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In6.0
Inulin Research
Likely helps
136 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Inulin appears to help in 13 of 14 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1995–2026 with a typical study size of 49 participants.
Based on 136 studies · 13 meta-analyses · 104 RCTs · 12,902 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
13helped1unclear· 122 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Digestive healthImproved bowel regularity and microbiome diversity within 2-4 weeks · 2-4 weeks
Likely helps86 studies
Weight management
Likely helps27 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Likely helps23 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Probably helps13 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Liver health
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Bone health
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Joint pain & arthritis
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
InflammationIncreased beneficial bacteria and improved digestion · 2-4 weeks
72 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
199520102026
1Body weight reductionMeta-Analysisn=1,184 · large study2024
In plain English: Chicory ITF supplementation may benefit weight management by reducing body weight, BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and, to a certain extent, body fat percentage.
Reimer RA et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Chicory ITF significantly reduced body weight [mean difference (MD): -0.97 kg; 95% CI: -1.34, -0.59); n = 1184] compared with placebo.
Except for considerable heterogeneity in body weight (I2: 73%) and body fat percentage (I2: 75%), all other outcomes had negligible to moderate heterogeneity.
Significant reduction in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference was evident irrespective of participants' health status.
2HbA1c reductionMeta-Analysisn=2,685 · very large study2023
In plain English: Galactomannans were the most effective dietary fiber for reducing the levels of HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Juhász AE et al. · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2023)
Galactomannans had the highest effect on reducing the levels of HbA1c (SUCRA: 92.33%) and fasting blood glucose (SUCRA: 85.92%).
With regard to fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR, β-glucans (SUCRA: 73.45%), and psyllium (SUCRA: 96.67%) were the most effective interventions.
Galactomannans were ranked first in reducing the levels of triglycerides (SUCRA: 82.77%) and LDL cholesterol (SUCRA: 86.56%).
4Bifidobacterium abundanceMeta-Analysisn=2,525 · very large study2023
In plain English: Chicory-derived inulin-type fructans at a dose of 3-20 g/day significantly increased Bifidobacterium abundance in participants with an age range from 0 to 83 years (standardized mean difference: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.58-1.08; p < 0.01; 50 studies; 2525 participants).
Nagy DU et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2023)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Chicory-derived inulin-type fructans at a dose of 3-20 g/day significantly increased Bifidobacterium abundance (standardized mean difference: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.58-1.08; p < 0.01; 50 studies; 2525 participants).
Significant bifidogenic effects were observed in healthy individuals and in populations with health impairments, except gastrointestinal disorders.
Significant beneficial effects on bowel function parameters were observed in healthy subjects.
In plain English: FMT and multistrain probiotics showed superior efficacy in UC.
Zhang T et al. · Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (2025)
FMT and multistrain probiotics showed superior efficacy in UC.
However, the efficacy of MTTs varies among different IBD subtypes and disease stages; thus, the personalized treatment strategies of MTTs are necessary.
10Clinical outcomes in cystic fibrosisSystematic Review2023
In plain English: This review did not find any evidence for the use of prebiotics in people with CF.
Williams NC et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2023)
This review did not find any evidence for the use of prebiotics in people with CF.
Until such evidence is available, it is reasonable for clinicians to follow any local guidelines and to discuss the use of dietary prebiotics with their patients.
Large and robust RCTs assessing the dietary prebiotics of inulin or galacto-oligosaccharides or fructo-oligosaccharides, or any combination of these, are needed.
In plain English: We found little evidence to suggest that prebiotic or probiotic supplements are associated with significant decreases in CRC occurrence.
Kim CE et al. · Nutrients (2022)
We found little evidence to suggest that prebiotic or probiotic supplements are associated with significant decreases in CRC occurrence.
Prebiotic supplementation was not associated with colorectal neoplasia risk.
There was some evidence that probiotic supplementation may be associated with lower risk of adenomas but not with CRC incidence.
In plain English: Based on the results of network meta-analysis, it seems that Hypocaloricdiet+MonCam, LED, HFCS20+Ex, catechin-rich green tea +inulin, VLCD, NPD+RT, Hyc+Ex, SD, Hyc+BWL, are the better treatments for weight loss in patients with overweight and obesity.
Morsali M et al. · Journal of research in health sciences (2021)
Based on the results of network meta-analysis, it seems that Hypocaloricdiet+MonCam, LED, HFCS20+Ex, catechin-rich green tea +inulin, VLCD, NPD+RT, Hyc+Ex, SD, Hyc+BWL, are the better treatments for weight loss in patients with overweight and obesity.
In plain English: The meta-analysis indicated that the numbers of subjects with ≥1 RTI were reduced with prebiotic (OR, 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62-0.86; P = 0.0002; n = 17) and synbiotic (OR, 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65-0.87; P = 0....
