Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) are prebiotic fibers that are sometimes studied for their potential metabolic benefits, including effects on blood lipids such as triglycerides. Scientific evidence investigating IMOs’ impact on triglyceride levels is limited but suggests a possible modest benefit. A few small human and animal studies have reported that IMOs may reduce serum triglyceride concentrations, likely due to their ability to increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut, which can influence lipid metabolism. For example, a 2008 study in rats showed that dietary IMOs lowered plasma triglycerides, possibly by modulating hepatic lipid synthesis. Human trials are sparse; a pilot study in overweight adults (Panahi et al., 2017) found some improvement in triglyceride levels after IMOs supplementation, but results were not statistically significant or conclusive. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews of prebiotic fibers more broadly indicate that some fibers can modestly lower triglycerides, but IMOs-specific data are lacking and less robust compared to better-studied fibers like inulin. Overall, while there is some preliminary scientific evidence suggesting IMOs might help reduce high triglycerides, the current body of research is small and not yet definitive. More well-controlled human clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy and establish mechanisms. Thus, support for using IMOs to treat high triglycerides is based on limited scientific evidence and should be considered preliminary.

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