ANSWER
Inulin is non-digestible prebiotic fibre that stimulates the growth of good bacteria which enhance the development of immune system and intestinal function (Lockyer & Stanner, 2019; Gibson, et al., 2017).
Table A. Dosage of Inulin Consumption on Subject Groups for Immunity Effects
Reference | Dosage | Subject Groups | Findings on Immunity Effects |
Oswari et al., 2019 | 3.2 g/day inulin | Infants | Increase in bifidogenic effect, stool frequency and decrease in stool pH |
Lohner et al., 2018 | 6 g/day (Orafti® Inulin) |
Children 3 to 6 year | Softer stools, higher counts of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) in stools, and fewer fevers requiring medical attention. |
Stephan & Carolin, 2018 | 6 g/day (mix of 93% of Orafti® HSI and 7% Orafti® HP) | Children 3 to 6 years | Improve performance of the
immune system by reduction the sinusitis symptoms in children |
Azpiroz et al., 2017 | 8 g/day (Orafti HSI Inulin) | Patients (20 to 70 years) with moderate
abdominal discomfort |
Promote the proliferation of bifidobacteria which are able to ferment residues using metabolic pathways with lower gas release thus improves gut function |
Micka et al., 2016 | 12 g/day (Orafti® Inulin) | Healthy men and women aged ≥ 20 and ≤ 75 years | Increase of stool frequency accompanied by a softening of stool consistency |
Vandeputte et al., 2017 | 12 g/day (Orafti® Inulin) | Healthy adults with mild constipation | Increase in stool frequency resulting from inulin consumption which support digestive health |
EFSA, 2015 | 12 g/day (Orafti® Inulin) | Six studies involving 86 subjects | Improves bowel function by increasing stool frequency |
Zinc is one of the micronutrients that promotes immunity that plays an important role in the development and integrity of the immune system (Gombart et al., 2020).
Table B. Dosage of Zinc Consumption on Subject Groups for Immunity Effects
Reference | Dosage | Subject Groups | Findings on Immunity Effects |
Gulani et al., 2014 | 5 – 50 mg/day | Children and young adults | Reduce the incidence of otitis media infections in younger or undernourished children |
Hemilä (2011) | > 75 mg/day | Children and adults | Reduced common cold |
Mocchegiani et al., 2013 | 10 – 12 mg/day | Elderly people | Enhance immunity in older people by preventing the risk of degenerative age-related diseases, such as cancer and infection |
Malik et al., 2014 | 20 mg/day | Children aged 6-11 months with acute respiratory infections | Reduced acute lower respiratory tract infection morbidity |
References
Azpiroz, F., Molne, L., Mendez, S., Nieto, A., Manichanh, C., Mego, M., Accarino, A., Santos, J., Sailer, M., Theis, S., & Guarner, F. (2017). Effect of chicory-derived inulin on abdominal sensations and bowel motor function. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 51(7), 619–625. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCG.0000000000000723
EFSA, (2015). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to “native chicory inulin” and maintenance of normal defecation by increasing stool frequency pursuant to Article 13.5 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). EFSA Journal, 13(1), 3951. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.3951
Gibson, G. R., Hutkins, R., Sanders, M. E., Prescott, S. L., Reimer, R. A., Salminen, S. J., Scott, K., Stanton, C., Swanson, K. S., Cani, P. D., Verbeke, K., & Reid, G. (2017). Expert consensus document: The international scientific association for probiotics and prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 14(8), 491-502. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2017.75
Gombart, A. F., Pierre, A., & Maggini, S. (2019). Settings. A review of micronutrients and the immune system–working in harmony to reduce the risk of infection. Nutrients, 12(1), 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236
Gulani, A. & Sachdev, H. S. (2014). Zinc supplements for preventing otitis media. Cochrane Database Systematics Reviews. 4, 29(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006639.pub4
Hemilä, H. (2011). Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of colds: a systematic review. Open Repspiratory Medicine Journal, 5, 51-8. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874306401105010051
Lockyer, S., & Stanner, S. (2019). Prebiotics – an added benefit of some fibre types. Nutrition Bulletin, 44, 74-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12366
Lohner, S., Jakobik, V., Mihályi, K., Soldi, S., Vasileiadis, S., Theis, S., Sailer, M., Sieland, C., Berényi, K., Boehm, G., & Decsi, T. (2018). Inulin-type fructan supplementation of 3- to 6-year-old children is associated with higher fecal Bifidobacterium concentrations and fewer febrile episodes requiring medical attention. The Journal of Nutrition, 148(8), 1300–1308. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy120
Lohner, S., Jakobik, V., Mihályi, K., Soldi, S., Vasileiadis, S., Theis, S., Sailer, M., Sieland, C., Berényi, K., Boehm, G., & Decsi, T. (2018). Inulin-type fructan supplementation of 3- to 6-year-old children is associated with higher fecal Bifidobacterium concentrations and fewer febrile episodes requiring medical attention. The Journal of Nutrition, 148(8), 1300–1308. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxy120
Malik, A. Taneja, D.K.; Devasenapathy, N.; Rajeshwari, K. (2014). Zinc supplementation for prevention of acute respiratory infections in infants: A randomized controlled trial. Indian Pediatric Journal. 51, 780–784.
Micka, A., Siepelmeyer, A., Holz, A., Theis, S., & Schön, C. (2016). Effect of consumption of chicory inulin on bowel function in healthy subjects with constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 68(1), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2016.1212819
Mocchegiani, E., Romeo, J., Malavolta, M., Costarelli, L., Giacconi, R., Diaz, L. E., & Marcos, A. (2013). Zinc: dietary intake and impact of supplementation on immune function in elderly. Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 35(3), 839–860. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-011-9377-3
Oswari, H., Widodo, A. D., Handayani, F., Juffrie, M., Sundjaya, T., Bindels, J., & Hegar, B. (2019). Dosage-related prebiotic effects of inulin in formula-fed infants. Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, 22(1), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2019.22.1.63
Stephan, T. & Carolin, S. (2018). Prophylactic use of inulin against sinusitis. European patent No. EP3331537B1. Südzucker AG, Mannheim. European Patent Office.
Vandeputte, D., Falony, G., Vieira-Silva, S., Wang, J., Sailer, M., Theis, S., Raes, J. (2017). Prebiotic inulin-type fructans induce specific changes in the human gut microbiota. Gut, 66(11), 1968–1974. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2016-313271