Food Industry Sees Benefits Of Including Prebiotic Fiber In New Products

Consumers and food manufacturers are increasingly aware of the role of dietary fiber in weight maintenance and weight loss. Fiber’s value in a weight loss program is based on a simple fact: it provides appetite-reducing bulk without the calories. The spotlight now is on prebiotic fibers such as oligofructose-enriched inulin and oligofructose that can be used in foods to reduce calorie intake and help people manage blood sugar levels. One clinical study involving overweight and obese adults demonstrated that intake of food enriched with oligofructose at a level of 12 grams/day over three weeks significantly reduced caloric intake. With results like that in mind, it’s not surprising that food manufacturers are including oligofructose-enriched inulin and oligofructose in new product plans.