Inulin and Oligofructose in Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, also called chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), affect up to 500 per 100,000 persons in the Western world. Recent studies in the etiology of IBD suggest that these diseases are caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Results from humans and especially animal models of colitis reported by our group and others have indicated that these diseases result from a lack of tolerance to resident intestinal bacteria in genetically susceptible hosts. Probiotic bacteria have health-promoting effects for the host when ingested and have also shown efficacy in ulcerative colitis and refractory pouchitis. In light of the efficacy of providing probiotic bacteria to patients with IBD, there has been interest in the prophylactic and therapeutic potential of inulin, oligofructose, and other prebiotics for patients with or at risk of IBD. Prebiotics are nondigestible dietary oligosaccharides that affect the host by selectively stimulating growth, activity, or both of selective intestinal (probiotic) bacteria. Prebiotics are easy to administer and, in contrast to probiotic therapy, do not require administration of large amounts of (live) bacteria and are therefore easier to administer. Studies using prebiotics, especially beta-fructan oligosaccharides, for the treatment of chronic intestinal inflammation have shown benefit in animal models of colitis. Studies using these prebiotics alone or in combination with probiotics are emerging and have shown promise. These dietary therapies could lead to novel treatments for these chronic debilitating diseases.

Effect of inulin supplementation in male mice fed with high fat diet on biochemical profile and α-amylase gene expression

“…A very prominent feature of inulin is a prebiotic property, which is being related to different manifestations of its effect with regard to the gastrointestinal tract, including a beneficial effect on intestinal bacteria that may provide healthpromoting effect to their hosts [23]. The use of inulin has been shown to improve lipid metabolism in rats that were fed a high fat diet [24].…”

Carbohydrates Components of Some Italian Local Landraces: Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

“…These compounds are catching researchers' attention for their health-promoting effects, to the point that they are gradually being added to a wider variety of food products as fortification agents, and are being increasingly used as the main components in dietary supplements [28,41]. However, recent researches have emphasized that particular attention must be paid to consumers with problems of dietary intolerances to fructans and fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) [42].…”

Manipulation of Intestinal Flora as a Way to Treat Crohn's Disease: The Role of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Antibiotics

“…These are already considered as probiotics by some authors. Fructo-oligosaccharides, which are represented by inulin and oligofructose, occur in nature in different plants, such as chicory, leek, onion, garlic, and asparagus (Leenen & Dieleman, 2007). In 2006, results of a small study on clinical, immunological and microbiological effects of fructo-oligosaccharides in patients with active CD were published (Lindsay et al, 2006).…”