 Adverse
effects
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Inulinby Paul BergnerInulin is major
constituent of some of the most famous of the "old-standby"
herbs, such as burdock root, dandelion root, elecampane root, chicory
root,
and the Chinese herb codonopsis. Botanically, inulin is a storage food
in the plants of the Composite family. Inulin when injected
interacts
with complement system, which has resulted in rumors in herbal circles
that it is immunostimulant. It is not digested or absorbed, however,
(except
perhaps in mico-amounts) and such effects are not observed with oral
use.
Inulin is recommended sometimes for diabetics; it has a mildly sweet
taste,
and is filling like starchy foods, but because it is not absorbed, it
does
not affect blood sugar levels. Despite the similarity of its name to
insulin,
inulin has no connection with that hormone either chemically or through
physiological activity. Inulin is soluble in hot water, but only
slightly
soluble in cold water or alcohol, so is not present to any significant
extent in tinctures. All the above herbs have traditionally been taken
in decoctions, and in this form may deliver significant amounts of
inulin.
Recent research has shown an important physiological action for inulin (Gibson, Roberfroid). Like some pectins and fructooligosaccharides, inulin is a preferred food for the lactobacilli in the intestine and can improve the balance of friendly bacteria in the bowel. Subjects in one trial were give 15 grams of inulin a day for fifteen days. Lactobacillus bifidobacteria increased by about 10% during that period. Gram-positive bacteria associated with disease declined. Bifidobacteria digest inulin to produce short chain fatty-acids, such as acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. The first two may be used by the liver for energy production, while butyric acid has cancer-preventing properties within the intestine (Spiller, 1994). Recent animal research also shows that inulin prevents precancerous changes in the colon (Reddy, 1997). Table 1 shows the plants with the highest inulin content listed on the U.S. Department of Agriculture phytochemical database. Each of these plants, with the exception of Echinacea, have been used in ethnomedicine to improve intestinal health. Echinacea has not been traditionally consumed as a decoction or eaten in food quantities, and thus the amount of inulin ingested would not be significant. It would not necessarily be desirable to prepare it as a tea, because key immune-stimulating constituents are only soluble in alcohol. Saussurea is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine as a "spleen tonic" or digestive tonic. In some regions of China, Inula helenium <D>is freely substituted for saussurea (Hsu). Note that elecampane, although pigeonholed by modern North American herbalists as a lung tonic, was used by the Eclectics both as a lung and digestive tonic (Felter). Another common Chinese digestive and "spleen" tonic that contains inulin is codonopsis, an ubiquitous ginseng substitute in contemporary traditional Chinese medicine. ReferencesFelter,
H.W. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacognosy,
and Therapeutics. Portland, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications,
(reprint
from 1922 original)
Gibson GR; Beatty ER; Wang X; Cummings JH. Selective stimulation of bifidobacteria in the human colon by oligofructose and inulin. Gastroenterology,<D> 1995 Apr, 108:4, 975-82 Reddy BS, Hamid R, Rao CV Effect of dietary oligofructose and inulin on colonic preneoplastic aberrant crypt foci inhibition. Carcinogenesis<D> 1997 Jul;18(7):1371-1374 Hsu, Hong-yen. Oriental Materia Medica: A Concise Guide. Long Beach, California: Oriental Healing Arts Institute, 1986 Roberfroid M. Dietary fiber, inulin, and oligofructose: a review comparing their physiological effects. Crit Rev Food Sci <D>1993,33(2):103-48 Spiller, GA. Dietary Fiber in Health and Nutrition.<D> Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1994 Wang X, Gibson GR. Effects of the in vitro fermentation of oligofructose and inulin by bacteria growing in the human large intestine. J Appl Bacteriol<D> 1993 Oct;75(4):373-380Copyright 1997 by Paul Bergner. All right reserved |
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