Home Ingredients Oliggo-Fiber® Inulin (Chicory Root Fiber — Cargill)

Oliggo-Fiber® Inulin (Chicory Root Fiber — Cargill)

Cichorium intybus
Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Oliggo-Fiber® is chicory root inulin, a soluble fiber fermented by colon bacteria. Cargill distributes it in North America, and trade reports name the Belgian company Cosucra as its maker. Health Canada accepts standard chicory root inulin as a dietary fiber. In two small single-dose studies, 24 g of Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin with glucose raised breath hydrogen, and in the larger study blood short-chain fatty acids, but did not change the fullness hormones GLP-1 and PYY or the blood sugar response to the next meal. No longer or placebo-controlled trial of Oliggo-Fiber itself has been published. Trials of chicory inulin from other makers found a median of one more stool a week at 12 g a day and more bifidobacteria at 7 g a day. An EU bowel claim covers 12 g a day of native chicory inulin, but no source shows Oliggo-Fiber meets its definition. Gas and bloating can rise with dose.

Studied Dose Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin: a single 24 g dose with 75 g glucose in 300 mL water. Chicory inulin from other makers: 12 g/day for 4 weeks (stool frequency) and 3 or 7 g/day in snack bars (bifidobacteria). The EU claim needs 12 g/day of native chicory inulin.
Active Compound Inulin (inulin-type fructans) from chicory root. The grade used in the published human studies, Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin, was described as 90% dietary fiber and 10% free fructose, glucose and sucrose.

Benefits

Stool frequency with chicory inulin from other makers at 12 g a day

Oliggo-Fiber itself has not been tested for bowel function. In a placebo-controlled crossover trial of another maker's chicory inulin in 44 adults with constipation, 12 g a day for 4 weeks gave a median of 4 stools a week versus 3 on maltodextrin, with softer stools. Two authors worked for that inulin maker. The EU bowel claim for native chicory inulin also uses 12 g a day; no source shows Oliggo-Fiber meets its definition.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Gut bifidobacteria with chicory inulin in snack bars (other makers)

In two placebo-controlled crossover trials in 50 adults who ate little fiber, snack bars with 7 g a day of chicory inulin-type fructans raised fecal Bifidobacterium from about 5% to 19% of bacteria versus control bars; at 3 g a day the rise showed only on a targeted test. Fecal short-chain fatty acids did not differ. The fiber's maker is not named; a food company funded the work.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Colon fermentation markers after a single 24 g dose of Oliggo-Fiber

In two small randomized crossover studies, 24 g of Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin taken with 75 g glucose raised breath hydrogen (and methane in the smaller study), and in the larger study blood short-chain fatty acids 4 to 6 hours later, compared with glucose alone. These are short-term signs that colon bacteria ferment it, not a measured health effect.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Appetite hormones and next-meal blood sugar after one dose of Oliggo-Fiber

In 25 adults, 24 g of Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin with glucose did not change GLP-1 or PYY, hormones linked to fullness, or the glucose and insulin response to a lunch 4 hours later, compared with glucose alone. The hunger hormone ghrelin was lower at 6 hours, but not across the 4 to 6 hour period.

Supported by Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Fermentation by colon bacteria

Inulin passes the small intestine undigested and is fermented by colon bacteria into gases and short-chain fatty acids. Within hours of a 24 g dose of Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin, breath hydrogen rose in both published studies, breath methane in the smaller one, and serum short-chain fatty acids in the larger one.

2

Selective growth of bifidobacteria

In placebo-controlled trials of chicory inulin from other makers, fecal Bifidobacterium rose with 7 g a day in snack bars and with 15 g a day in older adults, which suggests these bacteria are among those that use the fiber.

3

Water and gas in the lower gut

Fructans, the carbohydrate class that includes inulin, are among the rapidly fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs) that bring fermentable material and water to the end of the small intestine and the colon, which can cause distension, gas and bloating in sensitive people.

