The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study

Abstract Background Inulin supplementation may restore gut microbiota dysbiosis and modulate appetite control in childhood obesity. This study evaluated the effects of inulin on eating behaviours and explored their relationships with dietary intake, clinical parameters, and gut microbiota in childre...

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Main Authors: Ekkarit Panichsillaphakit, Chonnikant Visuthranukul, Yuda Chongpison, Natthaya Chuaypen, Tanisa Kwanbunbumpen, Jaraspong Uaariyapanichkul, Sirinuch Chomtho
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Nutrition & Metabolism
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00995-0
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author Ekkarit Panichsillaphakit
Chonnikant Visuthranukul
Yuda Chongpison
Natthaya Chuaypen
Tanisa Kwanbunbumpen
Jaraspong Uaariyapanichkul
Sirinuch Chomtho
author_facet Ekkarit Panichsillaphakit
Chonnikant Visuthranukul
Yuda Chongpison
Natthaya Chuaypen
Tanisa Kwanbunbumpen
Jaraspong Uaariyapanichkul
Sirinuch Chomtho
author_sort Ekkarit Panichsillaphakit
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Inulin supplementation may restore gut microbiota dysbiosis and modulate appetite control in childhood obesity. This study evaluated the effects of inulin on eating behaviours and explored their relationships with dietary intake, clinical parameters, and gut microbiota in children with obesity. Methods Children aged 7–15 years with obesity were randomly assigned to one of three groups: inulin extracted from Thai Jerusalem artichoke (intervention), maltodextrin (placebo), or dietary fiber advice. All participants received monthly follow-ups with standard dietary and lifestyle guidance for six months. Eating behaviours were assessed at month 0, 3, and 6 using Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaires (CEBQs), and their associations with dietary intake, clinical parameters, and gut microbiota were analysed. Results A total of 156 children (mean age: 10.4 ± 2.2 years, mean BMI z-score: 3.2 ± 1.0, 58.3% male) completed the study. Emotional undereating (EUE) significantly decreased in the inulin group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.01). All groups showed reduced food approach subscales, except emotional overeating (EOE), with no significant differences between groups. Among the food approach subscales, food responsiveness was positively correlated with total calorie and fat intakes at baseline and month 3. EOE showed negative correlation with dietary fiber intake/1,000 kcal at month 6. For the food avoidant subscales, satiety responsiveness negatively related to body weight at baseline and proportion of carbohydrate intake (pCHO) at month 6. Slowness in eating was negatively correlated with BMI z-score and pCHO at the end of the study. A 1-point increase in the desire to drink Likert score was associated with a 62.5 mg/day increase in cholesterol intake post-intervention (95%CI: 16.6-108.4). Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was inversely correlated with EOE after the intervention. For every 50 ng/L increase in GLP-1, EOE increased by 0.007 points pre-intervention and decreased by 0.037 points post-intervention. CEBQs showed significant associations with Agathobacter at baseline, and with Oscillibacter, UBA1819, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 at month 3. Conclusions Inulin supplementation influenced eating behaviours, particularly reducing EUE. Significant associations between subjective eating behaviours, dietary intake, biochemical markers, and gut microbiota were observed. These findings suggest that inulin supplementation may be a potential strategy for managing childhood obesity through appetite modulation and improving eating behaviours. Trial registration Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03968003). Registered 30 May 2019.
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spelling doaj-art-ae9175f4a3424969b1d2d4eb53516f062025-08-20T03:46:04ZengBMCNutrition & Metabolism1743-70752025-08-0122111210.1186/s12986-025-00995-0The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled studyEkkarit Panichsillaphakit0Chonnikant Visuthranukul1Yuda Chongpison2Natthaya Chuaypen3Tanisa Kwanbunbumpen4Jaraspong Uaariyapanichkul5Sirinuch Chomtho6Division of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross SocietyCenter of Excellence in Pediatric Nutrition, Division of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityCenter for Excellence in Biostatistics, Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityMetabolic Diseases in Gut and Urinary System Research Unit (MeDGURU), Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityDivision of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross SocietyDivision of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross SocietyCenter of Excellence in Pediatric Nutrition, Division of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn UniversityAbstract Background Inulin supplementation may restore gut microbiota dysbiosis and modulate appetite control in childhood obesity. This study evaluated the effects of inulin on eating behaviours and explored their relationships with dietary intake, clinical parameters, and gut microbiota in children with obesity. Methods Children aged 7–15 years with obesity were randomly assigned to one of three groups: inulin extracted from Thai Jerusalem artichoke (intervention), maltodextrin (placebo), or dietary fiber advice. All participants received monthly follow-ups with standard dietary and lifestyle guidance for six months. Eating behaviours were assessed at month 0, 3, and 6 using Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaires (CEBQs), and their associations with dietary intake, clinical parameters, and gut microbiota were analysed. Results A total of 156 children (mean age: 10.4 ± 2.2 years, mean BMI z-score: 3.2 ± 1.0, 58.3% male) completed the study. Emotional undereating (EUE) significantly decreased in the inulin group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.01). All groups showed reduced food approach subscales, except emotional overeating (EOE), with no significant differences between groups. Among the food approach subscales, food responsiveness was positively correlated with total calorie and fat intakes at baseline and month 3. EOE showed negative correlation with dietary fiber intake/1,000 kcal at month 6. For the food avoidant subscales, satiety responsiveness negatively related to body weight at baseline and proportion of carbohydrate intake (pCHO) at month 6. Slowness in eating was negatively correlated with BMI z-score and pCHO at the end of the study. A 1-point increase in the desire to drink Likert score was associated with a 62.5 mg/day increase in cholesterol intake post-intervention (95%CI: 16.6-108.4). Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was inversely correlated with EOE after the intervention. For every 50 ng/L increase in GLP-1, EOE increased by 0.007 points pre-intervention and decreased by 0.037 points post-intervention. CEBQs showed significant associations with Agathobacter at baseline, and with Oscillibacter, UBA1819, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 at month 3. Conclusions Inulin supplementation influenced eating behaviours, particularly reducing EUE. Significant associations between subjective eating behaviours, dietary intake, biochemical markers, and gut microbiota were observed. These findings suggest that inulin supplementation may be a potential strategy for managing childhood obesity through appetite modulation and improving eating behaviours. Trial registration Retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03968003). Registered 30 May 2019.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00995-0Children’s eating behaviour questionnairesObese childrenSatietyPrebioticInulin
spellingShingle Ekkarit Panichsillaphakit
Chonnikant Visuthranukul
Yuda Chongpison
Natthaya Chuaypen
Tanisa Kwanbunbumpen
Jaraspong Uaariyapanichkul
Sirinuch Chomtho
The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
Nutrition & Metabolism
Children’s eating behaviour questionnaires
Obese children
Satiety
Prebiotic
Inulin
title The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
title_full The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
title_fullStr The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
title_full_unstemmed The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
title_short The effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study
title_sort effects of inulin supplementation on eating behaviours in children and adolescents with obesity a randomized double blinded placebo controlled study
topic Children’s eating behaviour questionnaires
Obese children
Satiety
Prebiotic
Inulin
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-025-00995-0
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