Guar gum benefits duodenal ulcer patients by decreasing gastric acidity and rate of emptying of gastric contents 60 to 120 minutes postprandially.

The effects of increasing the viscosity of a meal on postprandial acidity, acid load, and rate of emptying of gastric contents was studied in 15 duodenal ulcer patients in a double-blind manner by adding five gm of guar gum or placebo evenly to a test meal. The acidity of gastric juices was measured postprandially during a 120-min period using samples drawn via a nasogastric tube. Gastric emptying was measured via assessment of the degrees of dilution of polyethylene glycol added to the test meals. Guar gum decreased the total acid load, gastric juice acidity, and rates of emptying of gastric contents between 60 and 120 min postprandially, probably because of its effects on viscosity and neutralization of gastric acidity and may therefore be beneficial for duodenal ulcer patients.