Vivonex Plus Elemental Diet Review

While Vivonex can get the job done, it contains low-quality ingredients and is often harder to tolerate. I can personally attest to this because I have used Vivonex Plus before and it was a challenge drinking the solution.

What is an Elemental Diet?

As one of the most effective treatment options for patients battling with SIBO.

The elemental diet consists of pre-digested powdered nutrients, of which include:

• Proteins as amino acids
• Carbohydrates as monosaccharides (maltodextrin, dextrose, glucose)
• Fats as fatty acids
• Essential vitamins and minerals

By solely ingesting the liquid formulations, or through feeding tube administration, patients with digestive issues, particularly those with IBS, SIBO, or IBD are able to rest and repair their gastrointestinal (GI) systems and reduce bacterial overgrowth.

For example, patients with SIBO who undergo the elemental diet are able to successfully ‘starve’ the excess bacteria present in their GI tracts and drastically improve their symptoms at the end of the diet.

In fact, patients with SIBO have reported a success rate of 80-84% following the elemental diet. To learn more about exactly how the elemental diet has been found to improve the lives of SIBO and IBS patients, see the elemental formula for SIBO guide.

What is Vivonex Plus?

Vivonex Plus is an elemental powder formulation that exhibits a high-nitrogen and low-fat content to provide total enteral nutrition for those taking this supplement.

Currently, Vivonex Plus is recommended for patients suffering from the following illnesses:

• Recovery following bowel resection procedure
• Crohn’s Diseases
• GI Impairment as a result of:
  • Maldigestion
  • Malabsorption
  • Fistula
• Celiac Disease
• Gluten Intolerance
• Lactose Intolerance
• Limited GI function
• Recovery following radiation therapy
• Pre- and Post-operative meals
• Chronic illnesses
• Short-Bowel Syndrome
• Chylothorax
• Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)
• SIBO
• Pancreatitis
• Trophic feeding

By eliminating the need for GI tracts of patients with reduced digestive functionality to do much, Vivonex Plus, like many other elemental diet supplements, provides patients with high nutrient meals without causing any unwanted stress to the body during the process.

Ingredients in Vivonex Plus

As shown below, Figure 1 provides a list of all important nutrients that can be found in a single packet of Vivonex Plus.

Vivonex Plus Ingredients:

Vivonex Plus Flavor & Taste

Despite its potential usefulness for an individual on the elemental diet, the taste of Vivonex Plus is really bad, to say the least.

Many patients have used Vivonex Plus successfully to eradicate SIBO and rest their bowels but they often complain of the taste and the adjustment period with this formula.

For example, many people have had side effects from low-quality ingredients in Vivonex like corn maltodextrin and soybean oil. Some other patients complain that the formula has made their breath smell and causes extra cramping.

So, while the formula is effective as an elemental diet treatment it can be a challenge to get through the treatment duration because of these issues.

Below are recipes that previous Vivonex users have used to improve the taste of this elemental supplement. Note that these recipes cannot be used if you have been advised to be on a strict elemental diet.

Absorb Plus vs. Vivonex Plus

Although Vivonex Plus offers patients an easy way to absorb their nutrients when on the elemental diet, this powder formulation lacks the flavor and ingredient profile to make the elemental diet on this specific supplement bearable.

As compared to Vivonex Plus, which offers customers a single flavorless option, the more well-known elemental formulation known as Absorb Plus offers a wide variety of unique and tasty flavors. Absorb plus also contains a better ingredient profile you can feel good ingesting.

Currently, Absorb Plus offers the following flavors:

• Simply Vanilla
• Mocha Grande
• Unsweetened Chocolate (recommended flavor, no fructose)
• French Vanilla
• Berry Fusion
• Unsweetened Vanilla (recommended flavor, no fructose)
• Caramel Toffee Twist
• Simply Chocolate
• Banana Coconut Crème
• Chocolate Royale

In addition to providing users with a completely natural way to gain all the necessary nutrients and protein while on the elemental diet, Absorb Plus has also been shown to improve their customers’ energy levels and quality of sleep.

To learn more about Absorb Plus, click here.

Conclusion

Overall, Absorb Plus is a much better powder formulation as compared to Vivonex Plus that is primarily attributed to its far superior taste and ingredient profile as compared to Vivonex Plus.

So if you’re considering purchasing an elemental formula I would highly advise you to check out Absorb Plus instead of Vivonex Plus. You won’t regret it!

CHECK OUT ABSORB PLUS