Oligofructose Product Shown to Support Body Weight Loss

Results of this study come as a breakthrough, and add to the earlier findings supporting the potential of inulin-type fructans in promoting body weight management.

12/06/09 A new independent study published this month, led by Dr. Reimer from the University of Calgary in Canada, shows for the first time that oligofructose (OraftiP95) supplementation allows to decrease body weight and energy intake in overweight and obese adults, and this, without any lifestyle or dietary change.

Results of this study come as a breakthrough, and add to the earlier findings supporting the potential of inulin-type fructans in promoting body weight management. An investigation has previously shown that supplementation of the diet of healthy adolescents with oligofructose enriched inulin (OraftiSynergy1) during 1 year supports appropriate development of body weight and body mass index (BMI) during the growing phase. Adolescents showed lower body fat mass when receiving OraftiSynergy1, compared with the control group1. In a former human intervention study, the intake of oligofructose (OraftiP95) by healthy adults resulted in a lower daily energy intake together with reported feelings of prolonged fullness and reduced hunger perception2.

With obesity prevalence having reached alarming proportions worldwide, it is not surprising that overweight ranks in the top-four health concerns of consumers worldwide. Next to reduced physical activity, excessive energy intake is central to the development of excessive body weight. Thus more and more, the food industry is actively looking towards ways of helping consumers to reduce their energy intake and maintain their optimal body weight, in the frame of healthy weight managing diets.

This new study3, conducted by the research team of Dr. Reimer (published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in April 2009), brings us closer to understanding the potential of inulin/oligofructose in weight management.

In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 48 overweight or obese healthy adults received either 21 grams/day of oligofructose (OraftiP95) or maltodextrin (equicaloric amounts as a control).

After 12 weeks, volunteers in the oligofructose group experienced a significant reduction in body weight of 1.03 kg, while the control subjects gained 0.45 kg weight. The weight loss affected mainly body fat mass, in particular trunk fat mass.

The weight loss could be explained by the lower energy intake observed in subjects in the oligofructose group. The authors further found effects of the intake of oligofructose on postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses prior and after the intervention period indicating an improvement of glucose regulation.

As the subjects did not modify their physical activity or dietary habits, the observed results concerning body weight, fat mass and caloric intake were attributed to the oligofructose supplementation.

The authors further report lower postprandial ghrelin and higher PYY responses whereas they could not detect modulations of GLP-1. Although hormone signalling certainly plays a role in the body's regulation of energy intake, there precise interactions still need to be elucidated.

Results of the present study demonstrate for the first time in a human intervention study, that supplementation with oligofructose, independently from any lifestyle change is able to decrease body weight, primarily by loosing fat mass, and helps to manage caloric intake in overweight and obese adults.

Anke Sentko, Vice President Regulatory Affairs & Nutrition Communication of the BENEO-Group, manufacturer of the OraftiP95 Oligofructose, comments:

“Together with the outcome of the other studies cited above with inulin and oligofructose this is another important milestone in the research for fighting against obesity. We have more tools in the fight against obesity than just counting calories and the dietary fibers inulin and oligofructose have to be looked at as another effective tool in the obesity fight. Hormone modulation may certainly play a key role. Apart from appetite regulating peptides, certainly insulin needs attention as insulin promotes fat storage and inhibits fat burning.  Apart from inulin/oligosaccharides the BENEO-Group developed a new functional carbohydrate with low insulin demand, the low glycemic sugar isomaltulose (Palatinose), subject of a series of studies demonstrating increased fat burning. Exciting results to be shared with the public in future.” 

References
1 Abrams et al. (2007) Effect of prebiotic supplementation and calcium intake on body mass index. The Journal of Pediatrics 151: 293-298.

2 Cani et al. (2006) Oligofructose promotes satiety in healthy human: a pilot study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 60: 567-572.

3 Parnell JA & Reimer RA (2009) Weight loss during oligofructose supplementation is associated with decreased ghrelin and increased PYY in overweight and obese adults. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 89(6): 1751-1759.