Inulin (inulin-type fructans) and constipation

What 2 graded rows on inulin (inulin-type fructans) agree on for constipation, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the Inulin (inulin-type fructans) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the Inulin (inulin-type fructans) page, with its PubMed record.

Supplement

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2 rows · 291 people

They agree: both rows found an improvement.

No difference

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside.

From the rows

The best-graded row, grade C, is a meta-analysis of 252 people (2014) and found an improvement.

The rows run from 39 to 252 people, published from 2014 to 2025: 1 pooled review and 1 single study.

2 improved

Grade CStool frequency and consistency in chronic constipation · Improved
Meta-analysis, 5 studies · n 252 · 2014 · Adults with chronic constipation in 5 randomized trials
Varied across trials · Varied across trials
Stool frequency, consistency and transit time improved and hard stools were less likely (risk ratio 0.42); abdominal pain and bloating did not improve.
Row on the Inulin (inulin-type fructans) page · PubMed 25208775 (opens PubMed)
Grade DStool frequency and symptoms in functional constipation · Improved
Crossover RCT · n 39 · 2025 · Adults with functional constipation (Rome III criteria)
12 g/day · 4 weeks per period
Stool frequency, abdominal symptoms and constipation-related quality of life improved more with inulin than with placebo, and butyrate-producing gut bacteria rose. A carry-over effect appeared; analysing the first period alone as a parallel trial still favoured inulin.
Row on the Inulin (inulin-type fructans) page · PubMed 41233756 (opens PubMed)