low-fiber control.85 | Constipation, stool bulk, appetite |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
10 graded outcomes, largest study first10 graded outcomes: 5 improved, 3 mixed, 2 no effect. The largest, a 2019 randomized trial of 192 people on colonic transit and bowel movements in functional constipation, found mixed results. Outcomes that improved came from smaller studies: a median of 28 people, against 91 for no effect.
1Colonic transit and bowel movements in functional constipation
Mixed · Grade C · RCT, 192 people, 2019
Adults with functional constipation (Rome III), who turned out only mildly constipated
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonic transit and bowel movements in functional constipation | Mixed | 192 | Grade C · RCT, 2019 | Adults with functional constipation (Rome III), who turned out only mildly constipated |
| Transit time and stool frequency in chronic constipation | No effect | 128 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2018 | Adults with chronic constipation |
| Stool consistency and bowel movements in functional constipation | Mixed | 97 | Grade D · RCT, 2023 | Chinese adults with functional constipation |
| After-meal blood sugar and insulin | No effect | 53 | No-effect grade · Crossover RCT, 2017 | Healthy adults (34 beverage study, 19 bar study) |
| Stool frequency in hemodialysis patients on laxatives | Improved | 50 | Grade C · RCT, 2015 | Japanese hemodialysis outpatients aged 51 to 79 using laxatives |
| Fecal weight, stool frequency and softness | Improved | 36 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2013 | Healthy men and women in the US |
| Constipation symptoms in hemodialysis patients | Improved | 28 | Grade D · RCT, 2023 | Hemodialysis patients in Brazil (25 completed: 16 polydextrose, 9 control) |
| Food eaten at the next meal | Improved | 21 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2013 | Healthy adults (12 men, 9 women) in the UK |
| Cognitive flexibility and sustained attention | Improved | 18 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2021 | Healthy women |
| Fat burning, blood sugar and appetite | Mixed | 18 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2014 | Overweight men and women in the Netherlands |
Every graded row
10 rowsShowing 10 of 10 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CColonic transit and bowel movements in functional constipationConstipationMore bowel movements at 12 gRCT
n 192 · 2019
Mixed Bowel movements rose with 12 g a day; the abstract does not report a benefit on transit time, the primary outcome; symptom inventories improved vs baseline. No serious adverse events.
- Design
- RCT, n = 192, 2019
- Population
- Adults with functional constipation (Rome III), who turned out only mildly constipated
- Form
- Polydextrose (Litesse Ultra)
- Dose
- 4, 8 or 12 g a day
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 30791557 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CStool frequency in hemodialysis patients on laxativesConstipationMore frequent stoolsRCT
n 50 · 2015
Improved Stool frequency rose from 3.0 to 7.5 times a week (p < 0.01) with no bloating, cramps or diarrhea reported; blood chemistry did not change.
- Design
- RCT, n = 50, 2015
- Population
- Japanese hemodialysis outpatients aged 51 to 79 using laxatives
- Form
- Polydextrose
- Dose
- 10 g a day
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 26440643 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DStool consistency and bowel movements in functional constipationConstipationSofter stools; frequency unchangedRCT
n 97 · 2023
Mixed Stools became softer within the group (Bristol scale up about 1 point, unchanged on placebo) and the 4-week change beat placebo, but the main time-by-group test found no difference for stool form, bowel movement frequency or straining. Bifidobacterium rose more than on placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 97, 2023
- Population
- Chinese adults with functional constipation
- Form
- Fiber blend: polydextrose with xylo- and fructo-oligosaccharides and resistant dextrin
- Dose
- 3.92 g polydextrose a day (two sachets), plus about 3.9 g oligosaccharides and 1.5 g resistant dextrin
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 10 · PubMed 37078654 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DFecal weight, stool frequency and softnessStool bulkBulkier, softer stoolsCrossover RCT
n 36 · 2013
Improved Five-day fecal wet weight, stools per day and fecal output rose and stools were softer (P = 0.002) vs low-fiber control; transit time did not change; more gas and gut noises.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 36, 2013
- Population
- Healthy men and women in the US
- Form
- Polydextrose in muffins and cereal
- Dose
- 20 g a day
- Duration
- 10 days per period
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 23427334 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DConstipation symptoms in hemodialysis patientsConstipationFewer stool symptomsRCT
n 28 · 2023
Improved The fecal-symptom domain (P = .004) and quality-of-life concerns (P = .02) improved after polydextrose; inflammation markers did not change.
- Design
- RCT, n = 28, 2023
- Population
- Hemodialysis patients in Brazil (25 completed: 16 polydextrose, 9 control)
- Form
- Polydextrose
- Dose
- 12 g a day
- Duration
- 2 months
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 37321430 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DFood eaten at the next mealAppetiteAte less at lunchCrossover RCT
n 21 · 2013
Improved Lunch intake fell from 5,756 kJ (0 g) to 5,048, 4,722 and 4,362 kJ with rising doses (P < 0.05) without changes in rated appetite; total daily intake was lower at 12.5 and 25 g.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 21, 2013
- Population
- Healthy adults (12 men, 9 women) in the UK
- Form
- Polydextrose in a liquid preload
- Dose
- 6.3, 12.5 or 25 g once
- Duration
- Single test days
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 23340248 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DFat burning, blood sugar and appetiteMetabolismLower glucose peak; less appetiteCrossover RCT
n 18 · 2014
Mixed Peak glucose and insulin fell and fat oxidation rose, but mainly because the diet had less energy rather than the fiber itself; appetite ratings were lower.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 18, 2014
- Population
- Overweight men and women in the Netherlands
- Form
- Polydextrose replacing 30% of carbohydrate
- Dose
- At breakfast and lunch (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 24 hours per diet
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 23880340 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DCognitive flexibility and sustained attentionCognitionImprovedCrossover RCT
n 18 · 2021
Improved Fewer errors on a set-shifting task (cognitive flexibility) and better sustained attention than with maltodextrin; microbial diversity did not change.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 18, 2021
- Population
- Healthy women
- Form
- Polydextrose (Litesse Ultra, over 90% polydextrose)
- Dose
- 12.5 g a day
- Duration
- 4 weeks per period
- Source
- Reference 11 · PubMed 32951067 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectTransit time and stool frequency in chronic constipationConstipationNo change in transitRCT
n 128 · 2018
No effect No reduction in transit time and no change in stool frequency or consistency; some symptom subscores (rectal, stool) improved at 8 g a day.
