1: Annu Rev Nutr 1998;18:117-43
Dietary fructans.
Roberfroid MB, Delzenne NM
Universite Catholique de Louvain, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Brussels, Belgium. roberfroid@bctc.ucl.ac.be
Fructan is a general term used for any carbohydrate in which one or more
fructosyl-fructose link constitutes the majority of osidic bonds. This
review focuses on the fate of inulin-type fructans (namely native chicory
inulin, oligofructose produced by the partial enzymatic hydrolysis of chicory
inulin, and synthetic fructans produced by enzymatic synthesis from sucrose)
in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as on their systemic physiological
effects on mineral absorption, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, hormone
balance, and nitrogen homeostasis. The scientific evidence for the functional
claims of inulin-type fructans is discussed, as well as their potential
application in risk reduction of disease, namely constipation, infectious
diarrhea, cancer, osteoporosis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,
obesity, and non-insulin dependent diabetes.
Publication Types:
Review
Review, academic
PMID: 9706221, UI: 98371494