What Is Dextrin?

What Is Dextrin? By: Bob's Red Mill | July 2 2018 We come across a lot of terminology here at Bob’s Red Mill, and there are new terms coming out every single day when it comes to healthy food labeling. With the increase in awareness surrounding natural foods, as well as a rise in diagnosing some food-related intolerances, these new foods and categories can provide some confusion, especially to those who need to follow a specific diet to remain healthy and pain-free! One term that we see sometimes is dextrin, and to be completely honest, there is not a lot of information out there about dextrin that is not incredibly dense and scientific. So today, we have taken a lot of this dense information and broken it down into all the whys, hows and whats that come along with eating (or not eating!) dextrin. Keep reading to learn everything you will need to know about dextrin and whether or not it should be in your diet! What Is Dextrin? So first of all, we should figure out what the heck dextrin is. Actually, dextrins are a category that includes several different carbohydrate strains that are produced by the hydrolysis of starch. Okay, what? Yep, this can be pretty confusing, so we will try to break it down for you. Starches are complex carbohydrates that are made up of mostly sugar molecules. Starches are mostly found in plants, specifically many of our staple foods like potatoes, corn and rice, and are created as a source of energy. They are actually the most common form of carbohydrates found in most human diets. Hydrolysis is a process that uses water to break down molecules into smaller molecules. So basically, you take a long strain of sugars (a starch) and break it down by adding water, and the smaller resulting strains are known as dextrins. Phew, that was a lot of information! Still with us? Types of Dextrin Dextrins can be made from almost any starch source, like corn, wheat or potatoes. Dextrins are classified into a few different types: typically white dextrins, yellow or canary dextrins or British gums. They are all water-soluble solutions and are typically less viscous than the starch that they came from (potato or wheat, for instance). There are several different uses for dextrins. One of the most popular is in the adhesive industry. Because of their water solubility, dextrins are ideal for water-activated adhesives and glues (think postage stamps and envelopes, where you lick them to activate the adhesive properties). Dextrins are also used to print on cotton fabrics in the textile industry! White dextrins alone are used in the food industry. These are typically created by a combination of acid and water during hydrolysis. How Are Dextrins Formed? Dextrins are usually a byproduct or intermediate product of other processes, such as cooking or enzyme activation. The most common example of this is the crispy brown part on the top of fresh-baked bread. The exact properties of your dextrin will rely heavily on what type of starch it was formed from, so wheat dextrin, for instance, will have very different reactions and properties than corn dextrin or potato dextrin. Wheat dextrin is a popular example and is a byproduct of the process that extracts gluten proteins from wheat. The wheat starch gets sprayed with an acid solution and then it is suspended in water. After a while, the wheat starch gets roasted until it is dry, and then it has officially been converted into dextrin and is packaged and ready to go! What Is Dextrin Used For? We mentioned earlier that white dextrins are the only ones used in the food industry, and that is true. You may be surprised at how many foods contain dextrin when you start checking out your labels! For something you may not have heard of, this stuff is all over the supermarket shelves! Wheat dextrin is used to thicken many products in the food industry, such as soups or stews, or even baby foods! This is also a popular ingredient to replace fats in low-calorie foods, so if you start reading the labels at health food stores, you will probably start seeing this word a lot! Wheat dextrin specifically is a great source of fiber, and more specifically, soluble fiber. There are many differences between soluble and insoluble fiber, but the basic lesson is that soluble fiber digests easily and quickly and helps attach to things like bad cholesterol on the way out, so it helps lower the bad cholesterol in your system! In short, soluble fiber is great for you! There are so many health benefits associated with a high fiber diet that we will explore in a minute. Just know that dextrin is often used as a popular fiber supplement! Another popular use for dextrin in foods is to make foods crispy or as a coating: we mentioned the crispy brown part on the top of bread earlier, and this is a perfect example. Dextrin gives fried foods that extra-brown, crispy texture as well. We all love a good home-cooked fried chicken--give credit to dextrin for