Overview

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Possibly Effective
Based on 13 Researches
7.8
USERS' SCORE
Moderately Good
Based on 5 Reviews
7.8
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Level Teaspoon (approx. 4 g)
Amount Per Serving
%DV
Calories
10 
 
Total Carbohydrate
4 g
1%**
Dietary Fiber
4 g
14%*
Organic Inulin (FOS) (from Blue Agave)
3.3 g

Top Medical Research Studies

9
Inulin shows promise against osteoporosis
We investigated how inulin from Morinda officinalis can help with osteoporosis, particularly looking at its different polysaccharide fractions. Using a well-established ovariectomized rat model, we discovered that these polysaccharides, especially the fractions MO50 and MOW50-1, significantly protected against bone loss.

The study showed that when these polysaccharides were administered at a dosage of 400 mg/kg/day, rats experienced less bone deterioration and improved bone quality. Specifically, we noticed enhancements in the structure of trabecular bone, as well as lower levels of markers that indicate bone turnover.

Through careful bioactivity-guided isolation, we identified two specific inulin-type fructans, which were linked to the potential anti-osteoporotic benefits. Particularly, one of these fructans (MOW50-1) encouraged the differentiation of bone-forming cells, suggesting it could play a role in promoting bone health.

Overall, our findings emphasize the promising potential of inulin from Morinda officinalis as a natural option for helping with osteoporosis management and prevention.
Read More
We explored the impact of a dietary supplement, oligofructose-enriched inulin, on maternal bone health and the skeletal development of their offspring during critical growth periods. The study focused on how this prebiotic affects bone turnover in lactating rats and the resulting benefits for their young.

By comparing different diet groups, we found that the rat dams who received the inulin supplement had notably improved bone structure. They exhibited thicker trabecular bones and a healthier bone volume compared to those on a standard diet. This suggests that inulin may help protect maternal bones from deterioration during the demanding phases of gestation and nursing.

Moreover, the benefits extended to the offspring. Young rats whose mothers consumed the inulin showed better bone density and improved structural quality in their lumbar vertebrae. This sets a stronger foundation for their bone health moving into adulthood—a crucial aspect in preventing conditions like osteoporosis later in life.

Overall, our findings support the idea that the incorporation of oligofructose-enriched inulin into maternal diets can significantly improve bone health for both mothers and their offspring. This makes it a compelling nutritional choice for anyone looking to bolster bone strength.
Read More
9
Inulin promotes better bone health
We aimed to understand how inulin, a type of fructooligosaccharide, influences calcium absorption and bone density, particularly in the context of preventing osteoporosis. Our study involved young adult male rats, where we examined the effects of different forms of inulin with varying degrees of polymerization on their bone health.

We observed that rats fed with inulin containing longer sugar chains (DP>23) showed a notable increase in bone mineral density compared to those receiving shorter-chain inulin or oligosaccharides. Specifically, not only was the bone density in the femurs significantly enhanced in the inulin group, but the spine also showed improvements in bone mineral content.

Additionally, we found that the levels of Type 1 collagen fragments, which are indicators of bone turnover, decreased the most in the inulin group. This suggests that inulin has a positive impact on bone health, potentially through mechanisms that increase calcium absorption.

Overall, our findings indicate that longer-chain inulin appears to be particularly promising in contributing to better calcium bioavailability and could play a vital role in bone health during crucial growth phases.
Read More

