scFOS May Benefit Bowel Health

CEDEX, France—Regularly consuming short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) may improve digestive comfort in a working population not undergoing medical treatment (Br J Nutr. 2008;99:311-18) (DOI:10.1017/S000711450779894x). In step one of a comparative, double blind trial, 2,235 subjects were questioned to assess the incidence and intensity of digestive disorders. Forty-four percent of the subjects questioned had functional bowel disorder (FBD), of whom 57.1 percent suffered from minor FBD. In step two, 105 of these patients diagnosed with FBD were randomized into two groups to receive either 5 g/d of sc-FOS (as NutraFlora®, from GTC Nutrition) or 5 g/d of placebo (sucrose and maltodextrins) for six weeks. On day 43 of step two, the intensity of digestive disorders decreased by 43.6 percent in the sc-FOS group vs. a 13.8 percent increase in the placebo group (P=0.026). Symptoms were experienced less frequently by 75 percent of subjects in the sc-FOS group, while 53.8 percent of controls experienced no change (P=0.064). Using the functional digestive disorders quality of life questionnaire, the discomfort item scores increased in the sc-FOS group (P=0.031). However, expressed as change in quality of life (improvement, worsening or unchanged), daily activities were significantly improved in the sc-FOS group (P=0.022).
“This study indicates that regular consumption of NutraFlora® scFOS® prebiotic fiber may assist the body's natural immune system to improve the quality of life for individuals struggling with minor functional bowel disorders,” said Coni Francis, Ph.D., R.D., senior manager of science, marketing and technical service for GTC Nutrition. “Consumers are increasingly seeking new ways to address digestive health issues, and NutraFlora provides a natural solution that can be used in a variety of product applications.”

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