Digestive tolerance of inulin-type fructans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, dose-ranging, randomized study in healthy volunteers.

Background Similar to other indigestible carbohydrates or dietary fibres, a consumption of too large quantities of inulin-type fructans may cause some digestive problems.Aim To compare the digestive tolerance of inulin-type fructans, administered during 2 weeks, at different doses.Methods Eighty-four healthy volunteers (aged 18–45 years, mean body mass index 25.1 kg/m2 and mean total fibre consumption 12 g) were included in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over study comparing Fibrulose F97 (5 and 20 g/day), Fibruline Instant (5, 10 and 20 g/day) and Fibruline XL (10 g/day) (degrees of polymerization respectively equal to 2–20, 2–60 with an average of 10, and 2–60 with an average >20) to placebo. The study was decomposed into five 2-week periods: placebo run-in, treatment 1, placebo washout, treatment 2, placebo run-out. The following symptoms were assessed using visual analogue scales: flatulence, rumbling, bloating, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, stool frequency and stool...