Abstract
Pediatric obesity is a serious national and global health challenge. Interventions aimed at improving obesity and its metabolic complications in children are critically needed. The aim of this thesis was to assess the effects of 16 weeks of oligofructose-enriched inulin consumption on overweight and obese children 7-12 years old. Compared to placebo, prebiotic fiber consumption normalized body weight gain and significantly reduced body weight Z-score, total body fat and trunk body fat percent. Inflammatory markers interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein were numerically reduced within the prebiotic fiber group, albeit not statistically significantly. Changes in the gut microbiota, specifically significant increases in Bifidobacterium spp., were observed with prebiotic fiber and may represent, a mechanism for the metabolic benefits of prebiotic fiber consumption. While future studies are needed, this work highlights a promising role for prebiotic fiber as a dietary obesity intervention in the pediatric population.
