Beano (dietary supplement)
1972227
215025505
2008-05-26T11:00:23Z
Cgingold
2013997
Intro: "It is available in both tablet and liquid form."
{{unreferenced|date=February 2008}}
{{original research|date=February 2008}}
'''Beano''' is an [[enzyme]]-based [[dietary supplement]] that is used to reduce gas in the [[digestive tract]], thereby preventing [[flatulence]]. It contains the enzyme [[alpha galactosidase]] that breaks down [[oligosaccharide]]s such as [[raffinose]]. It is available in both tablet and liquid form.
== How Beano works ==
Beano is a product containing the enzyme [[alpha galactosidase]], which is derived from the fungus <i>[[Aspergillus niger]]</i>. The enzyme works in the [[digestive tract]] to break down the complex or branching sugars ([[polysaccharides]] and [[oligosaccharides]]) in foods such as [[legumes]] ([[beans]] and [[peanuts]]) and [[cruciferous]] [[vegetables]] ([[cauliflower]], [[broccoli]], [[cabbage]], [[brussels sprouts]], among others). The enzyme breaks those [[complex carbohydrates|complex sugars]] into [[simple sugars]], making these foods somewhat more digestible, and reducing flatulence.
The polysaccharides and oligosaccharides found in these foods might otherwise pass through the [[small intestine]] unaffected. Once in the [[large intestine]], those sugars may be worked on by [[intestinal flora]], [[Fermentation (biochemistry)|fermenting]] to produce the gases that cause discomfort.
Two [[randomized controlled trials]] show reduction in gas by subjects taking oral alpha galactosidase (PMID 17151807 and PMID 7964541). Another study indicates alpha galactosidase may interfere with the diabetic medication [[acarbose]] (PMID 9663365).
== Use in the brewing of beer ==
Simple sugars are also produced as a consequence of the [[malting]] process that eventually produces [[beer]]. The complex sugars are not broken down by the [[yeast]], and are eventually consumed by the beer drinker, possibly causing flatulence. [[Homebrewer]]s have found that it is possible to add Beano to their brew to produce a beer that causes less flatulence. The Beano breaks the complex sugars into simple sugars, and these simple sugars are consumed by the yeast, producing alcohol (or some acetic acid in the aerobic reactions in early fermentation).
The addition of Beano to the brew reduces the complex sugar content of the final product, thereby reducing the carbohydrate content of the beer, and also slightly increasing the alcohol content of the beer. A disadvantage of the addition of Beano to homebrew is that the lower carbohydrates lead to less head retention of the beer, the loss of the sugars results in a less [[sweet]] [[flavour]] of the final product, and fewer of the [[Malt|malty]] flavours are conveyed since some of those flavours are from the complex sugars that are affected.
The addition of Beano to homebrew beer (at a rate of about four tablets per 5 gallon brew) gives a low flatulence, low carbohydrate beer (about half the carbohydrates that it would otherwise have), but also alters some of the flavours of the beer. The loss of flavour is less apparent the darker the beer is, and the higher the alcohol content of the beer (since the alcohol numbs the tastebuds somewhat). Consequently it is suggested that a dark ale or a stout would be the best candidates for the use of Beano with minimal effect on the final taste of the beer.
===Caution===
Homebrewers who add Beano to their beer fermentation should expect to see slightly lower [[final gravity]] readings than they are used to for a given recipe, so should wait until they get two identical [[hydrometer]] readings at 24 hours apart before deciding that the fermentation has finished. Not doing so may increase the risk of exploding beer bottles.
== History ==
Beano was developed in [[1990]] by Alan Kligerman of [[AkPharma|AkPharma Inc.]] after research into gas-causing vegetables that had begun in [[1981]].
== External links ==
* [http://www.beanogas.com/ Beano web site.]
[[Category:Antiflatulents]]
[[Category:Dietary supplements]]