The aim of this study was to identify the minimally meaningful dosage of inulin leading to a prebiotic effect in Indonesian infants. A consistent prebiotic effect along with a decrease in pH and increase in %-bifidobacteria and %-lactobacilli was found only in the group administered 0.4 g inulin/100 mL.

The effects of inulin on the microbial composition and faecal characteristics in 36 healthy, formula-fed infants (average age 7.7 months) given 3 different daily dosages of native inulin (0.75 g/day, 1.00 g/day, and 1.25 g/day) were studied. It is concluded that inulin consumption in formula-fed infants after weaning positively affected the microbial composition of faeces and faecal properties.

Dietary intervention with prebiotics can cause changes in the colonic microbiota and their metabolic activities. The 4-week effect of lactulose (10 g bid.; n = 29) and oligofructoseenriched inulin (10 g bid.; n = 19) was evaluated in healthy human volunteers

An in vivo study was carried to determine the effect of HP-inulin, a high-molecular-weight fraction of chicory-derived inulin, on the human gut microflora composition. Ten healthy volunteers were allowed a free-living diet whereby they also ingested 8g/d of maltodextrin for 14 days and this was followed by 8g/d HP-inulin for 14 days.

Subjects consumed a chocolate drink containing placebo (maltodextrin, 8 g/day), 5 g/day inulin and 8 g/day inulin for a 2-week treatment period. Both inulin doses exhibited a bifidogenic effect but a higher volunteer percentage responded to the high dose.