Konjac glucomannan is a dietary fiber employed quite frequently in Western countries for the past two decades. Peoples in East Asia have used this fiber for more than a thousand years. This dietary fiber is the main polysaccharide obtained from the tubers of the Amorphophallus konjac plant. This soluble fiber has a extraordinarily high waterholding capacity, forming highly viscous solutions when dissolved in water. It has the highest molecular weight and viscosity of any known dietary fiber. It has been demonstrated that this product is highly effective in the treatment of obesity due to the satiety sensation that it produces; as a remedy for constipation, because it increases the feces volume; as hypocholesterolemic agent, interfering in the transport of cholesterol and of bile acids and as hypoglycemic and hypoinsulinemic agent, probably, by delaying gastric emptying and slowing glucose delivery to the intestinal mucosa. Konjac glucomannan fiber is sometimes used for weight loss. It is an effective weight loss product, especially in combination with Green-Tea-Extract or another herb called hoodia extract.

Side Effects of konjac glucomannan
To the beneficial properties of this fiber, several disadvantages can be added as the production of flatulence, abdominal pain, esophageal obstruction, lower gastrointestinal obstruction or even the possible modification of the bioavailability of other drugs. For more konjac glucomannan information.

Nature's Way Glucomannan root, 665 mg

Amorphophallus konjac is a 100% dietary fiber source obtained from the root of the konjac plant. It is an excellent addition to a sensible weight loss program. This root product is especially grown and prepared to Japan according to exacting specifications.

Glucomannan root has the ability to absorb up to 50 times its weight in water.

Glucomannan root - 1.99 grams per 3 capsules

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Constipation use
Konjac Glucomannan Research
Fiber (glucomannan) is beneficial in the treatment of childhood constipation.
Loening-Baucke V. University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Pediatrics. 2004.
The aim of our study was to evaluate whether fiber supplementation is beneficial in the treatment of children with functional constipation with or without encopresis. We used glucomannan as the fiber supplement. We evaluated the effect of fiber (glucomannan, a fiber gel polysaccharide from the tubers of the Japanese Konjac plant) and placebo in children with chronic functional constipation with and without encopresis in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study. After the initial evaluation, the patients were disimpacted with 1 or 2 phosphate enemas if a rectal impaction was felt during rectal examination. Patients continued with their preevaluation laxative. No enemas were given during each treatment period. Fiber and placebo were given as 100 mg/kg body weight daily (maximal 5 g/day) with 50 mL fluid/500 mg for 4 weeks each. Forty-six chronically constipated children were recruited into the study, but only 31 children completed the study. These 31 children (16 boys and 15 girls) were 4.5 to 11.7 years of age. All children had functional constipation; in addition, 18 had encopresis when recruited for the study. No significant side effects were reported during each 4-week treatment period. Significantly fewer children complained of abdominal pain and more children were successfully treated while on fiber (45%) as compared with placebo treatment (13%). Parents rated significantly more children (68%) as being better on fiber versus 13% as being better on placebo. The initial fiber intake was low in 22 (71%) children. We found konjac glucomannan to be beneficial in the treatment of constipation with and without encopresis in children. Symptomatic children who were already on laxatives still benefited from the addition of fiber.

HIgh Cholesterol treatment
Konjac glucommanan supplement alleviated hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic subjects--a randomized double-blind trial.
Chen HL, Sheu WH. Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003.
The present study was designed to evaluate effects of konjac glucomannan supplement (3.6 g/day) for 28 days on blood lipid and glucose levels in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients and the possible mechanism for the reductions in blood lipid levels. Twenty-two diabetic subjects (age 64 + 8 years, BMI 25 kg/m(2)) with elevated blood cholesterol levels, but currently not taking lipid-lowering medication, were recruited to participate in a two 28-day period, randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial. Fasting blood samples drawn on the initial and final days of each period were determined for plasma lipids and glucose levels. Feces collected at the end of each experimental period were analyzed for neutral sterol and bile acid contents. Compared with placebo, glucomannan effectively reduced plasma cholesterol (11 percent), LDL-cholesterol, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, ApoB (12%6) and fasting glucose (23%). Plasma triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, postprandial glucose and body weight were not significant after adjustment by the Bonferroni-Hochberg procedure. Fecal neutral sterol and bile acid concentrations were increased by 18% and 75%, respectively, with KGM supplement. The glucomannan supplement improved blood lipid levels by enhancing fecal excretion of neutral sterol and bile acid and alleviated the elevated glucose levels in diabetic subjects. Konjac glucomannan could be an adjunct for the treatment of hyperlipidemic diabetic subjects.

Glucomannan pill questions
Q. Can a glucomannan fiber supplement capsule be taken the same day as garcinia supplement? Also, it is a glyconutrient?
   A. We can't foresee any problems if the dosages are reasonable. Glyconutrient information and definition is found at this page.

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