Has anyone here tried glucomannan?

[wyldwolf]

So I was in hotel in DC one morning and the local cable company was splattering commercial times for ads for diet supplement. I googled the product and found the active ingredient is glucomannan:

Glucomannan is a water-soluble polysaccharide that is considered a dietary fiber. Glucomannan is a food additive used as an emulsifier and thickener. Products containing glucomannan, marketed under a variety of brand names, are also sold as nutritional supplements for constipation, obesity, high cholesterol, acne vulgaris and type 2 diabetes. Although there is some clinical support for potential health benefits, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any product containing glucomannan for the treatment of these medical conditions. Health Canada has authorized some products containing glucomannan for the purposes of appetite reduction, weight management, treatment of constipation and management of high cholesterol levels.

Glucomannan is also the main ingredient in shirataki noodles and konnyaku which are traditional Japanese foods. These products are made from the ground corm of the konjac plant. These natural products have been eaten in Japan for centuries. Because of the fiber content and health benefits[citation needed], they are known as the "broom of the intestine" in Japan. They are now being marketed for weight loss and other health benefits in the United States and worldwide due to the low calorie count.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucomannan

I was more interested in it's supposed hunger suppression benefits. So picked some up from a health food store about three weeks ago. Immediately I experienced why it's called the "broom of the intestine" in Japan. But it wasn't helping at all with appetite reduction until the last couple of days. Suddenly it's like the trigger that tells my brain I'm hungry has been switched off. I don't experience a feeling of fullness like some say they do, but now sometimes I don't even think to eat the next meal of the day.

I have read of some minor side effects but haven't experienced them.

Anyone tried this?

[noamnety]

1. I haven't

but I looked for it in a health food store in powdered form (they didn't have any). I was thinking of trying to use it as a thickener, since starches are out for me. Are you taking it as a pill?

[wyldwolf]

2. A capsule, actually

The dosage is two before each meal - which has rather (ahem!) adverse effects on me. So I do four total daily.