Williams LM et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2022)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The meta-analysis indicated that the numbers of subjects with ≥1 RTI were reduced with prebiotic (OR, 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62-0.86; P = 0.0002; n = 17) and synbiotic (OR, 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65-0.87; P = 0.0001; n = 9) supplementation compared to placebo.
Further, NK cell activity was increased with synbiotic (standardized mean difference, 0.74; 95% CI: 0.42-1.06; P < 0.0001, n = 3) supplementation.
This review provides evidence that prebiotic, specifically oligosaccharide, supplementation may play a protective role in RTIs in infants and children.
In plain English: Some prebiotics and synbiotics may have immunomodulatory action, however, more randomized controlled trials are needed to support the clinical use of inulin-type fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides or related synbiotics for the treatment of metabolic endotoxaemia or low-grade inflammation in overweight/obese people.
Fernandes R et al. · Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (2017)
In plain English: In summary, the use of ITF may have benefits for LDL-c reduction across all study populations, whereas HDL-c improvement and glucose control were demonstrated only in the T2DM subgroup.
Liu F et al. · European journal of clinical nutrition (2017)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
In the overall analysis, the supplementation of ITF reduced only the low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) (mean difference (MD): -0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.29, -0.02; P=0.03) without affecting the other endpoints.
Within the T2DM subgroup analysis, ITF supplementation was positively associated with a decreased fasting insulin concentration (MD: -4.01; 95% CI: -5.92, -2.09; P<0.0001) and increased high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) (MD: 0.07; 95% CI: 0, 0.14; P=0.05).
Moreover, a reduced fasting glucose tendency was identified only in the T2DM subgroup (MD: -0.42; 95% CI: -0.90, 0.06; P=0.09).
16Short-chain fatty acid productionSystematic Reviewn=11 · very small study2022
In plain English: Future studies are needed to better elucidate the relationship between DFs and gut microbiota in terms of SCFA production and impact on health-related markers.
Vinelli V et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Regarding the results obtained on the ability of fiber to modulate total SCFAs, seven studies reported a significant increase, while no significant changes were reported in five studies, depending on the analytical methodology used.
Overall, these results underline that, although affecting microbiota composition and derived metabolites, DFs do not produce univocal significant increase in SCFA levels in apparently healthy adults.
The effect of DF interventions on the SCFA profile seemed to be strictly dependent on the dose and the type and structure of DFs.
18Gut health modulationReviewn=22 · very small study2026
In plain English: Prebiotics are effective modulators of gut health, driving clinical benefits through selective microbial fermentation and SCFA production.
Monteiro CRAV et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Prebiotics are effective modulators of gut health, driving clinical benefits through selective microbial fermentation and SCFA production.
The documented heterogeneity and variability highlight the need for future research to focus on personalized nutritional strategies.
Key priorities include standardizing intervention protocols, elucidating dose-response relationships, integrating multi-omics data to link taxonomy to function, and exploring novel applications such as synbiotic formulations and gut-brain axis modulation.
19Inflammatory markers in diabetesMeta-Analysisn=46 · small study2025
In plain English: Strain- and dose-standardized RCTs should confirm impacts on glycemic and cardiometabolic outcomes.
Xie Y, Zheng Y, Jiang F, Cai X. · Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology (2025)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Results Probiotic/synbiotic interventions led to significant reductions in CRP (SMD = -0.54), IL-6 (SMD = -0.41), and TNF-α (SMD = -0.48), along with an increase in IL-10 (SMD = +0.38).
SCFA levels rose significantly, with butyrate showing the strongest effect (SMD = +0.46).
Multi-strain and synbiotic interventions were more effective than single-strain or probiotic-only formulations.
20Pain and pain sensitivity in knee osteoarthritisRCTn=117 · medium study2026
In plain English: Only inulin improved pain sensitivity and grip strength, the latter paralleled by increased GLP-1, and had much higher rates of retention compared to PSE.
Kouraki A et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Results: A total of 117 participants (58.1% female; mean ± SD age = 67.5 ± 9.4 years; BMI = 29.5 ± 5.3 kg/m2; NRS = 3.96 ± 2.67) completed the trial.
Pain improved with inulin (baseline-adjusted between-group mean difference (Δ) = -1.11 [95%CI -2.18, -0.04], p = 0.045) and PSE (Δ = -1.55 [95%CI -2.52, -0.58], p = 0.002) compared to placebo, with no synergistic effect.
PSE improved TUG (p = 0.02) and 30-CST (p = 0.0004), while inulin improved grip strength (p = 0.002), pressure pain thresholds (p = 0.009) and temporal summation (p = 0.025) compared to placebo and had significantly lower dropout rates (3.6%) compared with PSE (21% p < 0.01).