EU Approves Health Claim for Alpha-Cyclodextrin Dietary Fiber for Lower Blood Sugar

The European Commission has verified a health claim for alpha-cyclodextrin, stating that the ingredient can reduce blood sugar peaks following a high-starch meal. Ingredients supplier Wacker Chemie AG (Munich), which supplies alpha-cyclodextrin, celebrated the news.

Obtained from sources such as potatoes and corn, alpha-cyclodextrin is often used in the food industry as a water-soluble dietary fiber, in products such as dairy, bakery, muesli bars, and breakfast cereals. The EU health claim attests that alpha-cyclodextrin can lower the glycemic index of these foods because it is digested more slowly and thus keeps blood sugar levels lower and more consistent.

The EU health claim now allows foods containing at least 5 g of alpha-cyclodextrin, per 50 g of starch in a food portion, to carry the claim.