Oligofructose Provides Laxation for Irregularity Associated with Low Fiber Intake

Abstract

Inadequate dietary fiber intake contributes to the prevalent irregularity and constipation in Western countries. Although eating adequate amounts of fibers from fiber-rich foods, foods with added fibers and dietary fiber supplements is considered the first option for improving laxation, the efficacy can vary among types of fibers. The present study is a randomized control trial that included healthy adult participants with ≤3 bowel movements/week and a habitual low dietary fiber intake in a parallel design to evaluate the benefits for laxation by supplementing the daily diet with oligofructose (Orafti® P95; OF), a fermentable source of fiber and established prebiotic (n = 49); maltodextrin was the placebo (n = 48). After a run-in phase, OF was initially provided at 5 g/day, then increased to 10 and 15 g/day with four weeks for each phase. Stool frequency (bowel movements per week) for the OF and maltodextrin (MD) groups were initially similar (3.98 ± 1.49 vs. 4.06 ± 1.48), did not change for the placebo group, but increased for the OF group with the difference significant at 15 g/day (p = 0.023). Stool consistency was similar and remained unchanged at all doses for both groups. Gastrointestinal sensations were low for both groups. Laxation benefits were especially pronounced for participants with >13 g/day habitual dietary fiber intake, with significant laxation at 10 g and 15 g OF/day (p = 0.04 and p = 0.004, respectively) A daily supplement with a short-chain inulin-type fructan derived from chicory roots, i.e., oligofructose (Orafti® P95) provided a laxation effect without causing gastrointestinal (GI) distress for healthy participants with irregularity associated with low dietary fiber intake.

Probiotics and prebiotics in intestinal health and disease: from biology to the clinic

“…The humectant water binding capacity of prebiotic carbohydrates also has the effect of softening stools, making passage easier. 111,112 There are surprisingly few studies on the effect of prebiotics on bowel function, although they have consistently led to improvements in stool consistency and defecation frequency in randomized trials 113,114 [H3] Metabolic effects. As discussed earlier, prebiotic intervention results in the elaboration of SCFAs that can act to improve barrier function in the gut and prebiotic intervention with GOS has shown improvements in barrier function in vivo.…”

Investigation of carryover effect of prior fibre consumption on growth, serum and tissue metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed a high‐fat diet

“…However, there was no separation at the end of the growing phase, an indication that that fibre type did not affect beta diversity at the end of the growing phase influenced by the type consumed, being primarily mediated by effects on the microbiome and fermentation products (Canfora et al, 2017;Cheng et al, 2017;Venkataraman et al, 2016), and effects of these on the host. Inulin and cellulose are two major fibre types that are used in human diets for their digestive and metabolic health benefits (Ahmed & Rashid, 2017;Buddington, Kapadia, Neumer, & Theis, 2017;Morowitz et al, 2017). These effects are primarily associated with continuous presence of these fibres in regular diets.…”

Comparison of the role of fiber in the treatment of functional constipation in children and adults

“…Four adult studies found beneficial effects on improvement in bowel symptoms with prebiotic fibers [74][75][76][77] . Marteau et al demonstrated that 15 g of inulin supplementation improved constipation and quality of life in elderly people 74 .…”

“…Another study in the elderly population showed improvement in constipation in 9 out of 10 subjects on inulin consumption 75 . Orafti  , a granulated inulin powder, was studied in two of the trials 76,77 . Micka et al found Orafti  significantly increased stool frequency compared to placebo (p=0.038) 76 .…”