Sugar substitute compositions comprising digestion resistent soluble fiber

Abstract

What is provided are sugar substitute compositions comprising natural ingredients that provide added human health benefits and properties and characteristics of sugar, without the caloric content and glycemic index of sugar. Unlike artificial sweeteners, the sugar substitute compositions contain no chemicals or synthetic additives and taste and function like sugar. Specifically, the sugar substitute compositions comprise digestion resistant soluble fiber comprising an oligosaccharide matrix of glucose and/or fructose oligomers, which yield the sugar substitute digestion resistant property and allow it to simultaneously enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the human gut. In one particular embodiment, the sugar substitute comprises a digestion resistant soluble fiber, Luo Han Guo extract, and a flavor masking agent comprising Oryza sativa (rice) extract. In another embodiment, the sugar substitute comprises a digestion resistant soluble fiber, Luo Han Guo extract, a flavor masking agent comprising Oryza sativa (rice) extract, and a steviol glycoside.

1 . A low calorie sugar substitute composition comprising:
 a digestion resistant soluble fiber;   a flavor masking agent; and   a natural fruit extract.   
     
     
         2 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 1 , the digestion resistant soluble fiber selected from the group consisting of inulin, soluble corn (gluco) fiber, glucose oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 2 , the digestion resistant soluble fiber derived from a food source selected from the group consisting of tapioca, corn, rice, oats, potatoes, yams, carrots, bananas, plantains, pumpkins, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, cassava, wheat, barley, beans, lentils, peas,  quinoa , buckwheat, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 3 , the digestion resistant soluble fiber comprising glucosyl moieties and/or fructosyl moieties, at least about 50% of the glucosyl moieties in the digestion resistant soluble fiber are linked by alpha-(1,6)-linkages and at least about 90% of the fructosyl moieties in the digestion resistant soluble fiber are linked by beta-(2,1) linkages. 
     
     
         5 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 1 , the natural fruit extract is Luo Han Guo extract. 
     
     
         6 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 5 , the Luo Han Guo extract having at least about 40% mogrosides in a powdered form. 
     
     
         7 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 1 , the flavor masking agent comprising  Oryza sativa  (rice) extract. 
     
     
         8 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a steviol glycoside, the steviol glycoside having a purity greater than about 60% by weight on a dry basis. 
     
     
         9 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 8 , the steviol glycoside selected from the group consisting of stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside X, any other Rebaudioside, Dulcoside A, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 9 , the Rebaudioside A having a purity greater than about 98% by weight on a dry basis. 
     
     
         11 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 8 , the composition having from about 65% to about 100% of the sweetness level (dextrose equivalent) of sugar without a bitter or chemical aftertaste. 
     
     
         12 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 8 , the composition having a glycemic index from about 4 GI to about 35 GI. 
     
     
         13 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 9 , the composition comprising between about 90% and 99.5% by weight of the digestion resistant soluble fiber, between about 0.1% and 5% by weight of the flavor masking agent, between about 0.01% and 1% by weight of the Rebaudioside A, and between about 0.01% and 2.5% by weight of the Luo Han Guo extract. 
     
     
         14 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 9 , the composition comprising between about 90% and 98.5% by weight of the digestion resistant soluble fiber, between about 0.1% and 7% by weight of the flavor masking agent, between about 0.01% and 0.8% by weight of the Rebaudioside A, between about 0.01% and 2.59% by weight of the Luo Han Guo extract, the composition further comprising between about 0.1% and about 6% by weight of a natural vanilla flavored agent. 
     
     
         15 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 14 , the natural vanilla flavored agent comprising pre-made vanilla flavored powder. 
     
     
         16 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 14 , the natural vanilla flavored agent comprising freshly-grounded Vanilla Beans. 
     
     
         17 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 1 , the composition stimulating growth of at least one beneficial human gut bacterium. 
     
     
         18 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 17 , the at least one beneficial human gut bacterium is  bifidobacterium.    
     
     
         19 . The low calorie sugar substitute composition of  claim 4 , the composition having additional nutritive properties and functions of sugar when combined with nutritional additives selected from the group consisting of probiotics, turmeric, ginger, banana, blueberry, strawberry, acai,  papaya , mango, pineapple, apple, cinnamon, pepper, nut, seed, vanilla, coffee, cacao, green tea extracts, or combinations thereof.