Do inulin-type fructans improve health? Original paper

Inulin‐type fructans (ITFs), a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides found in many plants, are resistant to digestion in the small intestine and undergo fermentation in the colon. Although some evidence from animal research suggests that ITFs might alleviate obesity, diabetes, and hyperglycemia, human research has been inconclusive.

This meta-analysis of 33 randomized controlled trials assessed the effects of ITF on body weight, blood glucose, insulin, and blood lipids. The studies included participants with varying health statuses: 8 studies assessed healthy individuals, 10 assessed participants with overweight or obesity, 10 assessed patients with prediabetes or diabetes, and 5 assessed participants with hyperlipidemia. ITF intake ranged from 3 to 30 grams per day.

In the overall analysis, ITF reduced blood glucose by −0.13 mmol/L (−2.34 mg/dL), insulin by −1.29 μlU/mL, total cholesterol by −0.15 mmol/L (−8.5 mg/dL), LDL-C by −0.18 mmol/L (−6.96 mg/dL), and triglycerides by −0.07 mmol/L (−6.2 mg/dL) and increased HDL-C by 0.04 mmol/L (1.54 mg/dL), with no effects on body weight.

In patients with prediabetes and diabetes, ITF reduced blood glucose by −0.42 mmol/L (−7.56 mg/dL), total cholesterol by −0.46 mmol/L (−17.78 mg/dL), LDL-C by −0.30 mmol/L (−11.6 mg/dL), and triglycerides by −0.21 mmol/L (−18.6 mg/dl) and increased HDL-C by 0.07 mmol/L (2.7 mg/dL).