Importance

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Abstract

A readily-dispersible physiologically-effective fiber drink mix containing granules which are a blend of a mineral salt which releases a physiologically-acceptable gas upon ingestion, a physiologically-acceptable edible acid, and a gel-forming dietary fiber, and which granules are coated with a gel-forming dietary fiber, starch, or protein, are disclosed. The resulting granules can be mixed into water or juice for ingestion. They readily disperse into solution and do not immediately gel up and solidify, but become activated when they reach the acid environment of the stomach and dissolve, at which time the internally-contained acid and mineral salt cooperate to mechanically disperse the fiber in a slow and prolonged manner as it hydrates, the gas released by the mineral salt and the organic acid assisting in slow disintegration of the granules. An orally-ingestible pharmaceutically-active compound, e.g., a drug, such as niacin, may also be incorporated into the granules, thereby providing a readily-dispersible drink mix of the pharmaceutically-active compound and, in the case of niacin, providing a method and a product for effectively lowering serum cholesterol without usual niacin side effects such as flushing, itching, and the like.

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First Claim