A study has uncovered the role of prebiotic burdock-derived inulin-type fructans in supporting the immune system.
This effect was observed in immunosuppressed mice models, which experienced an uptick in immune functioning through the modulation of the gut microbiota and their associated metabolites.
The study, which was published in Food Chemistry, suggests the potential of plant-derived inulin-type fructans as immune health nutraceuticals.
Inulin-type fructans as functional ingredients
Inulin-type fructans are a group of dietary fibres commonly found in almost all plant species, and are increasingly being recognised for their role as prebiotics.
Many studies on prebiotics have been performed in recent years, with data pointing towards their role in supporting our overall health in a range of different ways.
One of these ares is immune health, as many species of 'good' bacteria associated with the gut, as well as their secondary metabolites, are involved in immunomodulation.
Since chickory-derived inulins have shown promise in this field, researchers at the Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Healthy in Universities of Shandong and the Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts teamed up to assess the impact of daily inulin intake on immune health.
Surviving the gut
To optimally exhibit their effect on the body, dietary fibres such as inulin must be resistant to both the gastric and intestinal digestion process, as they function best within the latter parts of the intestines.
This can allow them to act as a nutritional source for the gut microbiome, which can produce a range of important metabolites, while also directly modulating the immune response.
Researchers found that Arctium lappa L-derived inulins were degraded slightly during the digestion process, but a majority of the polysaccharides did reach the gut as long-chain structures.
This highlights the potential of burdock inulins as an effective dietary fibre and food source for gut microbes.
Immunomodulation with inulin
During the study, it was noted that burdock-derived inulin could positively impact immune health-related biomarkers, such as the spleen and thymus indexes.
The daily intake of inulin was also found to alleviate the impact of the immunosuppressive cyclophosphamide injection in mice by upregulating T-cell prevalence.
By utilising mass spectrometry, researchers found that inulins could directly impact the metabolic processes of gut microbiota, while also impacting the location of microbiome-related metabolites — which scientists believe is the root cause behind inulin's immunomodulatory effects.
Lingyu Li, lead author of this study, commented: "This study aimed to examine the in vitro digestion properties and immunomodulatory effects of inulin-type fructans (ALP-1) from the burdock plant on immunosuppressive mice, while also exploring the underlying mechanisms."
"ALP-1 shows promise as an immunomodulator for use in functional foods and nutraceuticals."