Inulin Prebiotic Supplement Review, Benefits & Safety

Inulin is a type of soluble fiber prebiotic found in foods such as asparagus, bananas, garlic and onions.

It is an oligosaccharide carbohydrate that is often paired with probiotic supplements.

Chicory root is a source of inulin used frequently for commercial supplements.

Prebiotics are non-digestive fiber compounds that support the growth of probiotic bacteria in the colon and gastrointestinal tract. Prebiotics are not food for probiotics, but they do stimulate growth of these organisms.

Research studies show that Inulin ferments in the colon and acts as a substrate for Bifidobacteria probiotic strains to colonize.

This probiotic bacteria helps the immune system and prevents harmful bacteria from attaching to the gut wall and weakening the gut mucosa barrier.

The use of inulin as a prebiotic is rated Possibly Effective for constipation and Hypertriglyceridemia. It is also used for obesity and weight loss, though more research is needed to rate effectiveness for these applications.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Probiotics Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Inulin Prebiotic Uses

Inulin prebiotics have many applications from relieving diarrhea to helping prevent heart disease as well as reducing inflammation in the colon associated with UC.

Inulin is used to treat a number of conditions such as constipation. Inulin helps with the absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc and helps to lower triglycerides (blood fats). It is also used in the management of diabetes and may improve blood sugar regulation.

In most cases, this supplement is administered alongside probiotic supplements from the Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria families. When taken together, prebiotics may improve the ability of probiotics to colonize the gut and colon.

This means that more “good” probiotoc bacteria will be present in the gastrointestinal tract when administered alongside a supplement such as inulin.

This is important as the benefits derived from probiotics are directly connected to the number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) present in the body and the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria.

Inulin Prebiotic Benefits

Preliminary research studies have showed that taking inulin prebiotic supplements reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. This supplement may work by reducing the effect of genotoxins that promote the growth of cancerous polyps.

Clinical studies have shown consuming inulin daily reduces the appetite to help in losing weight.

The balancing of the microflora in the gut also helps reduce obesity and may improve symptoms of metabolic syndrome. This can also help reduce the risk of developing Type II Diabetes and heart disease.

Inulin also increases the frequency and bulks the stool to help prevent constipation and diarrhea. Treatment with this supplement is used as a preventative of a reoccurrence of C. difficile associated bacterial diarrhea. This type of diarrhea can occur after a course of antibiotics.

A study published in Neurotoxicology and Teratolgy in May 2015 showed inulin has neuroprotective properties. This may have potential for use during pregnancy because the developing brain is more sensitive to chemicals.

However, the safety of inulin during pregnancy has not yet been determined.

A study published in the Journal of Microbioloy and Biotechnology in September 2015 showed that Inulin increases the ratio of probiotic bacteria to pathogenic bacteria.

This ratio of bacteria strains in the microbiome is important for the maintenance of health digestive function.

Specifically, the use of an inulin prebiotic increases the ratio of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria probiotic strains to Enterobacteria strains. This is an index of a healthy human intestine that is correlated with elevated butyrate concentration.

Without butyrates for energy, colon cells go through autophagy (self-digestion) and die.

Butyrate is a major metabolite in colonic lumen and is a critical moderator of the colonic inflammatory response. This action helps to counteract inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC) and colorectal cancer.

Inulin Supplementation for Heart Health

Inulin is being studied for its preventative potential for diseases of the blood lipids and blood glucose. Inulin prebiotic supplementation may also help reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

This lipoprotein is associated with artherosclerosis.

Artherosclerosis occurs when the artery wall thickens from the invasion and accumulation of white blood cells (WBC’s).

This creates a a fibrofatty plague that eventually obstructs the blood flow in the artery as well as hardening the artery wall which increase pulse pressure.

The symptoms of artherosclerosis may take years to develop. If left untreated, this arterial plaque may eventually cause a coronary thrombosis or myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Adding inulin to the diet as a non-digestible prebiotic carbohydrate helps reduce this effect. According to animal studies, inulin-type fructans can reduce triacylglycerol and atherosclerotic plaque by up to 30%.

These results were observed in mice fed a diet rich in long-chain inulin prebiotics or oligofructose-enriched inulin.

Inulin Safety

Inulin supplements are rated as Possibly Safe when used orally at appropriate dosages for short-term periods of time. Doses of 8 – 14 g per day have been used safely for up to eight weeks in research studies.

In some cases, side effects can include belching, bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, flatulence and stomach noises.

There have been rare causes of anaphylactic allergy reactions when used in GFR testing; this is thought to be due to a food allergy.

Inulin is known to interact with Lactulose medications, Cephulac, Cholac, Chronulac, Chronulac Syrup and Constilac. Other lactulose medications inulin may interact with are Constulose, Duphalac, Enulose, Evalose, Generlac, Heptalac, and Kristalose.

Check with your health care professional for any possible interactions before using inulin-based prebiotics. Inulin derived from chicory should not be taken if pregnant as it may increase the risk of miscarriage.

Rate This Article

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)