What is medical amylum?

An amylum is a starch. A starch is a high molecular weight polysaccharide made up of d-glucose residues consisting of 80 percent amylopectin and 20 percent amylose. It is a complex carbohydrate found in seeds, fruits, tubers, roots and stem pith of plants, notably in corn, potatoes, wheat and rice.

Amylum can be used in adhesives, fillers and stiffeners for paper and textiles. Medical amylum is also commonly found in diet pills, because it is supposed to help fill up the stomach to reduce the appetite. It is also claimed to control the body's fat intake and block non-fat material from converting into fat.