Oligofructose and bowel movements in low-fiber diets
What it found
In adults with irregular bowel habits and low fiber intake, a daily oligofructose supplement increased bowel movements at the highest dose tested.
The placebo group saw no change.
What they found
Studies in people
Bowel movement frequency
Stool frequency increased as the oligofructose dose increased, with a significant difference at 15 g per day compared to placebo. The placebo group's stool frequency did not change.
Stool consistency
Stool consistency stayed the same at all doses for both groups.
Gut sensations
Gastrointestinal sensations like noise, pressure, and pain were low for both groups and even decreased for the oligofructose group at higher doses.
Fiber intake matters
People who usually ate more than 13 g of fiber per day had significant laxation at 10 g and 15 g of oligofructose per day. Those eating less than 13 g per day did not see a significant increase even at 15 g.
Blood values
Blood values stayed within normal ranges. In women, oligofructose was linked to slightly lower gamma glutamyltranspeptidase and creatinine, and slightly higher HDL cholesterol.
Fecal short chain fatty acids
Short chain fatty acid levels in stool did not differ between groups at any time.
What the authors conclude
“A daily supplement with a short-chain inulin-type fructan derived from chicory roots, i.e., oligofructose (Orafti ® P95) provided a laxation effect without causing gastrointestinal (GI) distress for healthy participants with irregularity associated with low dietary fiber intake.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that a daily supplement of oligofructose provides a laxation effect without causing gastrointestinal distress for healthy participants with irregularity associated with low dietary fiber intake.
- They suggest that the level of dietary fiber should be considered as a variable in future studies on laxation.
How it was done
Many people in Western countries don't eat enough fiber, which can lead to constipation. The authors wanted to see if a soluble fiber supplement called oligofructose could help with laxation.
They studied 97 healthy adults with 3 or fewer bowel movements per week and low fiber intake. Participants took either oligofructose or a placebo (maltodextrin) for 12 weeks, with oligofructose doses increasing from 5 g to 10 g to 15 g per day, each for 4 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- This study lasted 12 weeks, so it cannot show what happens with longer use.
- The results are for healthy adults with low fiber intake and irregularity, so they may not apply to other groups.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- F.N. and S.T. are employees of the BENEO/Suedzucker Group. C.K. and R.K.B. do not have any personal circumstances or interests that may be perceived as inappropriately influencing the representation or interpretation of reported research results and hereby declare there they have no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Memphis, USA; BENEO-Institute, Germany
The paper
- Title
- Oligofructose Provides Laxation for Irregularity Associated with Low Fiber Intake
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Buddington RK, Kapadia C, Neumer F, Theis S (2017). Oligofructose Provides Laxation for Irregularity Associated with Low Fiber Intake. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu9121372Free full textPubMed 29258261DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error