FRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES atificial fiber made from Fructose.

[ukbill]

I found the following that is interesting and worth discussing.

FRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES
Reviewed on 6/11/2021
VITAMINS, HERBS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS A-Z LISTFRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES
Other Name(s):
Beta-D-fructofuranosidase, Bêta-D-Fructofuranosidase, Chicory Inulin Hydrolysate, Complexe d’Oligosaccharide, FOS, Fructo Oligo Saccharides, Fructo-Oligosacáridos, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructo-Oligosaccharides à Courte Chaîne, Inulin Hydrolysate, Oligofructose, Oligosaccharide Complex, Oligosaccharides, Prebiotic, Prébiotique, SC-FOS, Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides.

OverviewUsesSide EffectsDosing
OVERVIEW
Fructo-oligosaccharides are made up of plant sugars linked in chains. They are taken from asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, and soybeans, or produced in the laboratory. People use these sugars to make medicine.

Fructo-oligosaccharides are used for constipation, traveler's diarrhea, and high cholesterol levels.

Fructo-oligosaccharides are also used as prebiotics. Prebiotics act as food for “good” bacteria in the intestine. Don't confuse prebiotics with probiotics such as lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and saccharomyces, which are live organisms that are good for health. People sometimes take probiotics by mouth to increase the number in their intestine.

In foods, fructo-oligosaccharides are used as a sweetener.

How does it work?
Fructo-oligosaccharides pass undigested into the colon where they increase bowel mass and promote growth of certain bacteria that are thought to be beneficial.

USES & EFFECTIVENESS
Possibly Ineffective for...
Preventing traveler's diarrhea.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
Constipation. Some evidence suggests that fructo-oligosaccharides may relieve constipation by increasing the bulk of the body’s solid waste.
Promoting growth of bacteria in the intestine.
High cholesterol levels.
Other conditions.
SIDE EFFECTS
Fructo-oligosaccharides seem to be safe when taken in less than 30 grams per day. They can cause intestinal gas (flatulence), intestinal noises, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. These effects are usually mild if the dose is less than 10 grams per day.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of fructo-oligosaccharides during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Ok.. so why, if this is the case.. why are these compounds put in new born baby milk?
How safe are they going to be for an HFI infant?
I do not believe the stuff is none digestible as stated. If it were indigestible, how or what would be feeding the gut bacteria? If it is digestible.. even partly then sugar in the form of sucrose and Fructose will be released into the gut and adsorbed through the intestinal lining into the blood stream.
Can anyone confirm this or disprove it?
The main reason I am suspicious is these fake fibre compounds are being put in ever more foods both as artificial sweeteners and as fake fibre in so many manufactured foods these days.
Anyone know an expert who can confirm the above?


Source is www.rxlist.com/fructo-oligosaccharides/supplements.htm

[antonia]

If a fiber is considered indigestible then that means humans do not possess the digestive enzymes to break it down into simple sugars which can be absorbed. Since it is also considered a prebiotic fiber that means bacteria exist that can “digest it” or break it down. If taken in conjunction with a probiotic supplement, or a bacterial strain that has the ability to ferment or break down fructooligosaccharides, then that opens up the possibility that simple sugars are released in the upper GI tract where they can be absorbed. A healthy gut doesn’t have probiotic bacteria colonized in the upper GI tract, but in the lower GI tract where not much absorption takes place. This is why I’m not a fan of probiotic supplements in general, but especially not for HFIers. Additionally, there is SIBO or the colonization of bacteria in the small intestine/upper GI tract. SIBO results in the fermentation of complex carbohydrates, including fibers, in the upper GI tract, not the lower GI tract where it’s supposed to take place. It’s become an increasingly common GI condition these last couple of decades. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that the introduction of probiotic supplements to the general public is linked to an increase in SIBO cases. Prebiotic fibers are supposed to move on through the upper GI tract in tact, and feed healthy bacteria in the lower GI tract or colon, where absorption of the resulting byproducts won’t take place. Many products containing probiotics, such as baby formulas, also contain prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides, which I assume are added to feed the said probiotic bacterial strains. This would indeed be detrimental to a HFI baby in my opinion. If you’re seeking an expert opinion, maybe you could pose this question to Dr. Cox, or the dietitian available to you in the metabolic organizations you are active in.

FYI: other common names for fructooligosaccharides include inulin or chicory root