Abstract This article is part 1 of a two-part review of inulin-type prebiotics. Prebiotics are a category of nutritional compounds grouped together by the ability to promote the growth of specific beneficial (probiotic) gut bacteria. Inulin-type prebiotics contain fructans of the inulin-type. Fructans are a category of nutritional compounds that encompasses naturally occurring plant oligo…
Abstract This is part 2 of a two-part review of inulin-type prebiotics. This article discusses the clinical research on inulin-type prebiotics, including effects on infant nutrition, gastrointestinal health, colon cancer prevention, blood sugar and lipid metabolism, bone mineralization, fatty liver disease, obesity, and immunity. Gastrointestinal side effects and dosage recommendations are also considered. (Altern Med…
The use of antibiotics is all too common in modern medicine, with risks that are becoming increasingly evident. While they are literally life-saving in many instances, they may also lead to antibiotic-induced colitis in some patients.