- What are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO?
- How are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO made?
- What is prebiotic?
- What is dietary fiber?
- What are other health benefits of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO other then the prebiotic and dietary fiber structure function claims?
- How we know that VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a low caloric sweetener?
- How sweet is VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO in relation to sugar?
- Is VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO a high intensity sugar?
- How can VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO replace sugar and flour?
- What are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO Glycemic Index (GI)?
- What are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO caloric value?
- What is the fiber content of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO?
- How can a prebiotic fiber, such as VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO, benefit other food products?
- Do VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO cause any gastric upset?
- Is VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO stable in food products?
- Which food industries could potentially use VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO?
What are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO?
VitaFiber™ and VitaSugar™ are the brand names for a health sweetener called isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO). VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a new type of sugar source scientifically made from natural agricultural products and an advanced substitute of sugar, being naturally sweet and naturally low in calories than regular sugar.
VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a starch-related oligosaccharide consisting of glucose subunits. The pure carbohydrate mixture of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a branched chain made up to 4 to 7 units of glucose that contain a series of α1-6 bonds in this structure.
Unlike regular starch (such as found in wheat, rice or potatoes) these linkages are poorly digested in the human digestive tract and thus will deliver fewer calories to the human body, in addition to providing fiber-like health benefits.
The raw material for the manufacturing of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO is starch and it could be derived from different cereal crops (including organic cereal crops), i.e. wheat, barley, corn, pulses (peas, beans, lentils), oats, cassava, rice, potato, tapioca and other starch sources. The ability to make our product from various raw materials gives us market advantages over other soluble prebiotic fibers made from one or two sources.
return to topHow are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO made?
BioNeutra produces VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO via highly controlled enzyme-catalyzed process transforming starch molecules into functional health molecules of IMO. Our natural manufacturing process controls the glucose chain lengths (also called as degree of polymerization or DP) and the α1-6 linkages to ensure consistent high quality isomalto-oligosaccharide from alternate starch sources.
The manufacturing process is based upon a natural enzymatic conversion of starch molecules without any chemical modification involved. Therefore, VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a natural food ingredient.
return to topWhat is prebiotic?
Prebiotics are a category of functional food, defined as non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improve host health. Numerous scientific studies showed that VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a prebiotic and improve overall digestive health.
return to topWhat is dietary fiber?
Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the digestive system, absorbing water, making defecation easier. Soluble fiber undergoes metabolic processing via fermentation, yielding end-products with broad, significant health effects. VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a dietary fiber because of its resistance to digestion in upper digestive tract.
return to topWhat are other health benefits of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO other then the prebiotic and dietary fiber structure function claims?
Fermentation of IMO by colonic bacteria may results in production of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) that metabolize in liver and confer many physiological benefits to the host including: protection from colon cancer, stabilize blood glucose levels, suppresses cholesterol synthesis, lowers colonic pH thus increase absorption of dietary minerals and stimulates immune protection.
return to topHow we know that VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a low caloric sweetener?
VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are a low caloric health sweetener because of the very low content of glucose (<5%) and presence of specific bonding in carbohydrate’s chains that is resistant to digestive enzymes in the lower digestive tract.
return to topHow sweet is VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO in relation to sugar?
Both syrup and powder form of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO exhibit light sweet taste with sweetness compared to sugar (sucrose) ~40-50%. They are in essence a low calorie, low intensity sweetener as well as dietary fiber.
return to topIs VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO a high intensity sugar?
No, being that it is only 50-60% as sweet as sucrose, it is not. Its main benefit in formulations is that it is a dietary fiber that also offers a low level of sweetness. However it can be blended with high intensity sweeteners, such as sucralose or citrus extracts, etc. to give the desired sweetness.
return to topHow can VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO replace sugar and flour?
Given its bulk density being similar to sugar or flour, VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO work as a 1:1 replacement in baked goods with only the need to increase sweetness. This can be done by using high intensity sweeteners or adding in “visual” sweeteners such as more chocolate chips to assist in product differentiation.
return to topWhat are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO Glycemic Index (GI)?
Recently published clinical studies showed that, when 12 (twelve) healthy individuals who consumed 50g of IMO in comparison with 50g of xylitol and 50gm of glucose, the glycemic index (GI) value determined for IMO was 34.66 ±7.65, which represent a low GI. (Sheng, G.E., Dong-lian, C.A.I. & Wan, Li-li. (2006) [Determination of glycemic index of xylitol and isooligosccharide] Chin. J. Chin. Nutri., 14(4) 235-237)
return to topWhat are VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO caloric value?
The suggested caloric value of VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO is 1.5-2.0 kcal/g which is based upon the published studies that all of the poorly-digestible oligosaccharides that are largely or completely fermented in the colon, be given a caloric value of 1.5 (6.3) kcal/g (kJ/g). (Roberfroid, M.B., 1999. Caloric value if inulin and Oligosfructose. J. Nutr. 129:1436S-1437S)
return to topWhat is the fiber content of VitaFiber™-IMO and< VitaSugar™-IMO?
VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO is a combination of poorly-digestible and non-digestible carbohydrates. It is approximately 90% soluble fiber in powder form and 75-82% soluble fiber in syrup form.
return to topHow can a prebiotic fiber, such as VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO, benefit other food products?
Recent research suggests that as much as 30-35 grams of fiber a day is needed to help reduce the risk of chronic disease, including heart disease. In North America, overweight or obese is one of the major health concerns because that puts an individual at risk for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia and many other chronic disorders. Therefore, weight management is clearly an important goal for many US adults.
The majority of glucose chains (also called oligosaccharides) found in VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO consist of 3 to 6 glucose units (monosaccharides) linked together by α1-6 linkages that is resistant toward human digestive enzymes, therefore, providing low calorie, prebiotic as well as dietary fiber functionality thus makes this product a perfect fit for healthy diet and weight management.
return to topDo VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO cause any gastric upset?
Based upon the recommendation in the GRAS Approval document, IMO is proposed for use at use-levels of up to 15g/serving (30gm/day) and does not cause any gastric upset. Moreover, the published scientific studies showed that, the maximum permissible does of IMO that does not cause diarrhea is estimated >1.5g/kg body wt. per day (e.g., if a person’s total body wt. is 50 kg, no diarrhea occurring even with does of 75 gm/d), which is higher than any given sugar substitutes. In this respect, the average laxative threshold has been estimated at over 80 gm/d. (Oku, T.; Nakamura, S. 2002. Digestion, absorption, fermentation, and metabolism of functional sugar substitutes and their available energy. Pure Appl Chem 74(7): 1253-1261)
return to topIs VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO stable in food products?
Yes, our in-house studies have confirmed that VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are stable at pH 2.0 as well as at pH 10.0 for an extended period of time, which makes them an excellent candidate for addition into beverages. Also, VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO are stable at 160°C (320°F) and can be safely used for baking purposes as well.
return to topWhich food industries could potentially use VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO?
VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO formulation could be used in a variety of consumer food products under the health food category and can be promoted as a safe, new, trendy health food product, increasing product sale lists as well as sales revenue. VitaFiber™-IMO and VitaSugar™-IMO could be used in the following products: variety of beverages; candy, chocolate and energy bars; confectionary products; milk products; home cooking ingredients; various desserts.
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