Abstract: Inulin is a kind of polysaccharide and water-soluble dietary fiber. Fructooligosaccharide is fructose with low polymerization degree, also known as stachyose, and is also a water-soluble dietary fiber. The main difference between them is the degree of polymerization. Natural fructooligosaccharides are prepared by acid hydrolysis of inulin or enzymolysis of inulin. Inulin is more effective than fructooligosaccharides, but they can be eaten together. It is better to eat inulin and fructooligosaccharides together, so just pay attention to controlling the consumption. Let's look at the difference between inulin and fructooligosaccharides. What is the difference between inulin and fructooligosaccharides?

Inulin and fructooligosaccharides are two natural food ingredients. Inulin is a linear straight-chain polysaccharide formed by connecting fructose, with glucose at the end, and the degree of polymerization DP is usually between 2 and 60. Inulin is actually a mixture of fructans with different polymerization degrees.

Fructans with low polymerization degree are usually called fructooligosaccharides, and fructans with polymerization degree of l0 ~ 30 are usually called fructooligosaccharides. Industrially produced inulin is mainly extracted and refined from chicory, while fructooligosaccharides are produced from inulin or sucrose by acid hydrolysis or enzymolysis with inulin.

2. Which is better, inulin or fructooligosaccharides?

Inulin and fructooligosaccharides are soluble dietary fibers, which can help people get a more balanced diet, so they are often used as ingredients of high-fiber foods to improve the flavor and quality of food. So which is better, inulin or fructooligosaccharides?

Compared with fructooligosaccharides, inulin is used to promote the growth and reproduction of probiotics in intestinal tract, but fructooligosaccharides act on the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium in ascending colon. Inulin is a comprehensive basic prebiotic, which acts on the whole colon and is a favorite food of many beneficial bacteria. So inulin is relatively better.

3. Can inulin and fructooligosaccharides be eaten together?

Of course.

Inulin and fructooligosaccharides are both prebiotics, and their functions and metabolic pathways in human body are similar. Eating together is very good for the reproduction of intestinal probiotics and the balance of intestinal flora environment. Fructooligosaccharides are very useful for Bifidobacterium, while inulin proliferates a variety of beneficial bacteria, so it is more balanced to eat with it.

However, it should be noted that the daily intake of inulin and fructooligosaccharides should be controlled to avoid the side effects caused by excessive use. The daily intake of inulin and fructooligosaccharides in healthy adults is 10g/d, while the imbalance of intestinal flora can be increased to15g/d-20g/d. ..