Home Ingredients FiberSMART® (Soluble Tapioca Fiber — Anderson)
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FiberSMART® (Soluble Tapioca Fiber — Anderson)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

FiberSMART® is a soluble fiber ingredient from Anderson Advanced Ingredients, made from either tapioca or non-GMO corn and standardized to more than 90% dietary fiber. The FiberSMART brand itself has never been tested in a published human trial. Both studies cited on this page used maize (corn) soluble fiber, so the corn version has a little human research behind it and the tapioca version has none. The clearest finding is from one randomized study in healthy adults, where 6 grams a day of maize soluble fiber increased bifidobacteria, a beneficial group of gut bacteria.

Studied Dose The one human study behind the prebiotic claim used 6 grams a day of maize soluble fiber; it was a dose-response study, and that is the dose at which the increase in beneficial bacteria was reported. Finished products list servings simply as several grams of fiber, which may be more or less than the amount studied.
Active Compound Soluble tapioca or corn fiber, more than 90% dietary fiber. Worth knowing: the research cited on this page was done only on maize (corn) soluble fiber. There is no human study of the tapioca version, and product labels often do not say which of the two is inside.

Benefits

Fiber and digestive support

FiberSMART adds soluble fiber, which can help close the gap most people have in daily fiber intake. Be aware that no published study of this ingredient measured regularity, stool frequency or any other digestive symptom, so this rests on what soluble fiber does in general rather than on testing of FiberSMART.

Supported by Trial 1

Prebiotic support

This is the best supported use. In a randomized, double-blind study in healthy adults, maize soluble fiber at 6 grams a day significantly increased fecal bifidobacteria, a beneficial group of gut bacteria, compared with the starting level. The fiber tested was maize (corn) soluble fiber, not the FiberSMART brand and not the tapioca version, and the study measured bacteria counts rather than how people felt.

Supported by Trial 1

Low glycemic impact

In a study in overweight men and women, meals where available carbohydrate was replaced by soluble maize fiber produced a lower peak blood sugar and lower insulin after eating. The important catch is that the researchers concluded this was mainly due to the lower calorie content of the fiber diets, not to anything the fiber itself was doing, and the study tested a second, different fiber (polydextrose) alongside it. So swapping sugar for this fiber lowers the sugar load of a food, but the study does not show the fiber has a blood sugar effect of its own.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Soluble fiber action

Soluble fiber adds bulk and can slow digestion, which is the usual explanation for easier regularity and a steadier rise in blood sugar after a meal. This is general fiber biology; it has not been measured for this specific ingredient.

2

Colonic fermentation

Fermentable fiber is broken down by gut bacteria into short-chain fatty acids, which are a fuel source for the cells lining the colon. The human study cited here reported an increase in beneficial bacteria; on its own that does not show a health benefit followed from it.

Clinical trials

1
Soluble maize fibre and gut bifidobacteria: small dose-comparison trial
PubMed

Double-blind, randomised, parallel study of maize-based soluble corn fibre at three doses over 14 days. (Costabile et al. 2016, PLoS One)

24 healthy adults in total, only 8 people per dose group.

Bifidobacteria in stool rose from 9.25 to 9.73 Log10 cells per gram, a change the authors described as consistent with inulin-type fibres. The lowest dose, 6 g of fibre a day, produced the strongest effect, so more was not better. The fibre was well tolerated. With only 8 people per group and 14 days, this is a small, short study, and it tested maize (corn) fibre rather than the tapioca version of this ingredient.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated as a fiber.
Gas or bloating can occur as fiber intake rises.
Increase the dose gradually and drink plenty of water.

Important Drug interactions

Generally compatible with medications.
May slow absorption of some medications; separate dosing if advised.
Tell your doctor if you have a serious digestive condition.

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Frequently asked questions about FiberSMART® (Soluble Tapioca Fiber — Anderson)

What is FiberSMART?

FiberSMART® is a soluble fiber ingredient from Anderson Advanced Ingredients, made from either tapioca or non-GMO corn and standardized to more than 90% dietary fiber. The FiberSMART brand itself has never been tested in a published human trial.

What is FiberSMART used for?

FiberSMART is researched primarily for Gut Health and Metabolic Health. FiberSMART adds soluble fiber, which can help close the gap most people have in daily fiber intake. Be aware that no published study of this ingredient measured regularity, stool frequency or any other digestive symptom, so this rests on wh…

What is the recommended dosage of FiberSMART?

The clinically studied dose is The one human study behind the prebiotic claim used 6 grams a day of maize soluble fiber; it was a dose-response study, and that is the dose at which the increase in beneficial bacteria was reported. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is FiberSMART safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, FiberSMART is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated as a fiber. Gas or bloating can occur as fiber intake rises. It may also interact with some medications. FiberSMART is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does FiberSMART interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Generally compatible with medications. May slow absorption of some medications; separate dosing if advised. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for FiberSMART?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for FiberSMART as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 2 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(2 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Costabile A, Deaville ER, Morales AM, Gibson GR Prebiotic Potential of a Maize-Based Soluble Fibre and Impact of Dose on the Human Gut Microbiota PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0144457. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144457.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind dose-response study in healthy adults. Maize-based soluble fiber at 6 g/day significantly increased fecal bifidobacteria compared with baseline, which supports the prebiotic claim. Limits: the fiber tested was maize (corn) soluble fiber, so this is evidence for the corn fiber class only, not for the FiberSMART brand and not for the tapioca version; and the study measured bacteria counts, not digestive symptoms or any health outcome.
  2. Konings E, Schoffelen PF, Stegen J, Blaak EE Effect of polydextrose and soluble maize fibre on energy metabolism, metabolic profile and appetite control The British Journal of Nutrition. 2014;111(1):111-21. doi:10.1017/S0007114513002183.PubMedUsed to support: Human study in overweight men and women that tested two different fibers, polydextrose and soluble maize fiber. Replacing available carbohydrate with either fiber did lower peak blood glucose and insulin after eating and raised fat oxidation, but the authors' own conclusion was that this was mainly attributable to the lower energetic value of the fiber diets and not to the fibers themselves. So this paper does not show an effect of the fiber beyond swapping in fewer calories. It also tested maize soluble fiber, not the FiberSMART brand and not the tapioca version, and polydextrose is a different ingredient altogether.