The bifidogenic nature of chicory inulin and its hydrolysis products.

Research data on the bifidogenic effect of beta(2-1)fructans, which at present are commercialized in the U.S., Japan and Europe as food ingredients, are presented. These food ingredients originate from two different sources. Short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides are synthesized from sucrose and are composed of GFn [n beta(2-1) linked fructose moieties bound to a glucose molecule; 2 10 are fermented on average half as quickly as molecules with a DP < 10. All beta(2-1)fructans are bifidogenic and classified as biobiotics