This is an elemental diet, which is not new. An elemental diet uses amino acids, fats, sugars, and vitamins to provide the elements of a human diet (hence the name) without whole or partial proteins, fiber, and other things that gut bacteria like to eat. The bacterial overgrowth subsides because you’re not giving it the food it wants. This means you can’t eat anything other than this diet mix for 2 weeks, no exceptions.
The only novel part about this branded one is that it’s palatable. That’s actually a big advantage because a plain elemental diet tastes so bad that it’s hard to tolerate.
You can search for DIY elemental diet recipes and there are several sources for the amino acid blends they use. People report some success, if they can tolerate the taste.
I actually followed this specific elemental diet for two weeks to treat my hydrogen SIBO, unfortunately without success. I would not recommend this to anybody unless it's absolutely your last chance. I was constantly hungry, cold and lethargic. The shakes taste /terrible/ so I wouldn't really call it palatable. I shiver just thinking about it. I'm sure it works for some people, and I'm happy for them.
Eligible subjects underwent 1 week of screening, 2 weeks of exclusive oral PED, and 2 weeks of follow-up after returning to their regular diet (Supplemental Figure 1). The primary endpoint was the change in stool microbiome after PED and regular food reintroduction. Secondary endpoints included tolerance, LBT normalization rate, stool form changes, symptomatic response, and adverse events. The PED (mBiota Elemental, Good LFE, Santa Monica, USA) was provided in 300-calorie packets, adjusted eucalorically to each participant’s caloric needs (Supplemental Figure 2).
Additional packets were provided for hunger, with daily consumption documented. Water intake was unrestricted, but other foods were prohibited during the diet phase. After completing the diet, participants transitioned to bland foods (e.g., rice, potatoes, eggs, chicken, beef) for 2–3 days before resuming their regular diet.
It’s amino acids, fats, and sugar in a ratio that mirrors the elements of a standard diet.
It’s not a supplement. It has to replace your diet completely for 2 weeks, no exceptions.
By consuming amino acids instead of proteins (which are composed of amino acids) and omitting fiber it starves skips straight to absorption and starves the bacterial overgrowth.
It’s an old concept. The unique part of this one is that it supposedly tastes okay.
The secret sauce, so to say, is that it's not a supplement, it's all you eat for the duration of the treatment. As someone who was on a liquid only diet for six weeks following a surgery, I can't imagine this being anything short of absolutely miserable.
If anyone is willing, please help me understand, not why, but how someone can subsist on a diet with zero fiber. I know folks who can sit down to a plate of nothing more than white rice and meat without petrifying their backside. If I tried to do the same, I'd be using solvents and chipping hammers every morning. Have I missed something? Is this a 99% absorption rate diet? Where does it go?
Quite amazing success rate for just two weeks of treatment when the alternative is doing multiple rounds of antibiotics for months/years and not even getting that level of success.
Indeed. I am just a bit concerned that the subjects were to return to their "normal" diet after the experiment, which probably was the reason to get this condition in the first place. In a next study it would be interesting to look closer into the functioning of related organs, such as liver and gallbladder (vesica fellea). E.g. did subjects have any biliary sand issues. Correlation with potable water used by the subjects would also be interesting, especially things like mineral composition, pH, organic contaminants (e.g. microplastics) as well as microbial content.
This is an elemental diet, which is not new. An elemental diet uses amino acids, fats, sugars, and vitamins to provide the elements of a human diet (hence the name) without whole or partial proteins, fiber, and other things that gut bacteria like to eat. The bacterial overgrowth subsides because you’re not giving it the food it wants. This means you can’t eat anything other than this diet mix for 2 weeks, no exceptions.
The only novel part about this branded one is that it’s palatable. That’s actually a big advantage because a plain elemental diet tastes so bad that it’s hard to tolerate.
You can search for DIY elemental diet recipes and there are several sources for the amino acid blends they use. People report some success, if they can tolerate the taste.
I actually followed this specific elemental diet for two weeks to treat my hydrogen SIBO, unfortunately without success. I would not recommend this to anybody unless it's absolutely your last chance. I was constantly hungry, cold and lethargic. The shakes taste /terrible/ so I wouldn't really call it palatable. I shiver just thinking about it. I'm sure it works for some people, and I'm happy for them.
Here are the ingredients: https://mbiota.com/cdn/shop/files/OriginalFlavor-Nutrition.p...
Study design:
Eligible subjects underwent 1 week of screening, 2 weeks of exclusive oral PED, and 2 weeks of follow-up after returning to their regular diet (Supplemental Figure 1). The primary endpoint was the change in stool microbiome after PED and regular food reintroduction. Secondary endpoints included tolerance, LBT normalization rate, stool form changes, symptomatic response, and adverse events. The PED (mBiota Elemental, Good LFE, Santa Monica, USA) was provided in 300-calorie packets, adjusted eucalorically to each participant’s caloric needs (Supplemental Figure 2).
Additional packets were provided for hunger, with daily consumption documented. Water intake was unrestricted, but other foods were prohibited during the diet phase. After completing the diet, participants transitioned to bland foods (e.g., rice, potatoes, eggs, chicken, beef) for 2–3 days before resuming their regular diet.
It looks it contains mostly amino acids and vitamins, usually found in other fitness supplements. Is there any "secret sauce" that I am missing?
It’s amino acids, fats, and sugar in a ratio that mirrors the elements of a standard diet.
It’s not a supplement. It has to replace your diet completely for 2 weeks, no exceptions.
By consuming amino acids instead of proteins (which are composed of amino acids) and omitting fiber it starves skips straight to absorption and starves the bacterial overgrowth.
It’s an old concept. The unique part of this one is that it supposedly tastes okay.
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The secret sauce, so to say, is that it's not a supplement, it's all you eat for the duration of the treatment. As someone who was on a liquid only diet for six weeks following a surgery, I can't imagine this being anything short of absolutely miserable.
If anyone is willing, please help me understand, not why, but how someone can subsist on a diet with zero fiber. I know folks who can sit down to a plate of nothing more than white rice and meat without petrifying their backside. If I tried to do the same, I'd be using solvents and chipping hammers every morning. Have I missed something? Is this a 99% absorption rate diet? Where does it go?
Presumably fasting would achieve the same result?
Maybe, but nobody can package and sell you fasting.
Novo Nordisk sure is trying.
Journal pre-proof (pdf) https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(25)00241-1/pdf
~350$ per week if you want to buy it.
Pretty sure carnivore or some other no-fiber low carb would be a bit cheaper :)
Don't forget 425 euros to ship to Europe.
Yeah, that's really a dick move.
Quite amazing success rate for just two weeks of treatment when the alternative is doing multiple rounds of antibiotics for months/years and not even getting that level of success.
Indeed. I am just a bit concerned that the subjects were to return to their "normal" diet after the experiment, which probably was the reason to get this condition in the first place. In a next study it would be interesting to look closer into the functioning of related organs, such as liver and gallbladder (vesica fellea). E.g. did subjects have any biliary sand issues. Correlation with potable water used by the subjects would also be interesting, especially things like mineral composition, pH, organic contaminants (e.g. microplastics) as well as microbial content.
That’s assuming it’s not typically some immunocompromising event as small as a period of stress that allows for the colonization.
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