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Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS)
Overview
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are plant sugars that occur in many fruits and vegetables. They can also be made in a lab and are used as prebiotics.
FOS do not get digested until they reach the colon. In the colon, they are digested by good bacteria. This helps the good bacteria to grow, which is why they are used as prebiotics. Prebiotics act as food for probiotics (good bacteria).
People use FOS for constipation, obesity, diabetes, travelers' diarrhea, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse prebiotics with probiotics. These are not the same.
FOS do not get digested until they reach the colon. In the colon, they are digested by good bacteria. This helps the good bacteria to grow, which is why they are used as prebiotics. Prebiotics act as food for probiotics (good bacteria).
People use FOS for constipation, obesity, diabetes, travelers' diarrhea, high cholesterol, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse prebiotics with probiotics. These are not the same.
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