Does Inulin Have the Same Health Benefits as Soluble Dietary Fiber?
(December 2010) As we have seen inulin has been added to yogurts, breads and cereal bars as the form of chicory root extract. Fiber has been classified as soluble and insoluble. Psyllium, oat bran, barley bran contain mainly soluble fiber which have health claims to decrease the risk of heart disease. Wheat bran and flax seed meal and other insoluble fibers are typically linked to laxative effects, yet scientific support that insoluble fibers lower blood cholesterol, whereas insoluble fibers increase stool size. These are the two terms that fiber has been distinguished by. Different fibers have different function, and inulin unlike the water soluble fibers included in the Food and Drug Administration health claims for soluble fiber, does not seem to significantly decrease serum cholesterol, although some research suggests it may possibly be effective in reducing serum triglyceride. The ingestion of insulin may also result in a small increase in fecal bulk and stool frequency. Data for
