Soluble dietary fiber and methods of making and use thereof

A soluble dietary fiber in particulate form, having a d10 in the range of 10 μm to 40 μm, a d50 in the range of 15 μm to 95 μm, and a d90 in the range of 55 μm to 100 μm, wherein the d10 value is at least 33% of the d50 value, and wherein the d90 value is no more than 300% of the d50 value, the soluble dietary fiber having a fiber content of at least 65% and a linkage pattern comprising:

• 25-45% terminally-linked glucopyranosyl residues;
• 10-22% 6-linked glucopyranosyl residues;
• 13-32% 4-linked glucopyranosyl residues;
• 2-11% 3-linked glucopyranosyl residues;
• 3-13% 4,6-linked glucopyranosyl residues;
• 1-5% 3,6-linked glucopyranosyl residues;
• and
• 0.5-4% 2,4-linked glucopyranosyl residues,
• wherein the soluble dietary fiber is made by a process comprising:
• providing a saccharide feed comprising at least 95 wt % on a dry solids basis of dextrose and/or dextrose oligomers;
• reacting the saccharide feed in the presence of water and in the substantial absence of sugar alcohols at a total solids concentration of at least about 80% by weight and a temperature of at least about 120° C. with at least one acid catalyst that accelerates the rate of cleavage and formation of glucosyl bonds for a time sufficient to produce a product composition having a fiber content of at least 65% fiber by weight on a dry solids basis,
• wherein the soluble dietary fiber has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 1000 g/mol to 2500 g/mol, and a glass transition temperature in the range of 50° C. to 100° C. when measured at 95% solids,
• wherein the particulate form is made by spray-drying and has a substantially spherical morphology, and
• wherein the soluble dietary fiber in particulate form has a moisture content of no more than 6 wt %.