Psyllium Husk Powder

Single-ingredient psyllium husk fiber reference formula with 5,000 mg per serving, developed as a powder, with a capsule option.

Psyllium Husk Powder is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient fiber product with an example amount of 5,000 mg of psyllium per serving. Psyllium is the only active, so the development work centers on a gel-forming soluble fiber that thickens on contact with water, the grittiness and flavor of a husk powder, and the capsule count needed to carry a gram-level dose.

Powder is the lead format because 5,000 mg is a gram-level serving that mixes into water, with a capsule version at 500 mg per capsule for brands that sell a counted-unit product. The reference labels range from 450 mg to 12,000 mg per serving and list psyllium next to other fibers in many products, so the page is built around psyllium alone.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Psyllium5000 mg (example amount)Psyllium husk powder; specification 5,000 mg per serving, purity of husk, particle size and swelling volume set with the supplierPsyllium Husk Extract Powder, a different raw material with its own specification and input weight

Amounts are stated as mg of psyllium husk as purchased, not of dietary fiber. The reference label of the lead formula lists 5,000 mg of psyllium next to 4,300 mg of dietary fiber, so the fiber share of the husk is part of the specification.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around daily fiber nutrition. Psyllium is included as the single active so that the grade, the amount and the delivery format can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Cardiometabolic fiber nutritionPsylliumA dose-response meta-analysis of 41 randomized trials with 2,049 participants found that psyllium significantly decreased LDL cholesterol (weighted mean difference −8.55) and total cholesterol (−9.05) [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Weight management nutritionPsylliumA review and meta-analysis of 6 randomized studies in overweight and obese participants (n = 354) reported that psyllium dosed just before meals at a mean of 10.8 g per day decreased body weight (mean difference −2.1 kg) [2]. Evidence: Referenced

The studies behind [1] and [2] used their own doses and preparations, so amount, claims and target market for a finished product are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The psyllium reference formula is built for a powder version and a capsule version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 stick pack5000 mg30 stick packs or a 300 g tubFlavor, sweetener, citric acid, flow agentLead format; mixed into water before drinking
Capsule3 capsules1500 mg (500 mg per capsule)90 or 180 capsulesFlow agent, vegetable capsule shellCounted-unit format; the capsule serving is smaller than the powder serving

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled psyllium weight at an assumed 100% of the husk powder as purchased, so each unit uses the psyllium weight shown below; the real input follows the certificate of analysis.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Powder5000 mg psyllium husk8000 mg per stick3000 mgDispersion in water, gel formation rate, moisture pickup
Capsule500 mg psyllium husk550 mg per capsule50 mgPowder density, fill weight variation, flow

Tablet, gummy and liquid versions are separate projects, because a gel-forming fiber at a gram-level dose needs its own compression, matrix or hydration control in those formats.

Formulation Considerations

Gel formation. Psyllium thickens quickly in water, so a powder that clumps on contact needs a dispersion aid or a granulated husk, and the stick pack is tested for how fast it mixes before it gels.
Water with the dose. A husk fiber swells with water, so the label carries clear instructions on the amount of water to take with each serving, and capsules are filled so they disintegrate before swelling.
Gritty, bulky powder. Husk powder is bulky and slightly gritty. Particle size, sweetener, flavor and acid are set to keep the drink smooth, and the husk has to be kept dry to avoid caking.
Evidence and tier. The meta-analyses in [1] and [2] cover different doses and preparations, and neither sets the dose of a finished product. Before development begins, the dose limit and the label wording are reviewed for every sales market.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the psyllium amount, the form, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Psyllium per serving500, 720, 1000 or 5000 mgExamples for the brand; capsules per serving or stick size change with the amount
FormHusk powder or husk extract powderChanges the input weight and the specification
FormatPowder or capsuleTablet, gummy and liquid are separate projects
Pack size30 to 180 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsInulin, magnesiumAnother fiber raises the fill weight and changes the viscosity, and magnesium adds a salty note in a drink

The pilot run confirms how fast the powder disperses and gels, the grittiness and flavor of the finished drink, and the moisture content of the first units against the specification.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderOrange, lemon, berryCitrus and berry profiles cover the plain, starchy taste of the husk

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (5000 mg on the label of CF015361; example DSLD labels 211342). The label names the ingredient as psyllium; a husk powder is set as the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationPsyllium husk powder, 5,000 mg per serving; husk purity, particle size, swelling volume, moisture, pesticide and heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Gholami Z, Paknahad Z. Psyllium supplementation and lipid profiles: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Genes Nutr. 2025;20(1):27. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Gibb RD, Sloan KJ, McRorie JW. Psyllium is a natural nonfermented gel-forming fiber that is effective for weight loss: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2023;35(8):468-476. DOI · PubMed

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