Oligofructose and inflammation markers in adults with overweight or obesity
What it found
Taking 21 g of oligofructose daily for 12 weeks lowered two blood markers linked to inflammation and clotting in adults with overweight or obesity.
Other inflammation markers stayed the same.
What they found
Studies in people
LPS levels dropped
After 12 weeks, a bacterial marker called LPS fell by 40% in the oligofructose group. In the placebo group it rose by 48%.
PAI-1 decreased more
A clotting risk factor called PAI-1 fell in both groups. The drop was larger with oligofructose than with the placebo.
Other markers unchanged
Five other inflammation markers did not change after 12 weeks of taking oligofructose. These included IL-6, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, adiponectin, and resistin.
Fat mass and markers
When both groups were combined, people with more body fat had higher PAI-1 levels at the end of the trial. Changes in body fat tracked with changes in resistin in the oligofructose group.
What the authors conclude
- They report that adding 21 g of oligofructose daily lowered two blood markers tied to inflammation and clotting risk in adults with overweight or obesity.
- The authors suggest that including prebiotics in the diet through supplements or foods might help reduce some signs of inflammation linked to obesity.
How it was done
Obesity is linked to low-grade inflammation, partly driven by changes in gut bacteria. Animal studies suggest prebiotics like oligofructose can reduce this inflammation, but human data was limited.
Researchers used stored blood samples from 37 adults with overweight or obesity who completed a 12-week trial. Participants took either 21 g of oligofructose daily or a placebo. They were told to keep their usual diet and activity habits.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial did not measure changes in gut bacteria directly. It cannot show whether shifts in gut bacteria caused the changes seen in the blood markers.
- The study lasted 12 weeks. It cannot show what happens when people take oligofructose over longer periods.
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
- Full text
- 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.21763Free full textPubMed 28229548DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error