Oligofructose-enriched inulin and vitamin D and E in children with celiac disease
What it found
In children with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet, 3 months of oligofructose-enriched inulin raised vitamin D by 42% and vitamin E by 19%.
Vitamin A, parathormone, calcium, phosphate and magnesium did not change.
What they found
Studies in people
Vitamin D rose
In the children taking oligofructose-enriched inulin, the median vitamin D level rose by 42%, from 20.36 ng/mL to 28.57 ng/mL. In the placebo group, it did not change significantly.
More reached optimal D
The share of children with an optimal vitamin D level in the inulin group went from 17% to 46%. At the start, 88% of all the children had low or insufficient vitamin D.
Vitamin E rose
Vitamin E rose by 19% in the inulin group, from about 23.09 to 27.46 µmol/L. It stayed about the same in the placebo group.
Vitamin A unchanged
Vitamin A levels did not change in either group, though there was a rising tendency in the inulin group. No child was deficient in vitamin A.
Minerals unchanged
Parathormone, calcium, phosphate and magnesium levels in blood and urine did not change with the inulin. Among children with low calcium at the start, four of five in the inulin group and the one in the placebo group reached normal levels.
What the authors conclude
“The presented findings show that oligofructose-enriched inulin (Synergy 1) added to the GFD essentially improves vitamin D and E status in children with CD.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say oligofructose-enriched inulin added to a gluten-free diet improves vitamin D and E status in children with celiac disease.
- They suggest that monitoring vitamin D levels in children with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet could be helpful.
- They write that Synergy 1 could be considered as a new complementary way to manage fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in these children, but that further studies are needed to work out the right dose.
How it was done
Vitamin D deficiency is common in people with celiac disease, even when they follow a gluten-free diet, and prebiotics have been shown to help the body absorb some nutrients. The authors wanted to see whether a prebiotic could improve fat-soluble vitamin and mineral levels in children with celiac disease.
They randomly assigned 34 children aged 4 to 17 with celiac disease on a strict gluten-free diet to take 10 g of oligofructose-enriched inulin (Synergy 1) or a placebo (maltodextrin) daily for 3 months. All the children were already taking vitamin D supplements at a stable dose, which stayed the same during the trial. Blood and urine were tested at the start and after 3 months.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small pilot study of 34 children, so the results may not apply to everyone.
- The study lasted only 3 months, so it cannot show what happens over a longer period.
- It cannot show whether the same effects would occur in adults or in people without celiac disease.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland; Medical University of Białystok, Poland; University of Warmia & Mazury, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Beneficial Effect of Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin on Vitamin D and E Status in Children with Celiac Disease on a Long-Term Gluten-Free Diet: A Preliminary Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Nutritional Intervention Study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Drabińska N, Krupa-Kozak U, Abramowicz P, Jarocka-Cyrta E (2018). Beneficial Effect of Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin on Vitamin D and E Status in Children with Celiac Disease on a Long-Term Gluten-Free Diet: A Preliminary Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Nutritional Intervention Study. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu10111768Free full textPubMed 30445682DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error