Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) — Soluble Prebiotic Fiber from B D Guar
HICOL® PHGG (branded DIPOL De-Polymerized Guar Gum) is an enzymatically hydrolyzed galactomannan with ≤10 cps viscosity — the Superior, cost-effective soluble fiber for clinical nutrition, functional beverages and pharma formulations.
Quick Answer
What is Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG)?
Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) is a water-soluble, low-viscosity dietary fiber derived from standard guar gum through enzymatic hydrolysis. Unlike regular guar gum, PHGG has very low viscosity (≤10 cps at 10%), is tasteless, colorless, and FODMAP-friendly, making it ideal for pharmaceutical formulations, clinical nutrition, and functional food applications.
What is Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) and How is it Made?
PHGG is produced by controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of native guar galactomannan. A food-grade β-mannanase cleaves the mannose backbone into shorter chains, dramatically reducing molecular weight and solution viscosity while preserving the soluble dietary fiber functionality.
PHGG vs Standard Guar Gum: Key Differences in Viscosity and Applications
Standard guar gum: 3,500–7,000 cps at 1%, used for thickening. PHGG: ≤10 cps at 10%, used for soluble fiber fortification. PHGG dissolves clear in water, is tasteless and odorless, and can be added to any beverage, sachet or capsule formulation without changing mouthfeel.
Health Benefits of PHGG: Prebiotic, IBS Relief, Blood Sugar Regulation
PHGG selectively feeds Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus in the colon (prebiotic effect), normalizes stool consistency in both constipation and diarrhea-predominant IBS, and slows post-prandial glucose response when consumed with carbohydrate meals.
HICOL® PHGG Specifications: Molecular Weight, Viscosity, Solubility
Molecular weight ~20,000 Da, viscosity ≤10 cps at 10% (25°C), 100% water soluble, dietary fiber content ≥ 75% (AOAC 2001.03), moisture ≤ 6%, microbiology compliant with USP/EP. ETO-free, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free.
Applications of PHGG in Pharmaceuticals, Clinical Nutrition, and Functional Foods
Protein powders and meal replacements, clinical nutrition sachets (oncology, IBS, elderly), laxative formulations, functional beverages, prebiotic gummies, infant nutrition (per local regulations), and tube-feed enteral formulas. FDA GRAS (21 CFR 184.1339) and EU E412 compliant.
PHGG in 2026: pharmaceutical & nutraceutical outlook
According to third-party market-research firms (Future Market Insights, GM Insights), the global Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) market is valued at roughly USD 282 million in 2026 and is projected to grow at approximately a 6% CAGR to around USD 476 million by 2035. These figures are attributed to external market-research publications and are not B D Guar's own data.
What is driving PHGG demand in 2026?
Growth is driven by rising fiber supplementation across food, beverages and nutraceuticals. PHGG's low viscosity, colourless and taste-neutral profile makes it uniquely suited for stick-pack sachets, gummies, capsules, ready-to-drink beverages and clinical/enteral nutrition — categories where standard high-viscosity guar gum cannot be dosed at fiber-relevant levels. In the colon, PHGG is selectively fermented to short-chain fatty acids (notably butyrate), supporting digestive health, regularity and microbiome balance. Compare grades on our Guar Gum specifications page or the DIPOL De-Polymerized Guar Gum product page.
How is guar gum used as a pharmaceutical excipient?
Standard guar gum and its PHGG / de-polymerized derivatives are used across solid-dose and liquid pharmaceutical formulations as tablet binders, disintegrants, controlled-release matrix formers, suspending agents, and as thickeners for dysphagia (modified-consistency) products. Pharma-grade material is manufactured to USP / BP / GMP-aligned expectations. Read our deep-dive on guar gum as a pharmaceutical excipient for formulation guidance.
What does the current clinical evidence say?
Clinical research on PHGG continues to expand — including IBS symptom management, tolerance of enteral tube-feeding, and gut microbiome studies. As with any dietary fiber, product positioning should remain evidence-based and avoid disease claims; consult local regulatory pathways (FDA GRAS 21 CFR 184.1339, EU E412, EFSA health claims framework) before making structure-function statements on finished products.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PHGG and standard guar gum?
Standard guar gum is high molecular weight and produces viscous gels even at low concentration. PHGG is enzymatically hydrolyzed to lower molecular weight, so it is essentially non-viscous (≤10 cps at 10%), tasteless and colorless — ideal for clinical nutrition, beverages and pharma formulations where viscosity is undesired.
Is PHGG FODMAP friendly for IBS patients?
Yes. PHGG is certified low-FODMAP by Monash University and is widely used in clinical nutrition for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), where it has been shown in randomized trials to reduce abdominal pain and normalize stool consistency.
What is the typical viscosity of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum?
PHGG viscosity is ≤10 cps in a 10% solution at 25°C — over 100× lower than standard guar gum at the same concentration. This allows it to be added at high doses (5–10 g per serving) to drinks and sachets without thickening.
What is the minimum order quantity for PHGG from B D Guar?
MOQ is 500 kg for HICOL® PHGG (DIPOL De-Polymerized Guar Gum), with bulk supply available in 25 kg bags. Sample shipment available worldwide on request.
Can PHGG be used in infant nutrition formulas?
PHGG has been clinically studied in preterm and term infant nutrition for digestive tolerance and stool consistency. Use in regulated infant formula requires customer due diligence against local regulations (EU 2016/127, FDA infant formula rules).
Is PHGG the same as SunFiber®?
SunFiber® is one well-known commercial brand of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (made by Taiyo Kagaku). HICOL® PHGG / DIPOL is B.D. Guar's equivalent partially hydrolyzed galactomannan, manufactured to comparable specifications at a more competitive cost from our Kalol, Gujarat facility.
How big is the partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) market in 2026?
According to third-party market-research firms (e.g. Future Market Insights, GM Insights), the global PHGG market is estimated at roughly USD 282 million in 2026 and is projected to grow at about a 6% CAGR to around USD 476 million by 2035. Growth is driven by demand for soluble prebiotic fiber in nutraceuticals, functional foods, beverages and clinical/enteral nutrition. These figures are attributed to external market-research publications, not B D Guar's own data.
Is PHGG the same as pharmaceutical-grade guar gum?
No. Pharmaceutical-grade (standard) guar gum is the full-molecular-weight galactomannan used as a tablet binder, disintegrant, suspending agent and controlled-release matrix former in solid-dose formulations. PHGG — partially hydrolyzed / de-polymerized guar gum (B D Guar's DIPOL) — is enzymatically reduced to a low-viscosity soluble fiber used mainly as a digestive-health prebiotic in food, beverages and supplements. Both derive from the same guar endosperm. See our /products/phgg (DIPOL) and /partially-hydrolyzed-guar-gum pages for grade selection.