A few days ago, an nmi portal user sent me the link to Fructaid. A new product for fructose intolerance, manufactured by “Pro Natura Gesellschaft für gesunde Ernährung mbH” in Germany. Cool thing, especially because “Fructosin” (as Xylosolv was called back then) had to be taken off the market in Germany due to patent disputes. “Xylosolv” was then introduced as a medical product to treat elevated triglyceride levels in order to circumvent the patent dispute. The ingredients were practically identical to fructosin. However, this trick did not work for long and Xylosolv was no longer available in Germany from July 2013, but was available in the rest of the EU.
I read through the fructaid.de website and was amazed when it said: “The only product in the world to prevent or alleviate digestive complaints caused by fructose malabsorption.” Aha, interesting. What remedy have I been taking for years?
So I read on. Glucose isomerase would convert fructose into glucose is written in the description. Ok, that’s nothing in principle New.
What is glucose isomerase
Glucose isomerase is the same enzyme that is also contained in Xylosolv (and other products such as “FructoZym”, not that we always name the market leader here), namely xylose isomerase. The term glucose isomerase is the rather uncommon name in our country. This term is often used in the USA because the enzyme is used there in the food industry to produce high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from glucose. But don’t worry, even if HFCS is unhealthy, it has nothing to do with the enzyme or the enzyme family of isomerases. An enzyme is simply a complex molecule that catalyzes certain biochemical processes. Huh? Ok, so it’s simply a tool that helps to convert one substance into another substance. In this case, glucose in fructose, but also fructose in glucose. The enzyme simply wants to create a balance between the two substances. This is used for fructose intolerance because glucose is absorbed very quickly via the intestine, whereas fructose is not. As a result, there is never a balance in the chyme because there is always more fructose than glucose. And if glucose cannot be absorbed, an equilibrium is established until the glucose is absorbed again. As soon as the fructose is used up, the enzyme does not dissolve, is not absorbed and does not lose any activity. It is simply excreted with the stool. This means that fructose-containing foods are tolerated by fructose-intolerant people. Super thing. But not new.
“New & patented”
So far, so good. “New & patented” is emblazoned on the Fructaid website (see picture). The one with the “new” we have clarified, but the “patented” has put me on a track. brought… Since Xylosolv was launched in Germany in July 2013 due to had to be withdrawn from the market due to patent disputes, while in the rest of the EU was allowed to continue to be sold, and now a German company brings the active ingredient to the market is probably obvious – so my Presumption – that the patent disputes between these two companies have taken place or are taking place. Now Pro Natura seems to have won and may now distribute Fructaid.
However, as an affected person and patient representative, I would prefer this, one would not write “only product worldwide”, but e.g. “only product approved in Germany”. But that would of course be less effective in advertising.
However, we as the people affected don’t care as long as there is a product on the market. So let’s take a look at what Fructaid can do and how it differs from Xylosolv/Fructosin (see updates below).
Difference Fructaid & Fructosin
I ask both manufacturers how much fructose a capsule contains. can digest, how much the products cost and where they are available. I also ask Fructaid what the difference is to the other products. products and why it is “unique worldwide”.
Pro Natura (Fructaid) only replies briefly and writes that they would report. Unfortunately, I have not yet received any further response, should I will add the details here when they arrive. The Fructosin manufacturer STADA also replies and answers me well my questions.
How much fructose is converted?
The package insert for Fructaid does not give any indication of how much fructose can be implemented. The website says nothing about this either. To the We are still waiting for a reply from the manufacturer. If we do not have answer, we will of course contact an independent laboratory. to measure the two products. According to the manufacturer, you should use 1-4 Take capsules before meals.
According to the manufacturer, fructosin can convert 6.2g of fructose. According to the manufacturer, 1-2 capsules should be taken before meals.
Caution: Foods containing sorbitol also remain Xylose isomerase a problem! The information on the Fructaid packaging printed or used by STADA in its advertising, So it’s better not to eat apples and cherries anyway!
Ingredients
Fructaid is vegan, which I personally find very good. Fructosin not. The remaining ingredients – with the exception of the enzyme only slightly.
Fructaid: cellulose, hypromellose,
Glucose isomerase,
Methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) dispersion 30 %, talc,
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, trehalose*, triethyl citrate, titanium dioxide (E
171)
Fructosin: xylose isomerase, microcrystalline
Cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, maltose, shellac,
Hydroxypropyl cellulose, talc, ammonium sulphate, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone,
Acetylated starch, carboxymethylcellulose, glycerine, sodium carbonate,
Titanium dioxide (E 171)
Price
The most noticeable difference is the price. Fructosin costs approx. 0.7 euros per capsule – depending on whether you buy it online or in a pharmacy, Fructaid costs approx. 0.37 euros per capsule. Fructaid therefore has a clear price advantage. However, this can be deceptive, as we do not know how much fructose a capsule converts. For example, if it is only about 3g per capsule, then it would be the same price as Xylosolv. This theory is supported by the recommended dosage (1-4 capsules for Fructaid and 1-2 capsules for Xylosolv). So we will have to wait and see and hope for information from Pro Natura. (Cf. updates – data is now available)
Where can you buy it?
As usual, fructosin is not available in Germany, but almost everywhere else in the EU. Both via pharmacies and online. Fructaid, grade fresh is currently available in some mail-order pharmacies. My pharmacy in Austria had to order the product because it is not available in Austria. is probably not (yet?) listed in pharmacies. According to some users of the nmi portal, Fructaid is already available in pharmacies in Germany. get, even if mostly with an order. But this is normal for product launches and will probably change soon.
My Fructaid ordered from the pharmacy will arrive on Tuesday, then I’ll start the self-experiment right away and get a little Treat yourself to fruit. I have already seen several times that this works with fructosin. successfully tested.
Update 14.07.2016
Two There is news. Firstly, I have a large bowl of pineapple, Eating strawberries and kiwi. I used 2 Xylosolv for this. Some Days later I ate the same thing and took 2 Fructaid. The The effect was the same both times: no complaints.
The manufacturer of Fructaid also replied to me. They didn’t want to tell me the difference to Xylosolv because“we don’t comment on products from other manufacturers“. Okay, I understand that. Nor did STADA want to comment on Fructaid express. The question of how much fructose a Fructaid tablet converts was answered in this way:
“Since the ability of those affected to absorb fructose in the small intestine is different and the amount of Fructaid® capsules per meal containing fructose also depends on other factors, e.g. the fructose content as well as the quantity and composition of the consumed meal/food, we generally do not provide any information about the Amount of fructose converted with one Fructaid® capsule can. We therefore recommend taking 1 to 4 capsules a few times a day. minutes before fructose-containing foods/drinks, as described in section 2.5 of the leaflet (available at www.fructaid.de). Who already had experience with a product containing glucose isomerase can choose this as the starting point for taking Fructaid®.“
Especially from the last sentence I conclude that there is not much difference to Xylosolv.
Pro Natura also lets me know that the capsules are available in every pharmacy. are available in Germany and from 1.8.2016 also in Austria will be available. That’s good news!
Now the question remains as to why Fructaid is the “only product worldwide for the prevention or alleviation of digestive complaints, which are triggered by fructose malabsorption“. Here, the manufacturer clarifies that Fructaid is“a medical device based on glucose isomerase (syn. xylose isomerase) with the intended purpose of ‘prevention/relief of digestive complaints caused by fructose malabsorption‘ ” and that it is“uniqueas a medical device with this intended purpose, which is expressly and directly aimed at those affected“. Okay, that’s right. Xylosolv is listed under the purpose of lowering triglycerides.
Conclusion: Both products do the same thing and can be used with intestinal fructose intolerance. And I’ll go assume that the significantly lower price of Fructaid compared with Xylosolv will soon be accompanied by a price reduction for Xylsolv.
Tabular comparison*
| Fructaid | Fructosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Fructose that can be converted per tablet | unknown | 6,2g |
| Average cost per tablet** (lowest – highest) | 0,37 € (0,31 € – 0,43 €) | 0,73 € (0,55 € – 0,99 €) |
| Tablets per meal*** | 2-5 | 1-2 |
| Costs per average revenue*** | 1,48 € | 1,46 € |
| Package sizes | 30, 60 and 120 pieces | 10, 30 and 90 pieces |
| Best price/performance ratio | 120-pack | 90-pack |
| Available in | GER, AUT; possibly EU | EU, except GER |
| Product is vegan | Yes | no |
| Tested and approved by those affected and by the nmi portal | Yes | Yes |
*No claim to completeness; subject to changes and additions; as of February 2018
** According to manufacturer’s RRP, price fluctuations possible depending on supplier
*** average experience of those affected
Update 06.02.2018
Fructosin is back on the market, Xylosolv has been discontinued. More information soon here…
Update 19.02.2018
Xylosolv is no longer available, but Fructaid is again. We have the The above table has been adjusted accordingly. In principle, the Composition of Fructosin identical to Xylosolv. The price changed Fructosin has become somewhat cheaper than Xylosolv was. As there are now experience reports from those affected, we can estimate the cost per meal. The result: both products are roughly the same price.
Sources
1) http://www.fructaid.de, accessed on 6.7.2016
2) https://www.nahrungsmittel-intoleranz.com/allgemeines-2/news-rund-um-intoleranzen/1111-fructosin-wird-vom-markt-genommen.html
3) According to the manufacturer; https://www.alles-essen.at/produkte/xylosolv.html
Image sources: Stada AG xylosolv.at; Pro Natura – fructaid.de
4) https://www.alles-essen.at/produkte/fructosin.html; accessed on 6.2.2018
5) Press releases STADA, February 12, 2018
