Colon Broom is a fiber-based dietary supplement that claims to not only improve bowel regularity, but also to cause weight loss and reduce bloating. The company makes the bold claim that their product was formulated “thanks to modern breakthroughs in gastrointestinal science.”
But is Colon Broom actually superior to regular fiber supplements? Is the fiber dose in Colon Broom effective for gut health? Does it contain unhealthy additives? And is Colon Broom better or worse than Metamucil?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Colon Broom to give our take on whether or not it's likely to support enhance gut function, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also highlight some questionable health claims on the brand's website, explain why we think Colon Broom is overpriced, and compare the brand's formulation to Metamucil to pick our winner.
Key takeaways:
- Contains relatively low fiber dose
- Highly questionable health claims on brand's website
- We do not currently recommend Colon Broom
Ingredient Analysis
Psyllium husk powder is the only active ingredient in Colon Broom, and is included at a dose of 3.6 grams (g):
Psyllium husk is a well-studied and effective type of fiber, but this is a relatively low dose.
A clinical trial published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that psyllium husk supplementation improved gut health, but the daily dose used was 21 g, or 5.83x the amount in Colon Broom.
A 2018 clinical trial found that psyllium husk supplementation improved bowel regularity, but the dose used was 10 g, or 2.78x the amount in Colon Broom.
We are unable to locate any clinical studies suggesting that a fiber dose as low as that in Colon Broom has statistically significant effects on any health outcome, and Colon Broom does not appear to cite any on their website, so we will consider this supplement likely ineffective.
There is certainly no "breakthrough in gastrointestinal science" here: Colon Broom provides a relatively low dose of fiber with added flavoring ingredients.
The inactive ingredients in Colon Broom are shown below:
Citric acid is a preservative and flavor enhancer that can cause inflammation in some individuals, according to a series of case reports published in the Toxicology Reports journal.
Natural flavor is a broad descriptor that encompasses a wide range of flavoring agents.
As we documented in our Nu Biome reviews article, there exists medical research suggesting that some natural flavor compounds may be suboptimal for human health.
We do not currently recommend Colon Broom because of the inactive ingredients highlighted above.
Is Colon Broom Overpriced?
As discussed in the previous section, Colon Broom is essentially psyllium husk fiber and flavoring ingredients.
Psyllium husk is widely available, so its price can be compared between Colon Broom and competitors.
Colon Broom contains 60 servings of 3.6 g of psyllium husk fiber, equating to a price-per-10-g-dose of $3.01 at the time of updating this article (for a one-time, single product purchase).
NOW Brands sells a psyllium husk powder that contains 76 servings of 7 g of psyllium husk fiber, equating to a price-per-10-g-dose of $0.25 on Amazon at the time of updating this article (for a one-time, single product purchase).
This means that per gram of fiber, NOW Foods' psyllium husk supplement costs 12x less than Colon Broom for the exact same active ingredient.
We consider Colon Broom to be overpriced.
Questionable Health Claims
Colon Broom’s website has a quiz that diagnoses health problems based on factors like weight and bowel regularity.
We completed the quiz with random answers and got a result showing a “45% chance of candida albicans growth,” as shown below:
This is unscientific and dangerous in our opinion. It's impossible to diagnose specific medical conditions based on bowel regularity quizzes, and we urge the company to stop engaging in this marketing practice without sharing any evidence that their process accurately diagnoses health conditions.
Colon Boom's website also states that the “unique complex of essential ingredients” in their formulation “works to improve your body’s detoxification processes...and eliminating accumulated toxins.”
We don't understand how Colon Broom can make this specific health claim if the supplement hasn't been tested in any clinical trials.
We recommend that consumers avoid supplement brands that make uncited health claims.
Does Colon Broom Cause Side Effects?
Colon Broom doesn't appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it more challenging to determine whether or not the supplement causes side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.
Increasing fiber intake can cause digestive side effects, whether that added fiber comes from a supplement or from high-fiber food like beans. These side effects can range from bloating, increased gas, stomach discomfort and irregular bowel movements.
We do not believe that Colon Broom is likely to cause any significant side effects, given that the fiber dose is relatively low.
The potential for side effects from increased fiber supplementation is why it's logical to slowly increase fiber intake to minimize digestive discomfort.
The brand's FAQ page also suggests that mild side effects are possible when first starting use of this supplement, due to the fiber.
Colon Broom vs. Metamucil
Metamucil is one of the most popular fiber brands, so consumers are often curious about which product is better.
Both Colon Broom and Metamucil contain the exact same type of fiber (psyllium husk) at a similar dosage, so the distinction comes down to added ingredients.
We consider Colon Broom to be a healthier choice than Metamucil, because Metamucil contains artificial flavors and artificial color.
Although we don't currently recommend either supplement, we would recommend Colon Broom to consumers intent on choosing between the two brands.
Metamucil is cheaper per-gram-fiber, so it may be a better option for consumers on a budget.
Our Clean Gut Health Picks
Manukora MGO 850+ is our top whole food gut health pick.
A 2024 clinical trial reported that manuka honey ingestion "correlates with beneficial modulation of gut microbiota composition."
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our top gut health supplement.
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ contains 100% soluble fiber, which was described as "one of the most important nutrients for the gut microbiota" in a clinical review published in the Molecules journal.
Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Colon Broom Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Healthier than Metamucil
- Brand's website offers free shipping
- No dangerous ingredients
- Unlikely to cause side effects
Cons:
- Expensive
- Brand website requires subscription
- Relatively low fiber dose
- Contains citric acid
- Contains added flavors
- Doesn't appear clinically tested
- We can't find any clinical evidence that this product will cause weight loss
- Brand makes questionable health claims
