Carob

Carob/Drug Interactions:

  • AntidiarrhealAntidiarrheal: Based on a laboratory study, carob may reduce the adherence of Escherichia coli on intestinal epithelial (27).
  • Antihyperglycemic drugsAntihyperglycemic drugs: Based on a clinical study, locust bean gum decreased the glucose response and glycemic index of subjects with type 2 diabetes when eating a high glycemic index food (30). This result was supported by one rat study on rebound hypoglycemia (31), but was not supported by another clinical study in non-diabetic subjects (32).
  • Antilipemic agentsAntilipemic agents: Based on two clinical trials, carob bean gum may reduce hyperlipidemia in adults (33) and LDL cholesterol levels in children and adolescents with elevated plasma LDL cholesterol levels (34); these findings are also supported by animal studies (35; 36).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Based on an in vitro study in Vero cells, carob bean gum polysaccharides may block a step in rubella virus replication subsequent to virus attachment, such as internalization and/or uncoating (39).
  • Cancer drugsCancer drugs: Based on in vitro study, carob leaf extracts may act as chemopreventive agents by acting on peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (40).
  • Laxative drugsLaxative drugs: Based on multiple animal studies, carob bean gum may increase fecal weight (28; 25; 29).
  • Oral drugsOral drugs: Based on a clinical study and a rat study, carob bean gum may decrease bowel transit time (37; 31). However, in two other clinical trials, bowel transit time was not significantly affected by the carob bean gum (28; 38).
  • Oral rehydration solutionOral rehydration solution: In two clinical trials in children and infants with acute diarrhea, carob bean juice or carob pod powder may reduce the symptoms of infectious diarrhea (41; 42).

    • Carob/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Antidiarrheal herbsAntidiarrheal herbs: Based on a laboratory study, carob may reduce the adherence of Escherichia coli on intestinal epithelial (27).
  • AntilipemicsAntilipemics: Based on two clinical trials, carob bean gum may reduce hyperlipidemia in adults (33) and LDL cholesterol levels in children and adolescents with elevated plasma LDL cholesterol levels (34); these findings are also supported by animal studies (35; 36).
  • AntiviralsAntivirals: Based on an in vitro study in Vero cells, carob bean gum polysaccharides may block a step in rubella virus replication subsequent to virus attachment, such as internalization and/or uncoating (39).
  • Cancer herbsCancer herbs: Based on in vitro study, carob leaf extracts may act as chemopreventive agents (40).
  • ChromiumChromium: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of chromium (21).
  • CobaltCobalt: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of cobalt (21).
  • CopperCopper: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of copper (21).
  • IronIron: Based on lab study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of iron (22; 23; 24).
  • HypoglycemicsHypoglycemics: Based on a clinical study, locust bean gum decreased the glucose response and glycemic index of subjects with type 2 diabetes when eating a high glycemic index food (30). This result was supported by one rat study on rebound hypoglycemia (31), but was not supported by another clinical study in non-diabetic subjects (32).
  • Laxative herbsLaxative herbs: Based on multiple animal studies, carob bean gum may increase fecal weight (28; 25; 29).
  • Oral herbsOral herbs: Based on a clinical study and a rat study, carob bean gum may decrease bowel transit time (37; 31). However, in two other clinical trials, bowel transit time was not significantly affected by the carob bean gum (28; 38).
  • ZincZinc: Based on an animal and lab study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of zinc (21; 22; 23; 24).

    • Carob/Food Interactions:

  • GeneralGeneral: Based on a clinical study and a rat study, carob bean gum may decrease bowel transit time (37; 31). However, in two clinical trials, bowel transit time was not significantly affected by the carob bean gum (28; 38).
  • Chromium-containing foodsChromium-containing foods: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of chromium (21).
  • Cobalt-containing foodsCobalt-containing foods: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of cobalt (21).
  • Copper-containing foodsCopper-containing foods: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of copper (21).
  • Iron-containing foodsIron-containing foods: Based on lab study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of iron (22; 23; 24).
  • Zinc-containing foodsZinc-containing foods: Based on an animal and lab study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of zinc (21; 22; 23; 24).

    • Carob/Lab Interactions:

  • Serum chromium levelsSerum chromium levels: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of chromium (21).
  • Serum creatinine levelsSerum creatinine levels: Based on a clinical study in patients with renal failure, locust bean gum may reduce creatinine levels (17)
  • Serum copper levelsSerum copper levels: Based on an animal study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of copper (21).
  • Serum drug or herb levelsSerum drug or herb levels: Based on a clinical study and a rat study, carob bean gum may decrease bowel transit time (37; 31). However, in two other clinical trials, bowel transit time was not significantly affected by the carob bean gum (28; 38).
  • Serum glucose levelsSerum glucose levels: Based on a clinical study, locust bean gum decreased the glucose response and glycemic index of subjects with type 2 diabetes when eating a high glycemic index food (30). This result was supported by one rat study on rebound hypoglycemia (31), but was not supported by another clinical study in non-diabetic subjects (32).
  • Serum iron levelsSerum iron levels: Based on lab study, carob bean gum may reduce the absorption of iron (22; 23; 24).
  • Serum lipid levelsSerum lipid levels: Based on two clinical trials, carob bean gum may reduce hyperlipidemia in adults (33) and LDL cholesterol levels in children and adolescents with elevated plasma LDL cholesterol levels (34); these findings are also supported by animal studies (35; 36).
  • Serum uric acid levelsSerum uric acid levels: Based on a rat study, carob bean gum may decrease serum uric acid concentration, (26).
  • Virus titersVirus titers: Based on an in vitro study in Vero cells, carob bean gum polysaccharides may block a step in rubella virus replication subsequent to virus attachment, such as internalization and/or uncoating (39).