a b van Dalen D (2020). Gum Arabic.The Golden Tears of the Acacia Tree. Leiden: Leiden University Press. ISBN 9789087283360. While the gum arabic industry in Sudan has experienced a decline in recent decades, mostly due to Sudan being “politically unstable” at times, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese people are still dependent on gum arabic for their livelihoods. The Darfur region of Sudan remains the world’s largest single producer of gum arabic, where production is heavily controlled by the Sudanese government.

In Sudan, gums that are harvested from acacia trees are known as Indian gum arabic, or talha. Other nations included in the “gum belt” of sub-Saharan Africa are Chad, Eritrea, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. Final Thoughts Gum arabic’s structure allows it to dissolve in cold or warm water (meaning it’s “water-soluble”), making it easy to use in a variety of ways. Because it is a natural, plant-derived product, it’s suitable for vegans/vegetarians (unlike other products with similar qualities, such as gelatin). It is also naturally gluten-free, usually non-GMO and well-tolerated by most people when used in appropriate/small amounts. Since it’s a concentrated source of dietary fiber, acacia gum can help make people feel full, helping curb cravings and overeating, and possibly helping with weight loss and reduced cholesterol levels. Results from one study showed that two different blends of gum arabic were able to decrease participants’ caloric intake significantly three hours after taking gum arabic. At doses of 40 grams, it yielded a significant reduction in energy intake of 100–200 kcal, while doses of 10 or 20 grams led to a reduction in energy intake around 100 kcal. ( 8)

What is Gum Arabic?

Guar gum is sometimes used as a vegetarian-friendly alternative to gelatin, just like acacia gum. You’ll find guar gum in foods like cottage cheeses, curds, yogurt, sauces, soups and frozen desserts. It’s considered non-toxic and safe when consumed in small amounts but may contribute to digestive issues when taken in high doses. When using gum arabic supplements, it’s recommended that you take about 15 grams per day. ( 14) Higher doses may cause side effects, so start with a low dose and monitor your reaction. Recipes Hosseinpour M, Fazeli A, Agabeigi M. Efficacy of Acacia senegal for stoma care in children with colostomy. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2012 22(3):234-7. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1308706. View abstract.

a b Ahmed AA (January 2018). "Health benefits of gum arabic and medical use.". Gum Arabic. Academic Press. pp.183–210. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-812002-6.00016-6. ISBN 978-0-12-812002-6. If you’re dealing with any serious digestive issues and following the GAPS diet or specific carbohydrate diet (SCD), then know that most fiber gums (including acacia, guar gum, etc.) are “prohibited” because they may make inflammation in the gut worse. Otherwise, as long as you are not sensitive to these gums and don’t notice any symptoms flaring up when eating them, they shouldn’t raise much concern. Uses Gum arabic is also used as a water-soluble binder in fireworks composition. [22] Composition [ edit ] Babiker R, Elmusharaf K, Keogh MB, Saeed AM. Effect of gum arabic (Acacia senegal) supplementation on visceral adiposity index (VAI) and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD): a randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lipids Health Dis. 2018;17(1):56. View abstract. Azzaoui K, Hammouti B, Lamhamdi A, Mejdoubi E, Berrabah M (20 December 2014). "The Gum Arabic in the southern region of Morocco". Moroccan Journal of Chemistry. 3: 99–107.Gum arabic's mixture of polysaccharides and glycoproteins gives it the properties of a glue and binder that is edible by humans. Other substances have replaced it where toxicity is not an issue, as the proportions of the various chemicals in gum arabic vary widely and make it unpredictable. It remains an important ingredient in soft drink syrup and "hard" gummy candies such as gumdrops, marshmallows, and M&M's chocolate candies. For artists, it is the traditional binder in watercolor paint and in photography for gum printing, and it is used as a binder in pyrotechnic compositions. Pharmaceutical drugs and cosmetics also use the gum as a binder, emulsifier, and suspending agent or viscosity-increasing agent. [12] Wine makers have used gum arabic as a wine fining agent. [13] Alarifi S, Bell A, Walton G. In vitro fermentation of gum acacia - impact on the faecal microbiota. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2018;69(6):696-704. View abstract. Parmalee CW, Harman CG (1973). Ceramic Glazes (3rded.). Cahners Bookj. pp. 131–133, 145, 589. ISBN 0-8436-0609-6.

