Gastrointestinal tolerance to an inulin-rich soluble roasted chicory extract after consumption in healthy subjects

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 799 - 803
• Main Authors: Ripoll, Christophe, Ph.D, Flourié, Bernard, M.D., Ph.D, Megnien, Sophie, M.D, Hermand, Olivier, D.M.D, Janssens, Myriam, M.Sc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2010; [New York]: Elsevier Science Inc; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Abdominal Pain - chemically induced; acute effects; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Chicory; Cichorium intybus - chemistry; Coffee; Consumer behavior; Consumption; Dietary Sucrose; dose response; Double-Blind Method; Feces; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Flatulence - chemically induced; Food; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; gastrointestinal discomfort; Gastrointestinal Diseases - chemically induced; Gastrointestinal symptoms; gastrointestinal system; gastrointestinal tolerance; Humans; indigestion; Ingestion; Inulin; Inulin - adverse effects; long term effects; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition research; Plant Extracts - adverse effects; Reference Values; roasted chicory extract; roasting; Soluble extract; Sucrose; Tolerance; vegetable extracts; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Young Adult; Chicory; Tolerance; Gastrointestinal symptoms; Soluble extract; Inulin; Healthy subject; Gastrointestinal; Symptomatology; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Food intake; Prebiotic; Chicory extract
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.07.013

Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess in healthy subjects 1) the effect of two doses of a new naturally inulin-rich soluble chicory extract (IRSCE) on overall gastrointestinal discomfort after short-term ingestion and 2) the effect on gastrointestinal symptoms of long-term consumption of IRSCE administered at a dose compatible with its future commercial use. Methods First, the effect of IRSCE was assessed on overall gastrointestinal discomfort in a double-blind, crossover study where 18 subjects received in a randomized order a morning coffee drink including 10 g of sucrose alone (control period) or with IRSCE at two doses (8.9 and 14.0 g containing 5.0 and 7.8 g of inulin, respectively) during three consecutive 6-d periods. Second, 35 subjects were followed during a randomized, double-blind protocol where they were asked to take twice a day an instant coffee drink containing IRSCE (8.1 g/d containing inulin 5.0 g/d) or sucrose 8.1 g/d during 4 wk. The effects of the treatment on flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, stool consistency, and number were recorded. Results In the first study a significant slight increase ( P = 0.05) in overall abdominal discomfort was observed with the morning coffee drink containing 7.8 g of inulin after 1 wk of consumption. In the second study, no significant differences between the IRSCE and placebo groups were evidenced with respect to gastrointestinal symptoms during the consumption period. Conclusion Short- and long-term consumptions of IRSCE, given at a daily dose containing 5 g of inulin, are well tolerated by healthy subjects.