General Description
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are natural sugars that are used as
food by healthful bacteria in the gut. The body cannot digest FOS;
instead, they are utilized in the gastrointestinal tract by active
beneficial bacteria, known as probiotics,
such as acidophilus and bifidus. These bacteria aid in digestion,
ward off infection and help to maintain a balanced gastrointestinal
ecosystem. Disease, heavy use of antibiotics, stress, and contaminated
food can deplete necessary levels of these bacteria, thus upsetting
the gastrointestinal balance. The use of supplemental FOS is often
a direct effort to reinvigorate the colonization of helpful bacteria
and to counteract the negative effects of other, less-friendly bacteria.
Most of the health benefits of FOS are related to their ability
to stimulate acidophilus and bifidus bacterial growth. In addition,
FOS is sometimes used in place of sucrose as a food sweetener.
Food sources
Good sources of FOS are onions, garlic, asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke,
various fruits, and herbs such as chicory.
Health applications
- Beneficial Bacterial Support (as described above)
- High Cholesterol
High cholesterol
Studies indicate that FOS may decrease levels of LDL-cholesterol,1
phospholipids, and triglycerides.2 However,
most documentation of this action are based on animal studies.
Further clinical studies are needed before definitive conclusions
can be drawn.2 In addition, some clinical
studies report no significant changes regarding lipids,2,3
HDL-cholesterol, or triglycerides3 after supplemental
FOS ingestion.
Dosage and Toxicityæ
There is no RDI for fructooligosaccharides. There are no known
side effects from large intakes of FOS. |