Clinical trials

1
Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin 24 g Single Dose: Breath Hydrogen and Free Fatty Acids
PubMed

Randomized, single-blind crossover study over 4 hours: 75 g glucose with or without 24 g Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin (Cargill) in 300 mL water, one test day each. Main outcomes were colon fermentation markers (breath hydrogen and methane, and serum short-chain fatty acids, called fermentation acids in this card). Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; the authors declared no conflicts. (Fernandes et al. 2011, Eur J Clin Nutr)

18 adults (11 women, 7 men) with a BMI of 20 to 35: 9 with normal and 9 with high fasting insulin.

Breath hydrogen and methane rose more after inulin than after glucose alone, but the rise in serum fermentation acids was not statistically significant. Free fatty acids were lower 4 hours after inulin than after glucose (0.310 versus 0.432 mEq/L, P = 0.008) in both insulin groups. No adverse reactions were reported.

2
Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin 24 g Single Dose: Fermentation Acids, Appetite Hormones and Next-Meal Glucose
PubMed

One randomized crossover trial reported in two papers: 75 g glucose alone, or with 24 g Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin (Cargill) or 28 g resistant starch, in 300 mL water on three test days, with a standard lunch 4 hours later (NCT02562014); described as single-blind. Fermentation acids in this card means serum short-chain fatty acids. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; the authors declared no conflicts. (Rahat-Rozenbloom et al. 2017, Eur J Clin Nutr)

25 adults aged 18 to 65: 12 lean and 13 with overweight or obesity.

Compared with glucose alone, inulin raised serum fermentation acids (P < 0.001) but did not change free fatty acids, the glucose and insulin response to lunch, or GLP-1 and PYY. Blood glucose over the first 2 hours was higher after inulin. Ghrelin was lower 6 hours after inulin (P < 0.05) but not across the 4 to 6 hour period. Lean and overweight participants responded alike.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Gas, bloating and other digestive symptoms can rise with dose. In a 2-week trial of chicory fructan products sold under other names, symptoms rose mildly and significantly only at 20 g a day of one product; in a 4-week trial at 15 g a day in older adults, slight flatulence occurred but no one stopped. Snack bars with 3 or 7 g a day caused no more symptoms than control bars.
In a single-dose study of 24 g Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin, no adverse reactions were reported.
Inulin is a fructan, one of the fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs) restricted in the low FODMAP diet used for functional gut symptoms, so it may not suit people following that diet.
Allergy: one published case describes repeated anaphylaxis after eating chicory inulin and inulin-rich vegetables such as artichoke and salsify, confirmed by a blinded food challenge with 10 g of inulin. The authors knew of no other such reports.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children: the published studies of Oliggo-Fiber enrolled only nonpregnant, nonlactating adults aged 18 to 65, so it has not been studied in these groups.

Important Drug interactions

No study of Oliggo-Fiber with medicines has been published; the human studies of it tested a single dose in adults.

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Frequently asked questions about Oliggo-Fiber® Inulin (Chicory Root Fiber — Cargill)

What is Oliggo-Fiber Inulin used for?

It is a chicory root inulin that food and supplement makers add to raise the fiber content of products. Health Canada accepts standard inulin from chicory root as a dietary fiber. Published human studies of Oliggo-Fiber itself are limited to single 24 g doses, which showed signs of colon fermentation; bowel and bifidobacteria results come from chicory inulin made by other companies.

What is the recommended dosage of Oliggo-Fiber Inulin?

There is no established dose for Oliggo-Fiber itself; its human studies used one 24 g dose. In trials of chicory inulin from other makers, 12 g a day increased stool frequency and 7 g a day raised bifidobacteria, and the EU bowel claim for native chicory inulin applies at 12 g a day.

Is Oliggo-Fiber Inulin safe, and does it have side effects?

No adverse reactions were reported after a single 24 g dose of Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin in one study. Chicory inulin can cause gas and bloating, more so at higher doses, and as a fructan it may not suit people on a low FODMAP diet. A rare case of inulin allergy has been reported. It has not been studied in pregnancy, breastfeeding or children.

Does the EU bowel claim for chicory inulin apply to Oliggo-Fiber?

