by New research from Weill Cornell Medicine reveals that inulin, a type of dietary fiber commonly found in plant-based foods and fiber supplements, may trigger inflammation in the gut and worsen symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in preclinical studies.
Published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on March 20, the study sheds light on the unexpected role of inulin in gut health. Inulin is found in various foods such as garlic, leeks, and sunchoke, as well as fiber supplements and foods fortified with added fiber.
The research team discovered that inulin stimulates gut microbes to release bile acids, leading to an increase in the production of inflammatory molecules. One such protein, IL-33, activates immune cells called group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), triggering an excessive immune response akin to an allergic reaction. This response, in turn, exacerbates intestinal damage and worsens symptoms in an animal model of IBD.
Although dietary fiber, including inulin, is essential for a healthy diet for most people, the study’s findings challenge the assumption that inulin would have protective effects in IBD. Instead, the researchers were surprised to find that inulin had the opposite effect.
“We expected that inulin would have beneficial effects in inflammatory bowel disease,” said lead author Mohammad Arifuzzaman, a postdoctoral associate at Weill Cornell Medicine. “But our findings suggest that inulin may actually contribute to gut inflammation and worsening of symptoms.”
Inulin is increasingly popular as a dietary supplement and food additive due to its ability to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. However, the new study raises concerns about its potential role in inflammatory conditions like IBD. Further research is needed to determine the clinical implications of these findings and to develop therapeutic diets that may help alleviate symptoms and promote gut health.
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1.Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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