Protocols › Prebiotics

Prebiotics for blood markers of inflammation

Goal: What trials used to lower blood markers of inflammation, mostly in adults with diabetes, overweight or metabolic syndrome.

Each protocol describes what studies used, for one goal or for one group of people. It is not advice for you: talk to a doctor before you start a supplement.

Updated 4 Nov 2026
Dose

10 g a day in 3 trials: inulin,[1] resistant dextrin[2] and a blend of prebiotics.[3]

Form

A 2020 review in type 2 diabetes found the strongest evidence for resistant starch, resistant dextrin and oligofructose-enriched inulin.[4]

How long

8 weeks in 2 trials and 12 weeks in 1.[1][2][3]

What studies found

A 2025 review of 90 trials with 5207 people found lower CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 in adults who took prebiotics or synbiotics.[5] A 2021 review of 12 trials with 535 people with overweight or obesity found CRP lower by 1.06 mg/L.[6] In a 2017 review, 14 of 29 prebiotic studies found a drop in at least 1 marker.[7] Effects on systemic inflammation were inconsistent in healthy people.[8] These results describe blood markers, and most of the trials above were small.[1][2][3]

Ask a doctor first

Prebiotics can cause gas and bloating, more so at higher doses.[9] Inulin-type fructans lowered blood sugar in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.[10]

People with inflammatory bowel disease or who take medicine for diabetes should ask a doctor or pharmacist first.[11][10]

References

  1. Inulin controls inflammation and metabolic endotoxemia in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized-controlled clinical trial. Dehghan P, Gargari BP, Jafar-Abadi MA, Aliasgharzadeh A Int J Food Sci Nutr, 2014. PMID 24059649
  2. Resistant dextrin, as a prebiotic, improves insulin resistance and inflammation in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled clinical trial. Aliasgharzadeh A, Dehghan P, Gargari BP, Asghari-Jafarabadi M Br J Nutr, 2015. PMID 27028002
  3. Effects of a diverse prebiotic fibre blend on inflammation, the gut microbiota and affective symptoms in metabolic syndrome: a pilot open-label randomised controlled trial. Hall CV, Hepsomali P, Dalile B, Scapozza L, Gurry T Br J Nutr, 2024. PMID 39411833
  4. The Effects of Prebiotics and Substances with Prebiotic Properties on Metabolic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review. Colantonio AG, Werner SL, Brown M J Acad Nutr Diet, 2020. PMID 30827823
  5. The effects of synbiotics surpass prebiotics in improving inflammatory biomarkers in children and adults: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-evidence of data from 5207 participants in 90 randomized controlled trials. Zhang Y, Hong J, Zhang Y, Gao Y, Liang L Pharmacol Res, 2025. PMID 40581234
  6. The Effect of Prebiotic Products on Decreasing Adiposity Parameters in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis. Qu H, Song L, Zhang Y, Gao ZY, Shi DZ Curr Med Chem, 2021. PMID 31886746
  7. Short-chain fatty acids, prebiotics, synbiotics, and systemic inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. McLoughlin RF, Berthon BS, Jensen ME, Baines KJ, Wood LG Am J Clin Nutr, 2017. PMID 28793992
  8. Impact of non-digestible carbohydrates and prebiotics on immunity, infections, inflammation and vaccine responses: a systematic review of evidence in healthy humans and a discussion of mechanistic proposals. Arioz Tunc H, Calder PC, Cait A, Dodd GF, Gasaly Retamal NYI, Guillemet D, et al. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2026. PMID 40516031
  9. Prebiotics and Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Disorders. Rau S, Gregg A, Yaceczko S, Limketkai B Nutrients, 2024. PMID 38542689
  10. Inulin-type fructans supplementation improves glycemic control for the prediabetes and type 2 diabetes populations: results from a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 33 randomized controlled trials. Wang L, Yang H, Huang H, Zhang C, Zuo HX, Xu P, et al. J Transl Med, 2019. PMID 31805963
  11. Prebiotics for Induction and Maintenance of Remission in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Limketkai BN, Godoy-Brewer G, Shah ND, Maas L, White J, Parian AM, et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2025. PMID 38781004