The EU claim covers foods supplying at least 12 g a day of native chicory inulin, defined as a non-fractionated chicory extract with under 10% monosaccharides and an average chain length of 9 or more. The sources cited here do not give Oliggo-Fiber's chain length, so they do not show whether its grades meet that definition, and the claim rests on studies of another maker's inulin.

What is Oliggo-Fiber Inulin?

Oliggo-Fiber® is chicory root inulin, a soluble fiber fermented by colon bacteria. Cargill distributes it in North America, and trade reports name the Belgian company Cosucra as its maker. Health Canada accepts standard chicory root inulin as a dietary fiber.

Does Oliggo-Fiber Inulin interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No study of Oliggo-Fiber with medicines has been published; the human studies of it tested a single dose in adults. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Oliggo-Fiber Inulin?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Oliggo-Fiber Inulin as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 study summaries and 13 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(13 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Fernandes J, Vogt J, Wolever TM. Inulin increases short-term markers for colonic fermentation similarly in healthy and hyperinsulinaemic humans. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011;65(12):1279-86. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.116.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, single-blind crossover study in 18 adults (9 with normal and 9 with high fasting insulin): 75 g glucose with 24 g Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin (Cargill, named in the methods) raised breath hydrogen and methane versus glucose alone, while the rise in serum short-chain fatty acids was not significant; free fatty acids were lower at 4 hours after inulin (P = 0.008). No adverse reactions were reported. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; no conflicts declared.
  2. Rahat-Rozenbloom S, Fernandes J, Cheng J, Gloor GB, Wolever TM. The acute effects of inulin and resistant starch on postprandial serum short-chain fatty acids and second-meal glycemic response in lean and overweight humans. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017;71(2):227-233. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.248.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized crossover trial in 25 adults (12 lean, 13 with overweight or obesity; NCT02562014): 24 g Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin (Cargill, named in the methods) with 75 g glucose raised serum short-chain fatty acids versus glucose alone (P < 0.001) but did not change free fatty acids or the glucose and insulin response to a lunch 4 hours later; resistant starch did. Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; no conflicts declared.
  3. Rahat-Rozenbloom S, Fernandes J, Cheng J, Wolever TMS. Acute increases in serum colonic short-chain fatty acids elicited by inulin do not increase GLP-1 or PYY responses but may reduce ghrelin in lean and overweight humans. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2017;71(8):953-958. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.249.PubMedUsed to support: Second paper from the same single-blind crossover trial in 25 adults: 24 g Oliggo-Fiber Instant Inulin raised serum short-chain fatty acids 4 to 6 hours after the drink but did not change GLP-1 or PYY versus glucose alone; ghrelin over 4 to 6 hours did not differ, though ghrelin at 6 hours was lower after inulin (P < 0.05). Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; no conflicts declared.
  4. Reimer RA, Soto-Vaca A, Nicolucci AC, Mayengbam S, Park H, Madsen KL, Menon R, Vaughan EE. Effect of chicory inulin-type fructan-containing snack bars on the human gut microbiota in low dietary fiber consumers in a randomized crossover trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;111(6):1286-1296. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa074.PubMedUsed to support: Two 4-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trials in 50 healthy adults with low fiber intake (NCT03042494): snack bars with 7 g/day of chicory inulin-type fructans raised fecal Bifidobacterium from 5.3% to 18.7% versus control; at 3 g/day the rise was significant only by targeted qPCR. Fecal short-chain fatty acids and GI symptoms did not differ between groups. The abstract does not name the fiber's maker and does not mention Oliggo-Fiber. General Mills, which employed two authors, was a trial collaborator and is listed as a grant source; a third author was from Sensus, another chicory inulin maker.
  5. Micka A, Siepelmeyer A, Holz A, Theis S, Schön C. Effect of consumption of chicory inulin on bowel function in healthy subjects with constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2017;68(1):82-89. doi: 10.1080/09637486.2016.1212819.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 44 otherwise healthy adults with constipation (NCT02548247): another maker's chicory inulin (Orafti Inulin), 3 x 4 g/day for 4 weeks, gave a median of 4.0 stools a week versus 3.0 on maltodextrin (p = 0.038), with softer stools and a trend toward higher satisfaction (p = 0.059). Two authors were from the BENEO-Institute, part of the inulin maker.
