Drug & supplement interaction

Arabinoxylan + Metformin Hydrochloride

Metformin Hydrochloride brand name: Riomet ER.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Arabinoxylan has a moderate interaction with Metformin Hydrochloride. Evidence from human research suggests that an arabinoxylan-rich fiber can reduce postprandial glucose levels.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Arabinoxylan and Metformin Hydrochloride

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTIDIABETES DRUGS

Why this applies to Metformin Hydrochloride

Metformin Hydrochloride falls under ANTIDIABETES DRUGS — the group Arabinoxylan interacts with.

Evidence from human research suggests that an arabinoxylan-rich fiber can reduce postprandial glucose levels. Theoretically, arabinoxylan might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments might be necessary. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: arabinoxylan is a fermentable fiber that can slow how fast your body absorbs sugar after a meal, so it tends to nudge your blood sugar a little lower on its own. Since metformin is already working to bring your glucose down, the two can add up. The end result is that your numbers could dip lower than usual.

For most people on metformin alone this is usually mild, because metformin by itself rarely causes true low blood sugar. The bigger concern is if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea like glipizide alongside it. Watch for shakiness, sweating, or feeling lightheaded, and check your sugars a bit more often when you start the fiber. The evidence here is early, so don't change your dose on your own. Just give your pharmacist or doctor a heads-up first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Lu ZX, Walker KZ, Muir JG, Mascara T, O'Dea K. Arabinoxylan fiber, a byproduct of wheat flour processing, reduces the postprandial glucose response in normoglycemic subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(5):1123-1128.
  2. Lu ZX, Walker KZ, Muir JG, O'Dea K. Arabinoxylan fibre improves metabolic control in people with Type II diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr 2004;58(4):621-8. PubMed
  3. Garcia AL, Otto B, Reich SC, et al. Arabinoxylan consumption decreases postprandial serum glucose, serum insulin and plasma total ghrelin response in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007;61(3):334-41. PubMed
  4. Garcia AL, Steiniger J, Reich SC, et al. Arabinoxylan fibre consumption improved glucose metabolism, but did not affect serum adipokines in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Horm Metab Res 2006;38(11):761-766. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Arabinoxylan Also Interacts With Other Medications

Arabinoxylan has 85 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Metformin Hydrochloride one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 85 No known interaction 2,745 (incl. Metformin Hydrochloride)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Arabinoxylan

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Arabinoxylan. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Metformin Hydrochloride

This page covers Arabinoxylan only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metformin Hydrochloride page lists 257 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 217 moderate · 38 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metformin Hydrochloride page

“Anyone taking metformin hydrochloride (Riomet ER) should treat this list with genuine care, because two of its 257 entries are rated major. Siberian cocklebur has caused severe hypoglycemia in people and should not be combined with metformin at all, and activated charcoal can adsorb the drug in the gut so less reaches your blood.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin Hydrochloride interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Arabinoxylan as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1 real supplement products containing Arabinoxylan, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Arabinoxylan. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Metformin Hydrochloride too, on top of Arabinoxylan — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Arabinoxylan and Metformin Hydrochloride Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Arabinoxylan
Top half

#674 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin Hydrochloride
Top 5%

#142 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Arabinoxylan

What is Arabinoxylan?

Arabinoxylan
  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive and gut health (prebiotic)
  • Cholesterol and triglyceride support
  • Immune support
  • Metabolic syndrome

Arabinoxylan is a type of dietary fiber found in cereal grains that acts as a prebiotic and may modestly affect blood sugar and blood fats. The evidence for most uses is early and limited, so it should not replace proven treatments. If you are considering it, talk with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Read the full Arabinoxylan monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Arabinoxylan

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Arabinoxylan — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
85Moderate
0Minor
2,744No known interaction
85 Moderate 2,744 No interaction
Moderate

85 interactions

Showing 60 of 85 moderate interactions — see all 85 on the Arabinoxylan page.

No interaction 2,744 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Arabinoxylan against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,744 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Arabinoxylan list.

See the full Arabinoxylan interactions page
See every supplement checked against Metformin Hydrochloride, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Arabinoxylan monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Metformin Hydrochloride supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Metformin Hydrochloride, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Arabinoxylan and Metformin Hydrochloride Together: Common Questions

Can you take Arabinoxylan with Metformin Hydrochloride?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Arabinoxylan and Metformin Hydrochloride interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Metformin Hydrochloride and Arabinoxylan?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.