Native Inulin

Typically, however, native inulin is fractionated to remove mono- and disaccharides and oligomers in the low-dp range. This can be accomplished using an exo-inulinase followed by separation of the mono- and disaccharides from the higher molecular weight polymers using a cation exchange... 

International classification A23K1/16, A23L1/052, A23L1/308 The invention relates to the use of inulin, oligofructose, or their derivatives as functional ingredients in food, feed, and pharmaceutical composition to prevent mammary carcinogenesis or treat breast cancer. The active ingredients are obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of native inulin from chicory or Jerusalem artichoke. 

Generally speaking, three types of inulin products can be distinguished and are commercially available as white powders. First of all is the native inulin with a mean DP of... 

The addition of prebiotics in food may offer other benefits by improving host absorption of minerals (like calcium or magnesium). Recent advances in this field show that inulin-type fructans enhanced calcium absorption primarily via the colonic mucosa in humans (Abrams et al. 2007). This effect may be partially due to the interaction of inulin type fmctans with the Fok 1 gene, a genetic modifier of calcium absorption, as well as due to the acidic environment caused by the production of SCFA, which may increase the solubility of minerals and thus enhance their absorption (Abrams etal. 2005). Crude fractions of chicory (a source of inulin) have shown improved bone parameters relative to native or reformulated inulin in rats, suggesting possible synergies between inulin-t5 e fructans and other nutrients (Demigne et al. 2008). 

The Jerusalem artichoke, which is native to America, is a close relative of the sunflower. It is cultivated for the edible tubers, which grow underground and look like ginger root or misshapen potatoes. Jerusalem artichoke is often recommended for diabetics, as it has no starch the carbohydrate of fresh tubers is in the form of inulin rather than sugar. But if they are stored for a long period of time, the inulin converts to sugar. 

Chicory is native in Europe and Asia. The roots contain 16-20% of inulin, which is composed of 80% fructose and 20% glucose, the latter occupying the terminals of the oligomeric and polymeric chains. Chicory is cultivated in Belgium, the Netherlands and France on 14000 ha of land yield 44... 

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