- Design
- RCT, n = 128, 2018
- Population
- Adults with chronic constipation
- Form
- Polydextrose
- Dose
- 8 g or 12 g a day
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 30029461 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectAfter-meal blood sugar and insulinBlood sugarNo glucose loweringCrossover RCT
n 53 · 2017
No effect Polydextrose did not lower after-meal glucose or insulin at any dose in either food; it was well tolerated.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 53, 2017
- Population
- Healthy adults (34 beverage study, 19 bar study)
- Form
- Polydextrose in a beverage or bar
- Dose
- 8, 12 or 16 g
- Duration
- Single test days
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 28892156 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
The two biggest constipation trials disagree
It bulks stools more than it speeds them
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Interactions
0 agentsNone found in our sources.
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Polydextrose and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Polydextrose.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
2 groups- Medicines and surgery
- No published drug or supplement interactions for polydextrose were found, and interaction data are limited. NCCIH advises that supplements may interact with medications or pose risks before surgery, and to tell your health care providers about everything you use.1
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- LactMed has no entry for polydextrose, and the supplement trials cited here enrolled adults. NCCIH notes that many dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.1
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
1 checksWhere to buy Polydextrose
Products from brands we partner with that contain Polydextrose. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Polydextrose products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- HerbsProNature's Answer Liquid Fiber, Natural Lemon-Lime, 16 oz
2 tablespoons (30 mL): 14 g proprietary fiber blend of polydextrose and inulin FOS; the label does not give the polydextrose amount on its own
$17.29one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes polydextrose help constipation?
Does polydextrose lower blood sugar?
No. In tests with 53 adults, 8 to 16 g in a drink or bar did not lower after-meal glucose or insulin.8
Does polydextrose affect thinking or mood?
One exploratory crossover trial in 18 healthy women found 12.5 g a day for 4 weeks slightly improved cognitive flexibility and attention compared with maltodextrin. It has not been repeated (grade D).11
Does polydextrose cause gas?
How much polydextrose was studied?
Sources
11 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
11 sources- 1Using Dietary Supplements WiselyFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 2Efficacy of Polydextrose Supplementation on Colonic Transit Time, Bowel Movements, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.RCT Nutrients, 2019 · PMID 30791557
- 3Short-Term Daily Intake of Polydextrose Fiber Does Not Shorten Intestinal Transit Time in Constipated Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.RCT Nutrients, 2018 · PMID 30029461
- 4Effect of Polydextrose Intake on Constipation in Japanese Dialysis Patients: A Triple-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.RCT J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 2015 · PMID 26440643
- 5Polydextrose and soluble corn fiber increase five-day fecal wet weight in healthy men and women.Crossover RCT J Nutr, 2013 · PMID 23427334
- 6Polydextrose results in a dose-dependent reduction in ad libitum energy intake at a subsequent test meal.Crossover RCT Br J Nutr, 2013 · PMID 23340248
- 7Effect of polydextrose and soluble maize fibre on energy metabolism, metabolic profile and appetite control in overweight men and women.Crossover RCT Br J Nutr, 2014 · PMID 23880340
- 8A Randomized, Controlled Trial Evaluating Polydextrose as a Fiber in a Wet and Dry Matrix on Glycemic Control.Crossover RCT J Food Sci, 2017 · PMID 28892156
- 9Effects of Polydextrose Supplementation on Intestinal Function in Hemodialysis Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.RCT J Ren Nutr, 2023 · PMID 37321430
- 10Effects of dietary fibers or probiotics on functional constipation symptoms and roles of gut microbiota: a double-blinded randomized placebo trial.RCT Gut Microbes, 2023 · PMID 37078654
- 11A specific dietary fibre supplementation improves cognitive performance-an exploratory randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study.Crossover RCT Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2021 · PMID 32951067
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, studied doses, who should be careful, FAQ | Added a 2023 constipation trial of a polydextrose fiber blend (PMID 37078654; group size and dose from the PMC full text) and a 2021 cognition crossover trial (PMID 32951067) as graded rows. Interactions re-checked: no published drug or supplement interactions, and LactMed has no entry; the page now says interaction data are limited. Fact-checked against the sources; corrected: the 2023 constipation trial found no time-by-group difference in stool form either, only a within-group softening and a better 4-week change. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (full text only for DuPont and Nestec funding). Funding disclosed per study: DuPont Nutrition and Health (2019), Nestec SA (2018), BBSRC (2013 appetite), US FDA (2017 glycemic), CNPq and FAPERJ (2023); other abstracts name no funder (disclosed as not stated). Nulls shown: 2018 transit and frequency, 2017 glycemic response; the 2019 abstract reports no transit benefit. No polydextrose page exists on our approved safety sources, so safety rows use only NCCIH general supplement guidance. Where to buy: Nature's Answer Liquid Fiber (label and price checked 2026-10-15; polydextrose-inulin blend flagged in the serving note). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.