Most Useful Reviews

7.5
Improves calcium absorption
In addition to its prebiotic effects, inulin significantly increases calcium absorption, reducing osteoporosis risk. It influences lipid metabolism, decreasing atherosclerosis risk and possibly preventing type II diabetes, with preliminary data suggesting anticarcinogenic effects. Inulin also combats functional constipation and nourishes beneficial gut bacteria to maintain microbiota balance.
Read More
6
Reduces osteoporosis risk
7 people found this helpful
Inulin is crucial for children and the elderly due to its ability to enhance calcium absorption, helping babies grow healthily and lessening osteoporosis risk in older adults. It is fermented by gut microflora, producing short-chain fatty acids that acidify the colon contents, increasing calcium solubility and absorption. Inulin is suitable for children of all ages, and many baby food manufacturers incorporate it as a prebiotic.
Read More
7.5
Prebiotic benefits
Excellent prebiotic! It promotes calcium absorption and reduces the risk of osteoporosis while positively affecting lipid metabolism and reducing atherosclerosis risk. I recommend it!
Read More

Medical Researches

SCIENTIFIC SCORE
Possibly Effective
Based on 13 Researches
7.8
  • All Researches
We investigated how inulin, a type of dietary fiber, impacts bone health in the context of osteoporosis, particularly in a model of postmenopausal women represented by ovarierectomized (OVX) rats. The study involved feeding these rats different diets that included various sources of calcium, both dairy and carbonate, sometimes accompanied by inulin or lactose.

Our findings revealed that inulin has a significant effect on the gut environment. Notably, it enhanced the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and led to a lower intestinal pH. This change is coupled with an increase in certain beneficial gut bacteria, such as Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium, which play a role in gut health.

When we looked at bone health markers, we observed that inulin, in combination with calcium supplementation, was associated with higher bone mineral density and improved bone strength. Moreover, inulin seems to boost the expression of calcium absorption-related genes, which could potentially support better calcium uptake and retention.

Thus, while inulin alone showed promise in enhancing certain aspects of bone health, the beneficial effects were most pronounced when combined with adequate calcium sources. This insight emphasizes the importance of dietary choices in managing osteoporosis and promoting overall bone health.
Read More
9
Inulin shows promise against osteoporosis
We investigated how inulin from Morinda officinalis can help with osteoporosis, particularly looking at its different polysaccharide fractions. Using a well-established ovariectomized rat model, we discovered that these polysaccharides, especially the fractions MO50 and MOW50-1, significantly protected against bone loss.

The study showed that when these polysaccharides were administered at a dosage of 400 mg/kg/day, rats experienced less bone deterioration and improved bone quality. Specifically, we noticed enhancements in the structure of trabecular bone, as well as lower levels of markers that indicate bone turnover.

Through careful bioactivity-guided isolation, we identified two specific inulin-type fructans, which were linked to the potential anti-osteoporotic benefits. Particularly, one of these fructans (MOW50-1) encouraged the differentiation of bone-forming cells, suggesting it could play a role in promoting bone health.

Overall, our findings emphasize the promising potential of inulin from Morinda officinalis as a natural option for helping with osteoporosis management and prevention.
Read More
When we examined the effects of inulin treatments on osteoporosis, we found promising results related to bone health. Inulin-type fructans derived from sources like chicory and agave appeared to enhance calcium absorption, which is crucial for maintaining strong bones.

In our study involving ovariectomized rats, these inulin treatments notably improved bone density in both the femur and vertebrae. This suggests that inulin can play a valuable role in promoting bone strength without causing significant changes in many of the typical biochemical markers found in serum and urine.

Interestingly, even when paired with isoflavones, the inulin treatments showed no major histological changes in the rats. Overall, our findings indicate that inulin holds potential as a natural option for boosting bone health and could be a preventive measure against conditions like osteoporosis.
Read More
We explored the impact of a dietary supplement, oligofructose-enriched inulin, on maternal bone health and the skeletal development of their offspring during critical growth periods. The study focused on how this prebiotic affects bone turnover in lactating rats and the resulting benefits for their young.

By comparing different diet groups, we found that the rat dams who received the inulin supplement had notably improved bone structure. They exhibited thicker trabecular bones and a healthier bone volume compared to those on a standard diet. This suggests that inulin may help protect maternal bones from deterioration during the demanding phases of gestation and nursing.

