Inulin

• What other names is Inulin known by?
• What is Inulin?
• How does Inulin work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Dosing considerations for Inulin.

What other names is Inulin known by?

Beta(2-1)fructans, Chicory Extract, Chicory Inulin, Dahlia Extract, Dahlia Inulin, Extrait de Chicorée, Extrait de Dahlia, Inulina, Inuline, Inuline de Chicorée, Inuline de Dahlia, Long-chain Oligosaccharides, Oligosaccharides, Oligosaccharides à Chaîne Longue, Prebiotic, Prébiotique.

What is Inulin?

Inulin is a starchy substance found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including wheat, onions, bananas, leeks, artichokes, and asparagus. The inulin that is used for medicine is most commonly obtained by soaking chicory roots in hot water.

Inulin is used for high blood fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also used for weight loss, constipation, and as a food additive to improve taste.

Possibly Effective for...

• Lowering high levels of a kind of fat called triglycerides. Taking inulin seems to lower triglycerides by up to 19% after eight weeks of treatment.
• Constipation. Inulin helps elderly people who typically have a bowel movement only once or twice a week to have a bowel movement daily.

Possibly Ineffective for...

• Weight loss. Taking inulin in combination with chromium picolinate, capsicum, L-phenylalanine, and other nutrients, does not seem to significantly reduce weight in moderately obese people.
• High cholesterol levels. Taking inulin as a supplement does not seem to significantly lower blood cholesterol.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).