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Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
What is it:
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) is a semi-synthetic polymer derived from cellulose, a natural plant fiber. HPMC is used as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier. The production of HPMC involves treating cellulose, typically sourced from wood or cotton, with alkali and then reacting it with propylene oxide to introduce hydroxypropyl groups, then it is further modified with methoxy groups through the addition of methyl chloride. It is often used in vegetarian and vegan food products as a plant-based alternative to gelatin, as well as in baked goods.
Rating:
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose is synthetically modified from its original form as cellulose, however, it appears to possess many of the same beneficial attributes as cellulose. In animal studies, it has shown beneficial metabolic effects and prebiotic gut modulation. Human research is lacking. It has not exhibited any toxic effects in animal studies. Cellulose can be processed with sulfuric acid, which is a highly corrosive substance and a known carcinogen.
Resources:
- Safety assessment of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (review)
- HPMC contributes to cholesterol-lowering effect of whole grains in hamsters (animal study)
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose increases excretion of saturated and trans fats in hamsters (animal study)
- No chronic toxic effects of HPMC in rats (animal study)
- No negative effects of chronic HPMC intake in dogs or rats (animal study)
- HPMC acts as a prebiotic to beneficially modify intestinal microbiota in rats (animal study)
- HPMC positively benefits metabolic parameters and gut inflammation in rats (animal study)
- [Sulfuric acid treatment on cellulose fibers](https://biotechnologyforbiofuels.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13068-023-02293-4#:~:text=Sulfuric acid of 72%25 concentration,in lignocellulosic biomass [22].)
- Sulfuric acid hazardous substance fact sheet
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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