Moreover, the benefits extended to the offspring. Young rats whose mothers consumed the inulin showed better bone density and improved structural quality in their lumbar vertebrae. This sets a stronger foundation for their bone health moving into adulthood—a crucial aspect in preventing conditions like osteoporosis later in life.

Overall, our findings support the idea that the incorporation of oligofructose-enriched inulin into maternal diets can significantly improve bone health for both mothers and their offspring. This makes it a compelling nutritional choice for anyone looking to bolster bone strength.
Read More
9
Inulin promotes better bone health
We aimed to understand how inulin, a type of fructooligosaccharide, influences calcium absorption and bone density, particularly in the context of preventing osteoporosis. Our study involved young adult male rats, where we examined the effects of different forms of inulin with varying degrees of polymerization on their bone health.

We observed that rats fed with inulin containing longer sugar chains (DP>23) showed a notable increase in bone mineral density compared to those receiving shorter-chain inulin or oligosaccharides. Specifically, not only was the bone density in the femurs significantly enhanced in the inulin group, but the spine also showed improvements in bone mineral content.

Additionally, we found that the levels of Type 1 collagen fragments, which are indicators of bone turnover, decreased the most in the inulin group. This suggests that inulin has a positive impact on bone health, potentially through mechanisms that increase calcium absorption.

Overall, our findings indicate that longer-chain inulin appears to be particularly promising in contributing to better calcium bioavailability and could play a vital role in bone health during crucial growth phases.
Read More

User Reviews

USERS' SCORE
Moderately Good
Based on 5 Reviews
7.8
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
7.5
Improves calcium absorption
In addition to its prebiotic effects, inulin significantly increases calcium absorption, reducing osteoporosis risk. It influences lipid metabolism, decreasing atherosclerosis risk and possibly preventing type II diabetes, with preliminary data suggesting anticarcinogenic effects. Inulin also combats functional constipation and nourishes beneficial gut bacteria to maintain microbiota balance.
Read More
6
Reduces osteoporosis risk
7 people found this helpful
Inulin is crucial for children and the elderly due to its ability to enhance calcium absorption, helping babies grow healthily and lessening osteoporosis risk in older adults. It is fermented by gut microflora, producing short-chain fatty acids that acidify the colon contents, increasing calcium solubility and absorption. Inulin is suitable for children of all ages, and many baby food manufacturers incorporate it as a prebiotic.
Read More
7.5
Prebiotic benefits
Excellent prebiotic! It promotes calcium absorption and reduces the risk of osteoporosis while positively affecting lipid metabolism and reducing atherosclerosis risk. I recommend it!
Read More
6
Supports children's health
For children and the elderly, inulin is vital for enhancing calcium absorption. It aids in producing healthy children and reducing osteoporosis risk in seniors. Inulin is fermented by gut microflora, which secretes short-chain fatty acids that acidify the colon contents, thereby improving calcium solubility and absorption. It's suitable for children of all ages and is commonly included in baby foods as a prebiotic.
Read More
6
Supports gut health
Inulin, a natural fructooligosaccharide, serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria. It can alleviate dysbiosis, flatulence, and chronic constipation. Other benefits include lowering "bad" cholesterol and blood sugar, enhancing liver function, increasing vitamin and calcium absorption, metabolic normalisation, and providing anticarcinogenic effects. It also reduces osteoporosis and atherosclerosis risk, boosts immunity, and supports cardiovascular health and bone mineralisation.
Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

