Patients might ask if prebiotic sodas are a healthy choice, as more products flood the market. Do these trending products offer any benefits?
Explain that prebiotics are essentially “food” for probiotics, including bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Many of these new prebiotic soda products contain inulin, a prebiotic made up of both sugars and non-digestible fiber – it seems to be the preferred food of both bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, but it can be used by a variety of other beneficial microbes. The primary source of commercially made inulin is chicory root, but inulin is also naturally found in the diet in foods such as bananas, onions, artichokes, and asparagus.
The best evidence for inulin is for treatment of constipation – it might improve stool frequency when used in doses of 12-40 grams daily. But evidence of gut health benefits beyond this is limited.
If patients are interested in trying these products, explain that prebiotic sodas typically contain less sugar and more fiber than regular sodas. This might make them healthier alternatives to conventional sodas. But manage expectations. Advise that health benefits aren’t clear, and there aren’t any good data supporting most of the marketing claims.
Check out our new resource on common prebiotic soda products for more details. And dive into our CE course, Microbiome Medley: Pre-, Pro-, and Postbiotics, to learn more about prebiotics.
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