The Benefiber division of Novartis Consumer Health makes a “complete line of fiber products.” Many Americans should eat more fiber, as recommended by the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Fiber promotes digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol absorption. Benefiber products supply other essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, in addition to fiber. The active ingredients in Benefiber products may promote health, but as with any supplement, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the product's health claims.
Fiber
Benefiber is primarily a fiber supplement, and all Benefiber products contain fiber. The company uses different active ingredients as fiber sources in its different products. The sole ingredient in Benefiber’s Taste Free Stick Pack powder is wheat dextrin, which is a fiber source in all the products. Food starch is another source of fiber in Benefiber Plus Heart Health Powder. Active ingredients in Benefiber Plus Calcium Chewables include cornstarch, cellulose and maltodextrin as well. These supplements supply soluble fiber.
Vitamins
Some of Benefiber’s products contain B vitamins. For example, Benefiber Plus Heart Health Powder is an excellent source of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, which the company claims can “promote a healthy heart and energy,” although the FDA has not evaluated those claims. The active ingredients are pyridoxine hydrochloride, or vitamin B6, cyanocobalamin, which is vitamin B12, and folic acid. Two teaspoons of Benefiber Plus Heart Health Powder provide about a third of the recommended daily amount for each of these three vitamins.
Minerals
Calcium is another nutrient that the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines list as deficient in many Americans’ diets. Calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth. Some Benefiber products, in both chewable and powdered forms, have calcium to fortify them. For example, Benefiber Calcium Chewables contribute 30 percent of the Daily Value per serving size of three tablets. The active ingredient for calcium fortification in this product is calcium carbonate. Benefiber Plus Calcium includes calcium gluconate and calcium lactate. In addition to calcium, Benefiber Plus Calcium Chewables contain potassium citrate and magnesium stearate, both essential minerals.
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