1.What Is Inulin?

Inulin is widely distributed in nature. Some fungi and bacteria also contain inulin, but its main source is plants. 

Inulin is a colloidal form contained in the protoplasm of cells, different from starch, it is easily soluble in hot water, ethanol will be precipitated from the water, and iodine does not react.  Moreover, inulin is readily hydrolyzed into fructose in dilute acid, a characteristic of all fructans.  It can also be hydrolyzed to fructose by inulase.  Enzymes that break down inulin are lacking in both humans and animals.

Inulin is another form of plant energy storage besides starch. It is an ideal functional food ingredient and a good raw material for the production of oligosaccharides, polyfructose, high fruit syrup and crystalline fructose. 

2.How Inulin Works

Inulin is a naturally water-soluble dietary fiber that is almost impossible to hydrolyze and digest by stomach acid and is only used by beneficial microbes in the colon to improve the intestinal environment.  Studies have shown that the degree of bifidobacteria proliferation depends on the initial number of bifidobacteria in human colon. When the initial number of bifidobacteria decreases, the proliferation effect is obvious after using inulin; when the initial number of bifidobacteria increases, the effect is not obvious after using inulin.  Secondly, inulin can enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis, improve gastrointestinal function, increase digestion and appetite, and improve body immunity. 

Food reaches the colon, after digestion and absorption in the gut saprophytic bacteria (escherichia coli, bacteroides, etc.), can produce many toxic metabolites (such as ammonia, nitrosamines secondary bile acid, phenol and methyl phenol, etc.), and inulin was fermented in colon of short chain fatty acids can lower colonic pH, restrain the growth of the saprophytic bacteria, reduce the generation of toxic products,  Reduces irritation to the intestinal wall. 

3.Benefits and Uses

Control blood lipids 

Reduce blood sugar 

Promote mineral absorption 

Regulate intestinal microflora, improve intestinal health, prevent constipation 

Ihibit the generation of toxic fermentation products, protect the liver, prevent colon cancer