Guar Gum

The Basics On Guar Gum

What is Guar Gum?

Plant-derived thickening agent.

What are other names for Guar Gum?

GUAR GUM, CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA (GUAR) GUM, CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA GUM, CYANOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA GUM, GUAR (CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA) GUM, GUAR GUM, GUAR GUM (CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBUS (L.)), GUAR GUM; GUAR GUM (CYAMOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBUS); SOLVENT PURIFIED GUAR GUM, GUM, CYANOPSIS TETRAGONOLOBA, and GUM, GUAR

What is Guar Gum used for?

Guar gum is a polysaccharide that is extracted from Guar beans. It acts as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer in many cosmetic formulations. Guar gum has 8 times the water-thickening potency of cornstarch. It comes in a white powder and only a small concentration (0.5%-1%) is needed in cosmetic formulations to increase the viscosity of the final product. Guar gum can be used in many skin care formulations: In soaps to help achieve better emulsions, and as a whitening agent In lotions, creams, and ointment recipes as an emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer In shampoos, conditioners, and liquid soaps to increase viscosity, and to allow solid particles to be suspended in the product n natural toothpaste recipes

How Guar Gum is classified

Plant Extracts, Thickeners/Emulsifiers

Recommendations for using Guar Gum during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Guar Gum During Pregnancy

What we know about using Guar Gum while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum Groups of male and female Osborne-Mendel rats (4 weeks old; 34 to 40/group) were fed cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum in the diet at concentrations of 0, 1, 3, 4, 7.5, or 15% 13 weeks prior to mating, during mating, and throughout Distributed for comment — do not cite or quote CIR Panel Book Page 85 16 gestation.88 Groups of female rats consumed 0, 0.7, 1.4, 2.7, 5.2, or 11.8 g/kg body weight/day, respectively, during gestation. The animals were killed on gestation day 20. None of the females died during the study. The ingestion of cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum prior to mating had no effect on fertility. No effects on the number of corpora lutea or implantations were observed in the 1% to 7.5% cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum dietary groups. When compared to the control group, slightly fewer corpora lutea and implantations were observed in the 15% dietary group; however, there was no effect on implantation efficiency. A slight reduction (not statistically significant) in the number of viable fetuses per litter was also noted in the 15% dietary group. Because the number of resorptions was not affected in this group, this reduction appeared to have been an effect of the decreased number of corpora lutea. It was concluded that cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum in the diet had no effect on fetal development or sex distribution and was not teratogenic. In another teratogenicity study on cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum, groups of virgin adult female albino CD-1 outbred mice (ages not stated) were mated with young adult males, and observation of the vaginal sperm plug was considered day 0 of gestation.89 The following groups of mated female mice received daily oral doses of cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum (in corn oil; dose volume = 1 ml/kg body weight) on days 6 through 15 of gestation: 22 mice (8 mg/kg/day), 26 mice (37 mg/kg/day), 25 mice (170 mg/kg/day), and 29 mice (800 mg/kg/day). A sham-treated control group was also included and aspirin served as the positive control. Doses up to 170 mg/kg/day had no clearly discernible effect on nidation or on maternal or fetal survival. Additionally, the number of abnormalities observed in either skeletal or soft tissues of test groups did not differ from the number that occurred spontaneously in sham-treated controls. In the 800 mg/kg/day dose group, a significant number of maternal deaths (6 of 29) was reported. Surviving dams appeared completely normal and the same was true of fetuses. No effects on the rate of nidation or survival of live pups in utero was noted. It was concluded that, under the conditions of this test, cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum was not teratogenic in mice. The teratogenicity of cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum in rats and hamsters was also evaluated in this study. Except for the administration of different doses and a shorter dosing period for hamsters, the test procedure was the same. Results are summarized below. Four groups of 24 mated female rats (ages not stated) received cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum (in corn oil) at daily oral doses of 9, 42, 200, and 900 mg/kg/day, respectively. Doses up to 900 mg/kg/day had no clearly discernible effect on nidation or on maternal or fetal survival. The number of abnormalities observed in either skeletal or soft tissues of test groups did not differ from the number that occurred spontaneously in sham-treated controls. The following groups of mated female hamsters (ages not stated) received daily oral doses of cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) gum (in corn oil): 22 hamsters (6 mg/kg/day), 22 hamsters (28 mg/kg/day), 25 hamsters (130 mg/kg/day), and 20 hamsters (600 mg/kg/day) on days 6 through 10 of gestation. Doses up to 600 mg/kg/day had no clearly discernible effect on nidation or on maternal or fetal survival. Furthermore, the number of abnormalities observed in either skeletal or soft tissues of test groups did not differ from the number that occurred spontaneously in sham-treated controls.89

General safety info about Guar Gum from CIR

Galactomannans are legume polysaccharides that function mostly as hair/skin conditioning agents and viscosity increasing agents in cosmetic products. Their substantial molecular sizes suggested that skin penetration of these ingredients would be unlikely. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the galactomannans included in this safety assessment are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Guar Gum

VMV Hypoallergenics Essence Simple-Gentle Skin-Saving Toothpaste ; PerioSciences AO Pro Rinse Natural; Marvis Aquatic Mint Toothpaste; SEPHORA COLLECTION Peppermint Gum Mask – Toning; Urban Decay Eyeshadow; SEPHORA COLLECTION Ultra Shine Lip Gloss