that flaky, delicious skin! Is Dextrin Gluten Free? We’ve talked about wheat dextrin a good bit, so it may be on your mind to ask whether dextrin is gluten-free or not. The truth is, a lot of dextrin in food is made from non-wheat sources, like tapioca, rice, or potatoes. In these cases, you will be absolutely safe from any gluten particles, so if you have a gluten intolerance or sensitivity, then you have no need to worry about these types of dextrin. Wheat dextrin, in some cases, will have the gluten processed out of it, so you should not have to worry. In some cases, however, the gluten may still remain in the dextrin in a larger quantity than is allowed. In these cases, the manufacturer is required to use the word “wheat” on their ingredients or includes list, though, so if you are gluten sensitive or have Celiac Disease, then you should not worry about dextrin on an ingredient list unless it contains the word wheat as well! Health Benefits of Dextrin There are several health benefits of dextrin, not only because it is a high source of soluble fiber. A high fiber diet has been linked to numerous health benefits, including weight loss, better skin health, higher bone density, and lower cholesterol. Fiber is considered a natural detoxifier, and most cancers have been linked to more toxic inner environments, so fiber has in some cases been linked to lower risk of cancers like colon and liver cancer. Fiber keeps your bowel movements regular, as well as speeding up digestion and easing the flow of everything you eat through your system - from start to...well, finish. Fiber also allows your body to absorb nutrients more smoothly and helps flush out bad things without allowing them to sit in your body for too long. If this is not enough to convince you, there are studies that show those with a high fiber diet live longer and have better general overall health than those who do not have a high fiber diet. In addition to being an amazing source of fiber, dextrin is also considered a prebiotic. You may have heard of PRObiotics, and these feed on prebiotics, so by consuming dextrin, you are increasing the health and effectiveness of your probiotics, which assist in digestive issues and help maintain homeostasis in your stomach! Dextrins have also been shown to decrease triglyceride levels, which may decrease your risk of strokes and heart disease. Consuming dextrin can help reduce the glycemic index of your meal, which helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels - this is especially important for diabetics! Basically, consuming dextrin can help almost every system in your body to function more properly, and it helps you avoid toxification and a negative environment. If you are not sure about where to get more dextrin in your diet, try out a fiber supplement as this is a really common ingredient! Dextrin is definitely one of the more scientifically-dense terms in the healthy eating dictionary, but it provides a myriad of health benefits to treat your body right. You may also see other words that look like dextrin on your ingredients list, such as dextrose, maltodextrin, and amylodextrin. Some of these are other names for types of dextrin, but some of these are not, so make sure you do a little research before consuming new products! If you enjoy a crispy french fry or piece of freshly baked bread then you are likely enjoying some dextrin produced during the cooking process. This will provide a ton of health benefits for you and help you with your high fiber diet if that is your goal. If you are gluten-free, then just be careful about exactly what type of dextrin you eat! And comment below with your thoughts on dextrin, and tell us what you would like us to explore more in the future. Download Your $1 off Baking Essentials Coupon Today DOWNLOAD NOW by Bob's Red Mill dextrinNutrition Resource 62 Comments Alexander RichardsonAlexander Richardson July 6 2018 at 4:26 am Thank-you for the Education on Dextrin! Love your information sessions! Reply KathleenKathleen October 21 2018 at 12:46 pm Bob's Red Mill is such a great source for education and beautiful food! Thank you to all the Bob's Red Mill people - from farmers to marketing - for all you do! Reply CandaceCandace October 26 2018 at 5:43 pm Is dextrin a sugar? Reply cjcj June 24 2019 at 12:59 pm No. You may be thinking of dextrOSE, which is a sugar. Glucose and dextrose are synonyms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose Reply SandraSandra November 6 2018 at 5:14 am Is citric acid used in making dextrin? I am allergic to citric acid so that's the reason for my question. Reply ValoraValora June 15 2019 at 10:59 pm From my research, I've found that hydrochloric acid (pH 3.0-1.0) is the 'favored' acid that's used, but sulfuric acid (pH 2.75-1.0) and orthophosphoric acid (pH 3.0-1.6) are also used. It seems that citric acid (pH 3.2-2.0) isn't quite strong enough. Reply ALIVE RetreatsALIVE Retreats November 12 2018 at 11:17 am Super helpful article on dextrin!! Thank you! Reply Terry EvansTerry Evans April 21 2019 at 5:49 am Destrin has made a huge difference in my diet. I have been using it for 6 months now, and I no longer have the constipation that has plagued my entire life. As long as I keep using it faithfully, according to the directions, I feel so much better, and I am in my middle 80s. Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes April 22 2019 at 8:21 am Hi Terry, I don't think the destrin you're referring to is the same as dextrin. Reply PatricePatrice June 3 2024 at 1:56 am It probably is the same day. Benefiber is purely wheat dextrin. Reply SusanSusan May 5 2019 at 5:03 am Maltodextrins are a class of dextrin which are problematic for some of us. Research is being done on them. Some individuals have severe reactions to any & all forms of maltodextrin. It's found that those who have a history of Irritable Bowel or other GI issues - which is a lot of folks these days - may have a tendency toward maltodextrin intolerance which includes a range of GI symptoms from severe flatulence to extreme diarrhea. Research is also being done to find out if maltodextrin is a factor in Colitis or Crohn's Disease. Other individuals are reporting migraine and an exacerbation of anxiety from maltodextrin (which I have no information on because I don't have that kind of reaction). There is more information being given now with information on maltodextrin that some individuals may be intolerant. Search for information online about "maltodextrin intolerance" or see Facebook page Maltodextrin Intolerance Awareness for a collection of articles off the internet. I have never seen maltodextrin used in any of Bob's products. Thank you for that!!! Reply JulieJulie March 7 2023 at 6:46 am I have a severe reaction to corn Maltodextrin. Yes GI pain and bloat etc etc but also breathing strain, migraine, nausea, sinus congestion etc etc. If it’s in a flavour powder like on a chip, my mouth swells on the inside. Awful! It needs to be removed from foods! I have asthma and allergies and I heard it’s often bad for people with these underlying issues as well. Reply Eric FEric F April 7 2023 at 11:21 am Thanks for the informative post. I came here looking to see if dextrin is comparable to maltodextrin, as I have the intolerance and reactions you describe. I may take a risk and try a product with dextrin, as it seems to be different from maltodextrin. Reply KatKat May 6 2019 at 10:27 am I get migraines from maltodextrin. Whether or not the source is posted in the ingredients doesn’t matter. I believe often times the maltodextrin is shipped in from another country and there is not a real awareness of the source. It also can be hidden in natural flavors based on my conversation with the FDA. I try very hard to eat products with only 5 all natural ingredients or less for these reasons. Or no processed food at all! Reply Tony MorganTony Morgan May 13 2019 at 4:48 am Hi,I have been using dextrin that is the ingredient in a fiber drink that i purchased recently. It say under ingredient “dextrin” I was concerned because I didn’t know what this was. After reading this article I was a little more confident that it would harm me. However since I have been taking it I found that it hasn’t worked as well as some of the other fiber drinks I take. In short I have been having problems with my bowels. I’m taking two spoon fulls I the morning but that may be under the recommendation for this product. What is your thoughts on this? Thanks Tony Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes May 13 2019 at 11:23 am Hi Tony - if you have questions about dextrin in a specific product we recommend contacting that brand's customer service. They will have more specific information than we can provide. Reply Greg SalyerGreg Salyer May 25 2019 at 11:32 am Where can I buy white dextrin for food use? Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes May 25 2019 at 12:31 pm Hi Greg, unfortunately we do not have that information. Reply RochelleRochelle June 5 2019 at 12:50 pm I use Bobs Red Mill gluten free flour exclusively- I have Celiac- in my gluten free cooking & have found that taking dextrin fiber every is the solution to staying regular & therefore happy! Love your products! Reply RobertRobert June 22 2019 at 12:28 pm Benefiber deserves credit for saying its sole ingredient is wheat dextrin, while the cheaper "house brand" products at both Walmart and Walgreen's list merely "dextrin" as the ingredient. I suspect these two products to be the exact same thing, possibly coming from the same manufacturer, and differing only in the labeling. A commenter at another sight, however, cites the Walgreen's brand as consisting of "corn" dextrin, without saying how he obtained that information. Would you feel comfortable in sorting any of the above out for your readers? Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes June 24 2019 at 9:10 am Hi Robert - Unfortunately we don't have other brand or manufacturer's specific information. If there are brands you'd like to compare, we suggest speaking to their Customer Service teams directly. Reply A readerA reader September 2 2022 at 4:25 am Target says on their website that their store brand fiber supplement is "corn dextrin" even though the package only says "dextrin". Reply MargeMarge December 2 2022 at 8:09 am Walmart store brand says in front, Compare to Benefiber Prebiotic Fiber Content. On back where it says Gluten-Free (less than 20 ppm gluten). That is telling you it comes from wheat without using the word Wheat. Reply SKWishSKWish March 30 2024 at 7:43 pm Under Ingredient, it say Wheat Dextrin. Reply MichelleMichelle June 26 2019 at 2:16 pm Does Dextrin raise blood sugar at all? I am aware that Maltodextrin has a high GI. What is GI of dextrin? Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes June 27 2019 at 9:45 am Hi Michelle, unfortunately we do not have that information. Reply DianaDiana November 13 2023 at 11:13 am Maltodextrin is a combination of maltose (a sugar) and dextrin. My understanding is that dextrin does not affect blood sugar. Reply LindaLinda September 22 2019 at 12:59 pm Lily salted caramel chocolate listed dextrin, and I was worried that it was a sugar. On keto now and this is my new favorite chocolate bar. Thanks for the information. Reply Erin JonesErin Jones September 28 2019 at 4:20 am Does Bob’s Red Mill use wheat dextrin in the gluten free flours? I am not celiac but I do have a wheat allergy. Thank you. Reply Sarena ShasteenSarena Shasteen September 28 2019 at 9:31 am Absolutely not. There is no wheat in any form used in our gluten free products. Reply KimKim March 4 2020 at 10:40 pm My dog has ibd (aka ibs). I just purchased a green bean treat product for her that contains Dextrin. I've tried doing research to find out if Dextrin is bad for dogs and if it can be harmful to a dog with ibd/ibs. The package ingredient doesn't say wheat, therefore, I don't know what type of Dextrin it is. The only ingredients are green beans, canola oil, Dextrin and salt (in that order). Any advice and information you can offer, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks for the info on Dextrin that I just read on your site. :-) Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes March 5 2020 at 9:57 am Hi Kim - I'd recommend contacting the dog treat manufacturer's customer service directly. They will have more information about their own ingredients and ingredient derivatives. Reply James SereneJames Serene May 25 2020 at 9:07 am In response to Robert, June 22, 1989 and the comment about soluble dextrin, I tried CVS dextrin because it was less expensive than Benefiber. It looks the same, but it is not nearly as soluble. The CVS and other brands might work just as well, I don't know. However, I prefer the way Benefiber easily blends into most drinks and foods. Reply PamPam September 9 2023 at 6:06 pm I buy Kroger brand and have been very pleased with it. It dissolves completely. I stirred in a glass of water to see how well it dissolved. I could not see any residual powder in the glass. Reply Jerry kaplanJerry kaplan May 29 2020 at 7:33 am How/where can I buy pure wheat dextrin of the type used in Benefiber? Reply RobRob June 1 2020 at 7:34 am Some Dextrin is made from corn and I have a corn allergy. I'm wondering what the Dextrin in Bob's Red Mill products is derived from? thank you! Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes June 2 2020 at 9:31 am Hi Rob, there is maltodextrin used in very few of our products. It is corn derived. Reply Beatriz KimballBeatriz Kimball July 22 2020 at 4:06 am Thank you for the information. I had worried that dextrin was a form of sugar like dextrose. I have been told to avoid sugar and hydrogenated corn syrup. I am glad to have this new information. Reply VivViv August 11 2020 at 4:53 pm The research I've done says that dextrin does not help with lowering cholesterol levels because it does not contain a gel-like substance and thus cannot form a "gel-like material within the small intestine and therefore cannot bind cholesterol." Specifically, there are corroborating studies, including research from National Institutes of Health and the Cleveland Clinic. However, although this article doesn't specifically say dextrin and instead makes the general statement: "A high fiber diet has been linked to numerous health benefits, including weight loss, better skin health, higher bone density, and lower cholesterol." it still appears that you are linking dextrin to lowering cholesterol. Studies show, however, that it might not be that effective because of its lack of viscosity. I would be very interested in hearing more from Bob's Red Mill about dextrin and its impact on cholesterol, if you have any new information. Thank you.  Reply SteveSteve February 20 2021 at 9:09 pm Do you sell dextrin? Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes February 21 2021 at 4:16 pm Hi Steve - No, that is not a product we carry. Reply Sarah HoustonSarah Houston August 14 2021 at 6:56 pm I’ve changed to a keto diet. Will dextrin cause trouble with reaching ketosis if I use it in the form of Benefiber? Reply Marilyn ZanniniMarilyn Zannini October 11 2021 at 2:31 pm Thank you. Very good information and explanations. However, I am concerned about the acids that are used to spray the starch that ends up as wheat dextrin (e.g., orthophosphoric acid which sounds extremely toxic and other acids) Can you tell me if this will harm humans & pets in the short or long run? Reply TraceyTracey October 14 2021 at 2:38 pm Dextrin sounds pretty good but it is sprayed with acid in production-is this not an issue? It is also part of ultra processed foodstuffs-I thought these were bad for you? Reply MaryMary November 23 2021 at 10:57 am Thank you. I take Walgreen's generic for m of Dextrin, because the others all have sugars listed. It has no taste, and works well, glad to hear it is not harmful. Reply MichelleMichelle November 25 2021 at 8:54 pm Hello! I recently found some very old recipes from my great grandfather’s bakery and one of the ingredients listed in what I think is his donut dough is “Badex.” From what little information I could find on Badex, it seems to be a mix of dextrin and sugar that was commonly used in pasta. Any idea what this is and where I could find it (or a substitute) so I can attempt these recipes? Reply Whitney BarnesWhitney Barnes November 29 2021 at 10:23 am Hi Michelle - I'm sorry, we don't have any information on that. Reply Louise ScanlonLouise Scanlon July 6 2022 at 2:19 pm Your info. on dextrin was VERY helpful. Thank you so much? Reply Judith ArmbrusterJudith Armbruster July 27 2022 at 3:57 am Wow I really learned something today thanks. I have been taking spectrum and I really knew nothing about it! Now I do.Great breakdown of info and facts. Reply SusanSusan August 6 2022 at 8:14 pm I'm hoping this was merely a typo, but I read in your article that reducing triglycerides can "increase" risk of stroke and heart attack. I hope you meant "decrease". Reply Elisabeth AllieElisabeth Allie August 11 2022 at 8:22 am Yikes, someone needs more coffee! Thank you. :) Reply Carol StadelCarol Stadel August 23 2022 at 8:27 am I was looking if Dextrin would interfere with inflammation diet? Diagnosed with RA and trying to clean up diet. I have loss 40 pounds and feeling better. So want to keep on same track. I avoid gluten, sugar, dyes, soda, and only use organic produce and grass fed beef, cage free poultry, and etc. Reply Elisabeth AllieElisabeth Allie August 23 2022 at 9:37 am Hi there! We recommend you ask your doctor or healthcare professional. Reply Elena QuinnElena Quinn April 9 2023 at 12:23 pm Curious about the crystallization of dextrin. I am trying to switch to only allulose as a sugar replacement, but it is very hygroscopic. Cookies come out too soft. I could add erythritol but I don’t like the cooling effect. I am wondering if dextrin would work to add structure back into cookies. Allulose is great for most recipes but I haven’t mastered the cookies yet and it’s making me crazy. Reply Elisabeth AllieElisabeth Allie July 6 2023 at 3:27 pm Hi Elena! Please email customerservice@bobsredmill.com for assistance. Reply LolaLola June 10 2023 at 2:21 pm Which of your products contain dextrin? I would like to buy some wheat dextrin to add crispiness to my fried (or air fried) foods, but I've only come across one brand that sells it, and I cannot afford to pay $10 for 4oz. Does Bob's Red Mill sell wheat dextrin? Reply Elisabeth AllieElisabeth Allie November 6 2023 at 11:44 am Hi Lola! We do not sell wheat dextrin. Hope you have better luck! Reply Judy BlancoJudy Blanco June 12 2023 at 1:35 pm Can you tell me which of your Flour products contain Dextrin. Reply Elisabeth AllieElisabeth Allie July 6 2023 at 2:57 pm Hi Judy! Please email customerservice@bobsredmill.com. Reply karen ramsaurkaren ramsaur September 23 2023 at 4:45 pm Has anyone ever reported a reaction (hives) when taking the fiber soluble (dextrin) ? Reply JanJan April 26 2024 at 9:56 am Thank you so much for this interesting article. You’ve offered so much clarit, for me, in my quest to learn what some of these added ingredients are, in many of the foods I have to eat. Yes, I’m one of those folks who has food intolerances so, it’s important for me to scour labels, prior to trying something new. I really appreciate your products and the time and effort you take, trying to help your customers! May the good Lord bless you! Sincerely, With Appreciation, Mrs. Janet LaFave Reply Ashley MorrisAshley Morris April 26 2024 at 2:38 pm Hi Janet, thank you for your kind words. We are glad we can provide you with helpful information and products that work for you. 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