Oligofructose-enriched inulin and urine compounds in celiac children
What it found
In children and adolescents with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet, 12 weeks of oligofructose-enriched inulin lowered one urine compound, benzaldehyde, by 36% on average.
Most other urine compounds tested did not change.
What they found
Studies in people
Benzaldehyde drop
The average concentration of benzaldehyde in urine fell by 36% in the group taking oligofructose-enriched inulin. This was the only compound that changed significantly.
Most compounds unchanged
The supplement did not affect the levels of most of the 16 volatile compounds measured in urine.
Placebo group change
In the placebo group, the concentration of 1,3-di-tert-butylbenzene decreased over the 12 weeks.
Large person-to-person variation
The levels of volatile compounds varied widely between individuals, which made it hard to detect differences between the groups.
Possible reason for drop
The authors suggest the benzaldehyde drop may be linked to lower Lactobacillus counts in the supplement group, as these bacteria can convert phenylalanine to benzaldehyde.
What the authors conclude
“In summary, this pilot study indicated that oligofructose-enriched inulin, applied as a supplement of GFD for 12 weeks, had a moderate impact on the concentrations of VOCs in the headspace above the urine of children and adolescents with CD.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that oligofructose-enriched inulin, taken as a supplement to a gluten-free diet for 12 weeks, had a moderate impact on the concentrations of volatile compounds in the urine of children and adolescents with celiac disease.
- They say it is possible that a longer study might show a stronger effect.
- They call for further studies to confirm the effect of prebiotics on gut integrity and on the profile of volatile compounds in different body fluids.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether a prebiotic supplement could change the pattern of volatile compounds in urine, which may reflect gut health and metabolism in people with celiac disease.
Twenty-three children and adolescents with celiac disease, all on a gluten-free diet for at least six months, were randomly assigned to take 10 g per day of oligofructose-enriched inulin (Synergy 1) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Urine samples were collected before and after and analysed for 16 volatile compounds.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small pilot study with 23 children, so the results may not apply to all people with celiac disease.
- The study did not calculate the sample size in advance, so it is exploratory and needs confirmation in larger trials.
- The study cannot show whether the change in benzaldehyde levels has any effect on health or symptoms.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Narodowe Centrum Nauki (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland; University of Warmia & Mazury, Poland; the University of the West of England, UK
The paper
- Title
- The Profile of Urinary Headspace Volatile Organic Compounds After 12-Week Intake of Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin by Children and Adolescents with Celiac Disease on a Gluten-Free Diet: Results of a Pilot, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Drabińska N, Jarocka-Cyrta E, Ratcliffe NM, Krupa-Kozak U (2019). The Profile of Urinary Headspace Volatile Organic Compounds After 12-Week Intake of Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin by Children and Adolescents with Celiac Disease on a Gluten-Free Diet: Results of a Pilot, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). doi:10.3390/molecules24071341Free full textPubMed 30959740DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error