FOS

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are naturally occurring oligosaccharides that act as prebiotics, stimulating the growth of good intestinal bacteria in the gut. FOS contribute to hypocholesterolemia via two mechanisms: decreasing cholesterol absorption accompanied by enhanced cholesterol excretion via feces, and the production of short-chain fatty acids (scFAs) upon selective fermentation by intestinal bacterial microflora.

Research has suggested that FOS are beneficial in the prevention and control of increased health problems, particularly those associated with metabolic syndrome. Studies in horses have demonstrated that supplementation with short-chain fructooligosaccharides at 45 g/day can moderately improve insulin sensitivity of obese horses.

Agheli et al studied the chronic effects of a short-chain fructooligosaccharide (FOS)-containing diet on plasma lipids and the activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in insulin-resistant rats and concluded that the addition of short-chain FOS prevented some lipid disorders, lowered fatty acid synthase activity in the liver.

FOS can be found in many plant foods, such as bananas, onions, garlic, asparagus, wheat, rye, Jerusalem artichoke, and can also be produced enzymatically.