Oligofructose and inflammation markers in overweight adults
What it found
In adults with overweight or obesity, 12 weeks of oligofructose lowered a bacterial toxin in the blood and a clotting-related marker compared with a placebo.
It did not change several other inflammation markers.
What they found
Studies in people
Bacterial toxin in blood
Blood levels of lipopolysaccharide fell by 40% in the oligofructose group over 12 weeks, while they rose by 48% in the placebo group.
Clotting-related marker
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, a risk factor for thrombosis, dropped more in the oligofructose group than in the placebo group.
Other inflammation markers
Oligofructose made no difference to IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, adiponectin or resistin.
What the authors conclude
“Oligofructose reduces metabolic endotoxemia and PAI-1.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that oligofructose reduces metabolic endotoxemia and PAI-1.
- They suggest that adding prebiotics to the diet through supplements or functional foods may help ease some markers of obesity-related inflammation.
How it was done
The authors wanted to find out whether prebiotic supplements affect metabolic endotoxemia and general inflammation in adults with overweight and obesity.
They analysed stored samples from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Adults took either 21 g of oligofructose or a maltodextrin placebo for 12 weeks. Samples from 37 people were available for this analysis.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a randomised trial, so it can show cause and effect for the markers measured over 12 weeks.
- It cannot show whether these marker changes lead to fewer health problems over time.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by CIHR (from the PubMed record).
- Authors work at
- Mount Royal University, Canada; University of Calgary, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, Canada
The paper
- Title
- Oligofructose decreases serum lipopolysaccharide and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in adults with overweight/obesity
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Parnell JA, Klancic T, Reimer RA (2017). Oligofructose decreases serum lipopolysaccharide and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in adults with overweight/obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). doi:10.1002/oby.21763PubMed 28229548DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error