How Proof Pudding supports gut health with carob bean gum.

Carob bean gum (also known as locust bean gum), a soluble fiber derived from the seeds of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), supports gut health by acting as a prebiotic and improving intestinal function. It resists digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract and is fermented by gut microbiota in the colon, and can prevent inflammation and injury in the colon in rodent models of ulcerative colitis (Jiang et al., 2022). 

Studies have also shown that carob bean gum can enrich beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus (Wei et al., 2025; Jiang et al., 2022). Additionally, consumption of carob bean gum has been shown to help control hyperlipidemia (Zavoral, et al., 1983), which is characterized by high levels of lipids in the blood and a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

References:

• Jiang, K., et al. (2022). Structural characteristics of locust bean gum hydrolysate and its alleviating effect on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Frontiers in Microbiology.

• Wei, L., et al. (2025). Comparison of in vitro fermentation characteristics of carob gum and guar gum. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

• Zavoral, J. H., et al. (1983). The hypolipidemic effect of locust bean gum food products in familial hypercholesterolemic adults and children. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Photo: Seed pods akin to carob bean pods which contain the carob bean