Effects of inulin-type fructans on Bifidobacteria unaffected by food matrix, according to recent study

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A recent study¹ investigated the prebiotic effects of inulin-type fructans on Bifidobacteria growth in different food matrices. In the 10-day, four-arm, parallel, randomized trial, inulin was administered either in pure form or incorporated into shortbread biscuits, milk chocolate, and a rice drink. All groups, consisting of 24 participants each, consumed 10 g of chicory root fiber (Orafti Inulin from Beneo) per day. Results showed that all matrices similarly increased counts of Bifidobacterium, confirming that the selectivity of inulin-type fructans towards Bifidobacterium is unaffected by food matrix.

“Thanks to this study, product developers can ‘tick off’ one key question from their checklist: does the functional ingredient deliver the desired benefit when used in the final application? And the answer for chicory root fiber enrichment clearly is ‘yes,’” said Anke Sentko, vice president, Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition Communication at Beneo, in a press release. “It has now been scientifically proven that the intended Bifidobacteria growth is independent of the food matrix that is used. These findings add to the large body of studies about the beneficial effects of chicory root fibers that already exist and are based on more than 25 years of scientific research on the proven prebiotics inulin and oligofructose.”

Reference

1. Jackson, P.P.J.; Wijeyesekera, A.; Theis, S.; Van Harsselaae, J.; Rastall, R.A. Effects of Food Matrix on the Prebiotic Efficacy of Inulin-Type Fructans: A Randomised Trial. Beneficial Microbes. 2023, Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1163/18762891-20220120 (Accessed 2023-9-28)