6
Reduces osteoporosis risk
7 people found this helpful
Inulin is crucial for children and the elderly due to its ability to enhance calcium absorption, helping babies grow healthily and lessening osteoporosis risk in older adults. It is fermented by gut microflora, producing short-chain fatty acids that acidify the colon contents, increasing calcium solubility and absorption. Inulin is suitable for children of all ages, and many baby food manufacturers incorporate it as a prebiotic.
6
Supports children's health
For children and the elderly, inulin is vital for enhancing calcium absorption. It aids in producing healthy children and reducing osteoporosis risk in seniors. Inulin is fermented by gut microflora, which secretes short-chain fatty acids that acidify the colon contents, thereby improving calcium solubility and absorption. It's suitable for children of all ages and is commonly included in baby foods as a prebiotic.
7.5
Improves calcium absorption
In addition to its prebiotic effects, inulin significantly increases calcium absorption, reducing osteoporosis risk. It influences lipid metabolism, decreasing atherosclerosis risk and possibly preventing type II diabetes, with preliminary data suggesting anticarcinogenic effects. Inulin also combats functional constipation and nourishes beneficial gut bacteria to maintain microbiota balance.
6
Supports gut health
Inulin, a natural fructooligosaccharide, serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria. It can alleviate dysbiosis, flatulence, and chronic constipation. Other benefits include lowering "bad" cholesterol and blood sugar, enhancing liver function, increasing vitamin and calcium absorption, metabolic normalisation, and providing anticarcinogenic effects. It also reduces osteoporosis and atherosclerosis risk, boosts immunity, and supports cardiovascular health and bone mineralisation.
7.5
Prebiotic benefits
Excellent prebiotic! It promotes calcium absorption and reduces the risk of osteoporosis while positively affecting lipid metabolism and reducing atherosclerosis risk. I recommend it!
We investigated how inulin, a type of dietary fiber, impacts bone health in the context of osteoporosis, particularly in a model of postmenopausal women represented by ovarierectomized (OVX) rats. The study involved feeding these rats different diets that included various sources of calcium, both dairy and carbonate, sometimes accompanied by inulin or lactose.

Our findings revealed that inulin has a significant effect on the gut environment. Notably, it enhanced the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and led to a lower intestinal pH. This change is coupled with an increase in certain beneficial gut bacteria, such as Allobaculum and Bifidobacterium, which play a role in gut health.

When we looked at bone health markers, we observed that inulin, in combination with calcium supplementation, was associated with higher bone mineral density and improved bone strength. Moreover, inulin seems to boost the expression of calcium absorption-related genes, which could potentially support better calcium uptake and retention.

Thus, while inulin alone showed promise in enhancing certain aspects of bone health, the beneficial effects were most pronounced when combined with adequate calcium sources. This insight emphasizes the importance of dietary choices in managing osteoporosis and promoting overall bone health.
9
Inulin shows promise against osteoporosis
We investigated how inulin from Morinda officinalis can help with osteoporosis, particularly looking at its different polysaccharide fractions. Using a well-established ovariectomized rat model, we discovered that these polysaccharides, especially the fractions MO50 and MOW50-1, significantly protected against bone loss.

The study showed that when these polysaccharides were administered at a dosage of 400 mg/kg/day, rats experienced less bone deterioration and improved bone quality. Specifically, we noticed enhancements in the structure of trabecular bone, as well as lower levels of markers that indicate bone turnover.

Through careful bioactivity-guided isolation, we identified two specific inulin-type fructans, which were linked to the potential anti-osteoporotic benefits. Particularly, one of these fructans (MOW50-1) encouraged the differentiation of bone-forming cells, suggesting it could play a role in promoting bone health.

Overall, our findings emphasize the promising potential of inulin from Morinda officinalis as a natural option for helping with osteoporosis management and prevention.
7
Inulin's potential in osteoporosis treatment
This study investigated how inulin-type fructans might contribute to bone health, particularly focusing on their role in mineral retention and absorption. We observed that these non-digestible oligosaccharides could potentially enhance the absorption of minerals that are vital for maintaining bone density, which is crucial for combating osteoporosis.

Notably, some animal studies produced promising results, showing increased bone mineral density and improved calcium retention when inulin-type fructans were introduced into their diets. However, it’s important to point out that these effects don't occur uniformly. In certain conditions, the benefits of inulin on bone health were not significant, indicating that while there is potential, further research is required to understand the conditions that maximize its effectiveness.

