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- Supports Satiety*
- Supports Weight Control*
- Supports Glucose Metabolism*
- Supports Cholesterol Metabolism*
- Supports Healthy Bowel Movements*
- Serves as a Prebiotic for Intestinal Bacteria*
Discussion
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While a healthy diet and exercise are paramount to good health and maintaining healthy body composition, adding supplementary soluble fiber offers additional benefits. When selecting fiber, there are many aspects to review. Each fiber is unique in origin, purity, viscosity, and overall stability once ingested. In fact, even one type of fiber can vary greatly in quality. Amorphophallus konjac, a tuberous plant, is a rich source of the soluble fiber glucomannan. This fiber has an exceptional ability to absorb water and is one of the most viscous dietary fibers known.[1]
Not All Glucomannans Are Created Equal
There are many aspects of glucomannan that affect end-product quality: the species
of konjac used, the harvesting location, the time of harvesting, the production process, impurities (e.g., sulfites), viscosity, the response of the viscosity to different pH levels and temperatures, and hydration speed. For these reasons, finding the material with the most manufacturing and processing experience and scientific research behind it is important.(1)
Healthy Bowel Function, Prebiotic
Glucomannan not only allows more water to remain in the stool, thereby making waste softer, larger, and easier to pass through the intestines, but it is also an excellent prebiotic.[15-17] In a placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel, double-blind, crossover trial, doses of 3 g/d and 4 g/d of glucomannan had a positive impact on intestinal habit (i.e., daily and weekly evacuations) and stool characteristics when compared to placebo.[18] Glucomannan has also been shown to reduce mouth-to-cecum transit time compared to placebo.[15] In other research, glucomannan improved defecation frequency, eased bowel movement, increased the fecal concentration of lactobacilli as well as the daily output of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and total bacteria. In addition, fermentation of glucomannan resulted in greater fecal acetate, propionate, and
i-butyrate concentrations and lower fecal pH.
Satiety and Weight Control
Soluble fiber is known to act as a bulking agent in the stomach and intestine, which creates the signals of fullness and causes individuals to eat less.[2,3,5,6] Studies suggest that glucomannan supplementation significantly reduces weight at doses of 3 g/d to 4 g/ compared to placebo.[3,4,7-11] In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the effects of 3 g/d of Propol (1 g 30-60 minutes prior to each meal) combined with 300 mg/d of calcium were studied. When dosing compliant and non-complaint subgroups were analyzed, the results indicated that compliant subjects experienced a significant reduction in scale weight, body fat percentage, and fat mass without a loss of fat-free mass or bone density.[7] In another study, the mean weight loss for the glucomannan group was 5.5 lbs in eight weeks, while subjects in the placebo group gained 1.5 lbs.*[3]
Glucose and Lipid Metabolism
Soluble fiber slows the absorption of carbohydrates, which influences the release of insulin and the rate of fat storage. Glucomannan studies have not only demonstrated a positive impact on postprandial glucose handling and glucose metabolism but also on cholesterol metabolism.[3,4,7,10-13] This latter effect is thought to result from the fact that soluble fiber reduces fat and cholesterol absorption and carries bile out of the intestines.[3,4] When fewer bile acids are available, the body draws cholesterol from the bloodstream to make more.
Description:
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OptiFiber® Lean features Shimizu Propol® A propolmannan—a highly pure, natural soluble fiber. Propol A is created from Amorphophallus konjac-derived glucomannan using proprietary processing techniques. This fiber has been studied for its viscosity and for its stability through the digestive tract; and studies support its health effects, such as on satiety, weight control, glucose and lipid metabolism, and bowel regularity.*
Mix one to two scoops (1.6-3.2 g) in 8-12 oz of water or other non-alcoholic beverage and consume once per day, or mix one scoop as directed and consume 30 to 60 minutes before each of your two biggest meals, or use as directed by your healthcare professional.
Consult your healthcare professional prior to use. Individuals taking medication, especially hypoglycemic agents, should discuss potential interactions with their healthcare professional. Do not use if tamper seal is damaged.
Keep closed in a cool, dry place out of reach of children.
Wheat, gluten, corn, yeast, soy, animal and dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives.
