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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Compound

Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS)

Fermentable fibers feeding beneficial gut bacteria.

Gut HealthGeneral Wellness

Overview

Fermentable fibers feeding beneficial gut bacteria.

Natural sources
  • Chicory root
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Bananas
Common forms
  • Inulin
  • FOS
  • GOS
  • Acacia fiber

Mechanism of action

Fermented to SCFAs (butyrate, propionate, acetate) by colonic bacteria.

Pathways
  • · SCFA production
  • · Bifidobacteria growth

Effects on the body

Supports
Bifidobacteria growth
Supports
SCFA production

Organ system effects

Digestive / Gut

Modest improvements in stool consistency and bifidobacteria counts.

Evidence-based benefits

Increases bifidobacteria abundance

Strong evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · Gas
  • · Bloating
Rare
    Serious

      Drug interactions

      No notable interactions reported.

      Supplement interactions

      Pairs well with

      None listed.

      Avoid combining with

      No specific avoidances listed.

      Dosing & bioavailability

      Typical dose
      5–10 g/d, titrate slowly

      Where to buy

      Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

      Compound
      Prebiotics (…
      Amazon
      Wide selection · fast shipping
      Compound
      Prebiotics (…
      iHerb
      Global delivery · curated brands
      Compound
      Prebiotics (…
      Thorne
      Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

      Scientific evidence (8)

      Systematic reviewNutrients · 2013

      Prebiotics and gut microbiota

      Slavin J

      Review of inulin/FOS/GOS on Bifidobacterium and outcomes.

      Key findings

      Consistent bifidogenic effect at 5–10 g/d.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — Increases bifidobacteria abundance

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) Increases bifidobacteria abundance" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) and "Increases bifidobacteria abundance". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — randomized controlled trial

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — meta-analysis

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — pharmacokinetics

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — safety adverse events

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

      PubMed: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — dose response

      Live PubMed search

      Live results for "Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

      Key findings

      Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

      Open study
      Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

      Google Scholar: Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) — clinical evidence

      Live Scholar search

      Cross-database citation index for Prebiotics (Inulin, FOS, GOS) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

      Key findings

      Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

      Open study
      Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.