Fructooligosaccharide

Studies in people

• Open question

  Blood sugar control³

  Fructooligosaccharide may help blood sugar, but studies in people disagree and some were too small to be sure.

• Open question

  Cholesterol levels⁴

  Fructooligosaccharide may help cholesterol, but studies in people show mixed results and scientists do not yet know for sure.

• Benefit

  Autism symptoms in children⁵

  In children with autism, probiotics plus fructooligosaccharide changed gut bacteria and eased autism and gut symptoms.

• Open question

  Gut bacteria and immune response⁶

  In people, fructooligosaccharide increased Bifidobacterium and tended to raise IgA, but effects varied between individuals.

• Benefit

  Bone strength in women⁷

  In women, fortified milk with fructooligosaccharide cut a bone-loss marker more than regular milk did.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Gut fermentation⁹

  In lab studies, fructooligosaccharide changed gut fermentation of meat, raising some sulfur compounds and lowering others.

• Benefit

  Bone strength as we age¹⁰

  In animal studies, fructooligosaccharide changed gut bacteria and was linked to stronger bones and less inflammation.

• Benefit

  Brain function and memory¹¹

  In animal studies, fructooligosaccharide helped restore daily memory rhythms and brain cell signals in mice fed a high-fat diet.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Gut health and cholesterol⁸

  Fructooligosaccharide is added to foods like yoghurt and cookies and may help gut absorption and lower cholesterol.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.