Editing Guar gum (section)

== Nutritional and medicinal effects==
Guar gum, as a water-[[soluble fiber]], acts as a bulk-forming [[laxative]]. Several studies have found it decreases [[cholesterol]] levels. These decreases are thought to be a function of its high soluble fiber content.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Brown|first1=Lisa|last2=Rosner|first2=Bernard|last3=Willett|first3=Walter|last4=Sacks|first4=Frank|title=Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis|url=http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/69/1/30.full|journal=The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition|year=1999|volume=69|issue=1|pages=30–42|doi=10.1093/ajcn/69.1.30|pmid=9925120|access-date=4 August 2017|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Moreover, its low digestibility lends its use in recipes as a filler, which can help to provide [[satiety]] or slow the digestion of a meal, thus lowering the [[glycemic index]] of that meal. In the late 1980s, guar gum was used and heavily promoted in several weight-loss drugs. The [[US Food and Drug Administration]] eventually recalled these due to reports of [[Esophagus|esophageal]] blockage from insufficient fluid intake, after one brand alone caused at least 10 users to be hospitalized, and a death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00259.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970505093031/https://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00259.html |title=Supplements: Making Sure Hype Doesnþt Overwhelm Science (original date unknown)|archive-date=5 May 1997|work=fda.gov}}</ref> For this reason, guar gum is no longer approved for use in over-the-counter weight loss drugs in the United States, although this restriction does not apply to supplements. Moreover, a [[meta-analysis]] found guar gum supplements were not effective in reducing body weight.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Pittler | first1 = MH | year = 2001 | title = Ernst E. Guar gum for bodyweight reduction: meta-analysis of randomized trials | journal = Am J Med | volume = 110 | issue = 9| pages = 724–730 | doi=10.1016/s0002-9343(01)00702-1| pmid = 11403757 }}</ref>

Guar-based compounds, such as [[hydroxypropyl cellulose|hydroxypropyl guar]], have been used in [[artificial tears]] to treat [[keratoconjunctivitis sicca|dry eye]].<ref name="Pucker-2016">{{cite journal |vauthors=Pucker AD, Ng SM, Nichols JJ |title= Over the counter (OTC) artificial tear drops for dry eye syndrome |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev|volume=2016 |pages= CD009729 |date=2016 |issue= 2 |pmid= 26905373 |doi= 10.1002/14651858.CD009729.pub2 |pmc=5045033}}</ref>

===Allergies===
Some studies have found an allergic sensitivity to guar gum developed in a few individuals working in an industrial environment where airborne concentrations of the substance were present. In those affected by the inhalation of the airborne particles, common adverse reactions were occupational rhinitis and asthma.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allallergy.net/fapaidfind.cfm?cdeoc=731 |title=AllergyNet - Allergy Advisor Find |publisher=Allallergy.net |access-date=19 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331120216/http://www.allallergy.net/fapaidfind.cfm?cdeoc=731 |archive-date=31 March 2013 }}</ref>

=== Dioxin contamination ===
In July 2007, the European Commission issued a health warning to its member states after high levels of [[Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds|dioxins]] were detected in guar gum, which was used as a thickener in small quantities in meat, dairy, dessert and delicatessen products. The source was traced to guar gum from India that was contaminated with [[pentachlorophenol]] (PCP), a pesticide no longer in use.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:080:0028:01:EN:HTML| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213053654/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:080:0028:01:EN:HTML| url-status=dead| archive-date=13 February 2013|date=25 March 2010|title=Commission Regulation (EU) No 258/2010|access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> PCP contains dioxins, which damage the human immune system.<ref>{{cite web| url =https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/ | title=Dioxins and their effects on human health
| date=1 May 2010 | access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref>