The carotenoids may be important in preventing cancer, but this has not been proven yet. The potential benefit to the public of olestra is that products cooked using it will have fewer calories and less digestible fat. One ounce of regular potato chips has 10 grams of fat and 150 calories, but olestra chips effectively have no fat and just 60 calories, about the same as a plain baked potato. This might help overweight Americans trim fat and calories from their diets. You won't gain weight unless you eat too many calories for the amount you exercise.
Some people think that reduced-fat means no calories or reduced calories.
In fact, reduced-fat foods may contain nearly as many calories as the regular product. Since calories may be nearly the same, people may get more calories if they eat larger portions of reduced-fat foods compared to regular foods. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E and K have been added.