  6. Marteau P, Jacobs H, Cazaubiel M, Signoret C, Prevel JM, Housez B. Effects of chicory inulin in constipated elderly people: a double-blind controlled trial. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2011;62(2):164-70. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2010.527323.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in older adults with constipation: 15 g/day of chicory native inulin (maker not named in the abstract) for 28 days raised fecal bifidobacteria (P < 0.001) and total bacteria, and the 25 people in the inulin group reported less difficulty with defecation and more satisfaction with digestion. Slight flatulence was reported but did not lead anyone to stop.
  7. Bruhwyler J, Carreer F, Demanet E, Jacobs H. Digestive tolerance of inulin-type fructans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, dose-ranging, randomized study in healthy volunteers. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009;60(2):165-75. doi: 10.1080/09637480701625697.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in 84 healthy adults testing three chicory fructan products sold under other names (Fibrulose F97 at 5 and 20 g/day, Fibruline Instant at 5, 10 and 20 g/day, Fibruline XL at 10 g/day) for 2 weeks each: digestive symptoms tended to rise with all three, but the change was mild and significant only for Fibruline Instant at 20 g/day.
  8. Gay-Crosier F, Schreiber G, Hauser C. Anaphylaxis from inulin in vegetables and processed food. N Engl J Med. 2000;342(18):1372. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200005043421814.PubMedUsed to support: Letter (single case report, read in full on the journal site): a 39-year-old man had four episodes of anaphylaxis after eating inulin-rich vegetables and foods containing chicory inulin, and a double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge with 10 g of chicory inulin caused hives, eye and nose symptoms and a 20% fall in peak flow. The authors knew of no other reports of anaphylaxis from inulin.
  9. Gibson PR, Shepherd SJ. Evidence-based dietary management of functional gastrointestinal symptoms: The FODMAP approach. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;25(2):252-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.06149.x.PubMedUsed to support: Review: FODMAPs, the rapidly fermentable carbohydrates restricted in the low FODMAP diet for functional gut symptoms, include fructans; they deliver fermentable material and water to the end of the small intestine and the colon, which can cause distension and symptoms.
  10. European Commission. Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/2314 of 7 December 2015 authorising a health claim made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children's development and health and amending Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. Official Journal of the European Union. 2015;L 328, p. 46, 12 December 2015. Not PubMed-indexed..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; read on EUR-Lex. Authorizes 'Chicory inulin contributes to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency' for foods supplying at least 12 g/day of native chicory inulin, defined as a non-fractionated mixture with under 10% monosaccharides and a mean degree of polymerization of 9 or more; the application came from BENEO-Orafti, and use was restricted to that company for five years from 1 January 2016.
  11. Health Canada, Food Directorate. List of Dietary Fibres Reviewed and Accepted by Health Canada's Food Directorate. Health Canada. 2021;Updated June 2021. Not PubMed-indexed..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; read on the Health Canada website. Lists 'Inulin from chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke tuber or Blue agave head' (standard and long chain inulin obtained by hot water extraction and/or conventional separation) as an accepted traditional fiber. No manufacturer or product is named.
  12. Douaud C. Cargill inks Canadian oliggo-fiber distribution deal. NutraIngredients. 2007;11 July 2007. Not PubMed-indexed..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; trade news report. Describes Oliggo-Fiber inulin as a soluble fiber derived from chicory roots and reports Cargill's statement that it received a Health Canada 'no objection letter' in April 2007 to the effect that Oliggo-Fiber inulin from chicory roots is not a 'novel fiber'.
  13. Watson E. Nutrition Facts overhaul proves double-edged sword for inulin. FoodNavigator-USA. 2017;30 May 2017. Not PubMed-indexed..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; trade news report. States that Cargill is the exclusive North American distributor of Oliggo-Fiber chicory root fiber products from the Belgian firm Cosucra.