Alpha-Cyclodextrine
A safe, highly functional flavor carrier.
- Category
- Stabilisers
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
What it is
A cyclic ring of glucose molecules used to encapsulate and protect flavors or vitamins.
How it is used in food
Alpha-cyclodextrin is a ring of six glucose units with a water-repelling internal cavity that traps volatile flavour molecules, essential oils and light-sensitive vitamins, protecting them from oxidation and evaporation until moisture in the mouth releases them. The same cavity is used to mask bitterness and off-notes and to turn oils into free-flowing powders.
Commonly found in- Flavor carrier
- Dietary supplements
Health and safety
Considered completely safe; it digests as a carbohydrate.
EFSA concluded alpha-cyclodextrin is safe as a food additive and separately accepted the blood-glucose claim in a 2012 opinion. Human amylase barely touches it, so rather than being digested like starch it reaches the colon and is fermented there, behaving as a soluble dietary fibre; large single doses can therefore cause bloating.
Regulatory status
| Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia & New Zealand FSANZ |
Permitted | Permitted under the FSANZ Food Standards Code. |
| European Union EFSA / European Commission |
Not approved | Not on the EU authorised list of food additives (Annex II). |
| United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration) |
Permitted | Authorised for food use by the FDA (often GRAS for standard additives). |
Identification on labels
- E-number
- E457
Worth knowing
It is the only food additive carrying an authorised EU health claim of its own: consuming 5 g of alpha-cyclodextrin per 50 g of starch in a meal contributes to reducing the blood glucose rise after that meal, because it binds some of the starch and slows its digestion.
Conclusion
A safe, highly functional flavor carrier.
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Open the appEntry last reviewed 2026-07-28.
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