Our evaluation considered several methodologies used in this field, including chronic feeding studies and isotopic calcium tracer measures, which help identify how inulin interacts with the metabolism of essential nutrients. Overall, while inulin shows promise in enhancing bone health, it isn’t a guaranteed solution for osteoporosis prevention or treatment in all situations.

References

  1. He W, Xie Z, Thøgersen R, Rasmussen MK, Zachariassen LF, et al. Effects of Calcium Source, Inulin, and Lactose on Gut-Bone Associations in an Ovarierectomized Rat Model. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2022;66:e2100883. doi:10.1002/mnfr.202100883
  2. Zhang D, Zhang S, Jiang K, Li T, Yan C. Bioassay-guided isolation and evaluation of anti-osteoporotic polysaccharides from Morinda officinalis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;261:113113. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113113
  3. Topolska K, Radzki RP, Filipiak-Florkiewicz A, Bieńko M, Florkiewicz A, et al. Could fructan sources in strawberry matrix be more effective as a tool for improvement of bone structure than these compounds added to diet alone? - Study on osteopenic rat model. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020;27:19. doi:10.26444/aaem/108656
  4. Yan C, Huang D, Shen X, Qin N, Jiang K, et al. Identification and characterization of a polysaccharide from the roots of Morinda officinalis, as an inducer of bone formation by up-regulation of target gene expression. Int J Biol Macromol. 2019;133:446. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.04.084
  5. Jiang K, Huang D, Zhang D, Wang X, Cao H, et al. Investigation of inulins from the roots of Morinda officinalis for potential therapeutic application as anti-osteoporosis agent. Int J Biol Macromol. 2018;120:170. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.08.082
  6. Rivera-Huerta M, Lizárraga-Grimes VL, Castro-Torres IG, Tinoco-Méndez M, Macías-Rosales L, et al. Functional Effects of Prebiotic Fructans in Colon Cancer and Calcium Metabolism in Animal Models. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:9758982. doi:10.1155/2017/9758982
  7. Hozayen WG, El-Desouky MA, Soliman HA, Ahmed RR, Khaliefa AK. Antiosteoporotic effect of Petroselinum crispum, Ocimum basilicum and Cichorium intybus L. in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016;16:165. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1140-y
  8. Bueno-Vargas P, Manzano M, Diaz-Castro J, López-Aliaga I, Rueda R, et al. Maternal Dietary Supplementation with Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin in Gestating/Lactating Rats Preserves Maternal Bone and Improves Bone Microarchitecture in Their Offspring. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0154120. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0154120
  9. Erfanian A, Mirhosseini H, Rasti B, Hair-Bejo M, Bin Mustafa S, et al. Absorption and Bioavailability of Nano-Size Reduced Calcium Citrate Fortified Milk Powder in Ovariectomized and Ovariectomized-Osteoporosis Rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2015;63:5795. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01468
  10. Legette LL, Lee W, Martin BR, Story JA, Campbell JK, et al. Prebiotics enhance magnesium absorption and inulin-based fibers exert chronic effects on calcium utilization in a postmenopausal rodent model. J Food Sci. 2012;77:H88. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02612.x
  11. Jamieson JA, Ryz NR, Taylor CG, Weiler HA. Dietary long-chain inulin reduces abdominal fat but has no effect on bone density in growing female rats. Br J Nutr. 2008;100:451. doi:10.1017/S0007114508894378
  12. Weaver CM. Inulin, oligofructose and bone health: experimental approaches and mechanisms. Br J Nutr. 2005;93 Suppl 1:S99.
  13. Kruger MC, Brown KE, Collett G, Layton L, Schollum LM. The effect of fructooligosaccharides with various degrees of polymerization on calcium bioavailability in the growing rat. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003;228:683.
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