Effect of high performance chicory inulin on constipation

It is known that chicory inulin (average degree of polymerisation DP=10) an d oligofructose (DP=4) affect bowel function. Whereas transit time is not a ffected with daily doses ranging between 4 and 15g, such closes increase st ool frequency and have a faecal bulking effect in healthy volunteers. Recently a new type of chicory inulin with higher average chain length (DP= 25)has become commercially available. From a nutritional point of view this is an interesting carbohydrate, as it is fermented more slowly than the na tive product, giving it the opportunity to arrive in more distal parts of t he colon. In this placebo controlled study, we investigated the effect of t his high performance inulin on bowel function in healthy volunteers with lo w stool frequency (1 stool every 2 to 3 days). Subjects were administered 15g of the product/day for 2 weeks. Besides macr oscopic observations (stool frequency, faecal bulking, etc.), or-caecal tra nsit time, effect on intestinal permeability, amount of faecal fat, bile ac ids, dry solids, etc. were monitored. There was a significant increase in stool frequency with the high performan ce inulin (p=0.02). The earlier observed trend to increase faecal bulk with 1.5 to 2g per g inulin ingested was observed in present study as well. The re were no effects on the other measured parameters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Inc.