[Efficacy of fructooligosaccharide] Essential for diet, 3 effects of fructooligosaccharide

[Efficacy of fructooligosaccharide] Essential for diet, 3 effects of fructooligosaccharide

Nov 22, 2022KimSunhyo
Fructooligosaccharide efficacy
1. Constipation improvement
2. Blood Sugar and Weight Loss
3. Improve Nutrient Absorption

Hello. This is Jinny, the pharmacist.

Fructooligosaccharide , now a representative prebiotic that many people know. It is a natural substance contained in vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits, and has been used as a food raw material, and it can be said that its safety has been sufficiently confirmed as no serious side effects have been reported.
When we ingest fructooligosaccharide, it is hardly digested and reaches the intestines, where it becomes food for beneficial bacteria . In addition, many human application studies have reported an increase in beneficial bacteria in the intestines according to the intake of fructooligosaccharide . However, I often recommend fructooligosaccharide as an essential ingredient for a successful diet, and for some reason, I will review it through a thesis today.

1.  Constipation improvement

The biggest reason I consider fructooligosaccharide an essential ingredient for diet is that it helps improve constipation. It is also included in the functionality of fructooligosaccharides recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 'can help with smooth bowel movements'.
In fact, a paper was published in Nutrients in 2017 that evaluated the effect of improving constipation according to the intake of fructooligosaccharide .

" When fructooligosaccharides were supplemented in healthy participants who consumed dietary fiber irregularly, a laxative effect was shown to improve bowel activity by reducing stool hardness without causing gastrointestinal disturbances. "
Reference paper: Bu dding ton, R. K., Kapadia, C., Neumer, F., & Theis, S. (2017). Oligofructose provides laxation for irregularity associated with low fiber intake. Nutrients, 9(12), 1372.
2. Blood Sugar and Weight Loss

In general, it is known that the functionality of fructooligosaccharides helps the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the intestine. This is correct in general terms, but the actual operation is a bit more complicated. Ingested fructooligosaccharides are fermented by intestinal bacteria in the large intestine, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced as a result of fermentation acidify the intestinal environment and create a favorable environment for beneficial bacteria to thrive.

In addition to improving the intestinal environment, short-chain fatty acids, which are the end products of fructooligosaccharide fermentation, act as substrates or signaling molecules in various metabolic reactions, such as immune responses, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism regulation. 

In 2016, a meta-study was reported that comprehensively reviewed the various benefits of fructooligosaccharide intake .

“ As a result, [consumption of fructooligosaccharides] can reduce blood sugar levels, weight and the risk of colon cancer. "
Reference paper: Caetano, BF, De Moura, NA, Almeida, AP, Dias, MC, Sivieri , K., & Barbisan, LF (2016). Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) as a food supplement: health-promoting benefits of fructooligosaccharides. Nutrients, 8(7), 4 36. 
3. Improve Nutrient Absorption

The third reason I recommend incorporating fructooligosaccharides into your diet is that they can help improve the absorption of minerals. A typical example is calcium. As a result of a human application test, it has been reported that calcium absorption through the large intestine increases when fructooligosaccharides are ingested .
As the human application test results accumulating that the intake of fructooligosaccharide enhances the absorption of nutrients in the intestine, the results of a meta study examining changes in nutrient absorption according to the intake of fructooligosaccharide have been reported in the Archives de Pédiatrie .

“ It has been reported that fructooligosaccharides increase calcium absorption in the intestine and stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria in the colon, thereby reducing iron uptake by enteric pathogens and increasing the absorption of these minerals. "
Reference paper: Costa, G., Vasconcelos, Q., Abreu, G., Albuquerque, A., Vilarejo, J., & Aragão, G. (2020). Changes in nutrient absorption in children and adolescents caused by fructans, especially fructooligosaccharides and inulin. Archives de Pédiatrie, 27(3), 166-169.

Today, we looked at the benefits of fructooligosaccharides that have been verified in the academic world. If you were thinking that you should simply take it for the growth of beneficial bacteria in your intestines, it would be nice to pay more attention to the consequential benefits of fructooligosaccharide intake that I introduced today.

In addition, fructooligosaccharide can be consumed alone, but it can be consumed in beverages or mixed with unsweetened yogurt, etc. as a substitute for sweetener. If you want to reduce your sugar intake, choose fructooligosaccharide instead of sweetener and try the effect of killing two birds with one stone. I hope

I hope you have a healthy day in body and mind. It was Jinny.



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