Al Mustafa, Z. H. and Dafallah, A. A. A study on the toxicology of Acacia nilotica. Am J Chin Med 2000;28(1):123-129. View abstract. Babiker R, Elmusharaf K, Keogh MB, Saeed AM. Effect of Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) supplementation on visceral adiposity index (VAI) and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD): a randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lipids Health Dis. 2018;17(1):56. doi:10.1186/s12944-018-0711-y Gum arabic, also sometimes called acacia gum or acacia powder, is a fibrous product made from the natural hardened sap of two types of wild Acacia trees. Around the world, gum arabic goes by many names, including acacia gum, arabic gum, acacia powder, Senegal gum, Indian gum and others. Mohamed RE, Gadour MO, Adam I (18 May 2015). "The lowering effect of Gum Arabic on hyperlipidemia in Sudanese patients". Frontiers in Physiology. 6: 160. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2015.00160. PMC 4434902. PMID 26042049. Two types of acacia trees ( Acacia senegal and A. seyal), which are grown in the Sahelian belt of Africa, especially Sudan, are the principle sources of gum arabic.These ingredients are used in food manufacturing, baking and cooking to create gels and manipulate how spongy, brittle or soft a product is. These “gelling agents” dictate the texture and chewiness that a product will wind up having since they help absorb water and bind ingredients together. It’s common for gums to be found in sweet products and desserts, which usually come out best when some type of pectin, gelatin and starch are combined. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Arguin". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol.2 (11thed.). Cambridge University Press. p.482. Beneke CE, Viljoen AM, Hamman JH. Polymeric plant-derived excipients in drug delivery. Molecules. 2009;14(7):2602-20. View abstract.

Ali BH, Ziada A, Blunden G (January 2009). "Biological effects of gum arabic: a review of some recent research". Food and Chemical Toxicology. 47 (1): 1–8. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.07.001. PMID 18672018. If little water is used, after evaporation, the acacia gum functions as a true binder in a paint film, increasing luminosity and helping prevent the colors from lightening. Gum arabic allows more subtle control over washes, because it facilitates the dispersion of the pigment particles. In addition, acacia gum slows evaporation of water, giving slightly longer working time. [ citation needed] Since the 1950s, the global supply of gum arabic has been dominated by Sudan. [27] In the early 2020s, about 70% of the global supply has been sourced from Sudan, [28] with approximately 5 million Sudanese people (more than 10 percent of a country's population) being directly or indirectly dependent on gum arabic for their livelihoods. [29] After market reforms in 2019, official figures showed that Sudan's exports of gum arabic were at about 60,000 tonnes in 2022, but exact numbers are difficult to ascertain because some production is in regions that are hard to access. [27] [30] Before the reforms, the production of gum arabic was heavily dominated by the Sudanese government and in some periods there were attempts of using its importance to the global market as a leverage against other countries. [27] [31] Since the 2023 Sudan conflict, the export of gum arabic has been interrupted, causing a crash in its price in Sudan because of a reduced ability to export the product, whereas international companies that rely on it are attempting to diversity the supply chain of gum arabic and find alternative ingredients that can be used as a replacement. [27] [32] Pharmacology [ edit ]Gelatin is different from most other gelling agents because it isn’t a complex sugar, but rather an animal-derived protein made from animal collagen. Gelatin is usually sourced from various parts of animals (including bones and connective tissue), especially cattle and pigs. Acacia senegal (gum arabic)". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. The addition of a little gum arabic to watercolor pigment and water allows for easier lifting of pigment from paper, thus can be a useful tool when lifting out color when painting in watercolor. [19] Ceramics [ edit ]