What are the ingredients in Ensure shakes?

October 28, 2025 •

3 min read

Ensure shakes are a popular nutritional supplement, and according to manufacturer Abbott Nutrition, they are formulated to provide a balanced mix of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. Understanding what are the ingredients in Ensure shakes can help consumers make informed decisions about their dietary needs and preferences.

Quick Summary

An in-depth look at the composition of Ensure shakes, outlining the key macronutrients, vitamin and mineral blends, and other additives found in different formulations like Original, Max Protein, and Plant-Based.

Key Points

Core Foundation: Most Ensure shakes start with a base of water, fortified with protein from milk or plant sources, and a blend of carbohydrates and fats.
Protein Variety: Depending on the product line, protein can come from dairy (milk protein concentrate, calcium caseinate) or plant-based sources like fava bean and pea protein.
Sweetener Differences: Standard Ensure uses sugar and corn maltodextrin, while Max Protein uses artificial sweeteners, and the Plant-Based version uses natural sweeteners like stevia.
Comprehensive Vitamins and Minerals: All formulations contain a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals to support bone, immune, and overall health.
Digestive Health Additives: Many Ensure shakes include dietary fiber, such as soluble corn fiber or chicory root fiber, to support digestive health.
Product Specifics Matter: It is important to check the label for each specific Ensure shake, as ingredients can differ significantly across formulations, especially regarding protein and sweetener sources.

Core Ingredients of Ensure Shakes

Ensure shakes, produced by Abbott Nutrition, are designed to deliver a complete, balanced source of nutrition. While the exact formula varies slightly between product types (e.g., Original, Max Protein, Plus), several core ingredient categories are consistent across most shakes.

Water and Macronutrients

The primary ingredient in most liquid Ensure shakes is water. This serves as the base for the blend of macronutrients that follow. These macronutrients provide the bulk of the shake's calories and energy.

Carbohydrates: The main source of energy often comes from a combination of corn maltodextrin, sugar (sucrose), and corn syrup. Ensure formulations designed for lower sugar intake, like Max Protein, use artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium instead.
Proteins: Ensure products are protein-rich to support muscle health. Common protein sources include milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate. Ensure Max Protein also uses calcium caseinate. For vegan options, Ensure Plant-Based Protein uses fava bean and pea protein.
Fats: A blend of vegetable oils provides essential fatty acids. Common examples include high oleic safflower oil, canola oil, and corn oil.

Vitamin and Mineral Blend

All Ensure shakes contain a comprehensive list of vitamins and minerals to fulfill nutritional gaps. The precise amounts vary, but the list generally includes more than two dozen micronutrients, such as:

Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K1.
Water-Soluble Vitamins: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pyridoxine (B6), Folic Acid (B9), Biotin (B7), and Cyanocobalamin (B12).
Minerals: A wide array of minerals are included, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and selenium.

Other Additives and Ingredients

To improve consistency, flavor, and shelf-life, Ensure uses several other food additives.

Stabilizers: Ingredients like cellulose gel, cellulose gum, and carrageenan are used to prevent separation and maintain a smooth texture.
Emulsifiers: Soy lecithin helps blend the oil and water components.
Flavoring: Both natural and artificial flavors are used to create the taste profiles like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
Sweeteners: Besides sugar and corn syrup, low-calorie options use sucralose and acesulfame potassium. Plant-based versions often use stevia leaf extract and monk fruit extract.

Comparison of Ensure Shake Ingredients

To highlight the differences between the main Ensure products, here is a comparison of key ingredients.


Ingredient Category	Ensure Original Shake	Ensure Max Protein Shake	Ensure Plant-Based Protein Shake
Protein Sources	Milk Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Isolate	Milk Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate	Fava Bean Protein Isolate, Pea Protein Concentrate
Carbohydrate Source	Corn Maltodextrin, Sugar	Soluble Corn Fiber (low sugar)	Organic Sugar, Chicory Root Fiber
Sweeteners	Sugar	Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium	Stevia Leaf Extract, Monk Fruit Extract
Fat Sources	Canola Oil, Corn Oil	High Oleic Sunflower Oil	High Oleic Safflower Oil
Fiber Content	Can contain short-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS)	Contains soluble corn fiber for digestive health	Contains chicory root fiber and oat fiber

Conclusion

While all Ensure shakes are formulated to provide comprehensive nutrition, their ingredient lists are tailored for specific dietary needs, such as high protein, low sugar, or plant-based options. Key components include a blend of water, macronutrients from various protein, carb, and fat sources, and a fortified mix of essential vitamins and minerals. Reading the specific product label is always recommended to check for any allergens or to confirm the exact ingredients and nutritional profile for your specific dietary requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the ingredients vary significantly depending on the specific product line. Ensure Original contains dairy protein and sugar, while Ensure Max Protein is lower in sugar and higher in protein, and the Plant-Based shake uses fava and pea protein.

For most traditional Ensure shakes, the main protein sources are milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate. The Plant-Based version, however, uses fava bean and pea protein instead.

Most Ensure shakes are formulated to be gluten-free. Many are also suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance, but they are not dairy-free, as they contain milk protein. The Plant-Based version is both dairy-free and suitable for vegans.

Standard Ensure shakes contain sugar and corn maltodextrin. Low-sugar versions like Max Protein use artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium, while the Plant-Based formula uses stevia and monk fruit extract.

Many Ensure shakes are a good source of fiber, but not all of them contain it. Fiber sources can include soluble corn fiber or chicory root fiber, depending on the specific product.

Ensure shakes are fortified with a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, various B vitamins, and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium.

The oil blend, typically from sources like canola and corn, provides the necessary dietary fats, including healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are important for overall health.