Functional and therapeutic potential of inulin (literature review)

Health and nutrition is the most challenging arena in this era and would persist in the forthcoming years. Although dense, energy rich or refined foods provide comfort but deprive some of the rightful nutrients that lead to onset of various ailments such as hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, colorectal cancers and irritable bowel disease. Over the last few decades, tremendous increase in the demand of functional foods was revealed. Several researches show that inulin works as a prebiotic, promoting good digestive health, also affecting lipid metabolism and reducing the risk of osteoporosis by increasing calcium absorption. Inulin affects insulinemia and glycaemia, also reduces the risk of colon cancer. Recent studies have shown that it promotes the biosynthesis of vitamin D precursor.