Table 3.
Effects of inulin ingestion in human studies.
| Treatment | Duration | Subjects | Effects | Adverse effects | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inulin (10 g/d) | 3 months | Diabetes n=27 |
Overall improvement in glycemic index, increased serum 10 g/d of butyric acid and propionic acid | – | (120) |
| Inulin (10 g/d) | 6 weeks | Adults at risk of T2DM n=24 |
Increased Bifidobacterium abundance in gut | Mild gastrointestinal side effects, including bloating and loose stools | (121) |
| 10 g/d of inulin or maltodextrin | 8 weeks | Women suffering from obesity or depression n=45 |
No significant beneficial effects on depressive symptoms, gut permeability, or inflammatory biomarkers | Gastrointestinal complaints (flatulence, soft stools) | (122) |
| Inulin (60.2%) in 20-g formula | 5 weeks | Healthy adults n=8 |
Suppressed postprandial glycemic response | – | (123) |
| Inulin-type fructans (16 g/d) | 6 weeks | Patients with T2DM n=35 |
No significant effects on appetite hormones, subjective feeling of appetite or energy intake | Gastrointestinal symptoms (flatulence) | (124) |
| Inulin-type fructans (16 g/d) | 6 weeks | Patients with T2DM n=25 |
A significant bifidogenic effect and increased fecal concentration of SCFAs | – | (19) |
| Butyrate (600 mg/d) + high-performance inulin (10 g/d) | 45 days | Patients with T2DM n=60 |
A significant increase in expression of miR-146a and miR-9, and antioxidant capacity | – | (125) |
| 45 g of milk powder with inulin and resistant dextrin | 12 weeks | Older patients with T2DM n=99 |
Reduced systolic BP, diastolic BP, fasting and 2-h postprandial plasma glucose level, serum level of glycosylated proteins, and insulin resistance index; increased 2-h postprandial insulin level and β-cell function index | No serious adverse events | (126) |
| Inulin (1.7 g/d) in enriched seafood sticks (50 g/d) | 12 weeks | Abdominally obese individuals n=120 |
Reduced postprandial atherogenic triglyceride concentrations and potential protection against T2DM | – | (127) |
| Inulin (16 g/d) | 3 months | Obese participants n=61 |
BMI decrease, reduced liver stiffness and plasma levels of AST and cholesterol, and improved glucose intolerance | Rumbling, cramps, bloating and flatulence, which could be improved by physical activity | (128) |
| 16 g/d inulin | 3 months | Obese patients n=106 |
Improved bodyweight, AST level and insulinemia, decreased abundance of Desulfovibrio and Clostridium, and increased abundance of Bifidobacterium, but without gut microbiota changes or metabolic improvements after metformin treatment | Nausea, cramp, reflux and rumbling | (43) |
| Inulin-propionate ester (20 g/d) | 42 days | Overweight and obese adults not suffering from diabetes mellitus n=12 |
Improved insulin resistance, increased abundance of Actinobacteria and decreased abundance of Clostridia | Stomach discomfort, nausea, bloating, flatulence, belching, heartburn | (45) |
| 10 g/d of a mixture of inulin and oligofructose | 12 weeks | Patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis n=16 |
Changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota, reduction of the serum levels of uric acid, and increase in fecal degradation of uric acid | – | (129) |
| Inulin-type fructans (10 g/d) | 3 months | Patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis n=22 |
Altered composition of intestinal microbiota | No adverse effects | (130) |
T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; SCFAs, short-chain fatty acids; BP, blood pressure; BMI, body mass index; AST, aspartate transaminase.