Metabolic & Cardiometabolic
inulin decreases insulin resistance
Part of: 🧪 inulin-type fructans
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
Prebiotic / inulin-type fibre improves glycemia and insulin resistance.
The evidence (6)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inulin-t2d-2019 2019 · Journal of translational medicine | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Inulin-type fructans ↓FPG/HbA1c/HOMA-IR dose-dependently (33 RCTs). |
| Zuccotti G, Gatti A, Rossi V, Cordaro E, Calcaterra V 2026 · Front Nutr | meta-analysis | tested-null | low | Systematic review + network meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD420251151333; 68 randomised and non-randomised trials overall, inulin studies all adult, inulin-arm count not stated in text read) in overweight/obesity. Inulin vs placebo: HOMA-IR SMD -0.47 (95% CI -1.85 to 0.91); fasting glucose SMD -0.16 (-0.95 to 0.63). Underpowered trend: point estimates favour inulin, intervals wide and include zero, I2 92.3-96.4% across glycemic outcomes. Authors: no meaningful change in fasting glucose or insulin resistance at ~10 g/day; dose-response reached the fasting-insulin target at 8,858 mg/day. |
| Iino C, Mikami K, Furusawa K, Sato S, Yoshida K, Yamaguchi T, Bushita H, Kinoshita K, Matsui Y, Imoto S, Iwane T, Tamada Y, Murashita K, Nakaji S, Mikami T, Sakuraba H 2026 · Nutrients | RCT | mixed | moderate | 12wk DB-RCT, adults w/ visceral obesity (n=91). Catechin 400mg+inulin 2.3g/d vs placebo. HOMA-IR: -0.32 vs +0.18 (p=0.020). VFA, other secondary markers NS. Inulin dose low, confounded by catechin. |
| Juhasz 2023 · Am J Clin Nutr | meta-analysis | mixed | moderate | Bayesian network MA of 46 RCTs / 2685 T2D patients ranking 16 fibres - inulin is not named in any reported result. 'With regard to fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR, beta-glucans (SUCRA: 73.45%), and psyllium (SUCRA: 96.67%) were the most effective interventions'; 'Galactomannans had the highest effect on reducing the levels of HbA1c (SUCRA: 92.33%) and fasting blood glucose (SUCRA: 85.92%).' Supports the soluble-fibre class premise while placing inulin-type fibre behind galactomannans, beta-glucans and psyllium on every glycemic and insulin-resistance outcome; SUCRA is a relative rank, not an effect vs control, and 'Most comparisons had a low or moderate certainty of evidence.' Abstract-only read. |
| inulin-t2d-2020 2020 · Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Inulin ↓FPG SMD -0.55, ↓HOMA-IR (9 RCTs). |
| Chen S, Zhang L, Zong A, Gan Z, Zhang X, Du F, Liu H, Xu T 2026 · Nutrition journal | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | MA of 13 RCTs (952 participants), resistant dextrin vs control. FBG: WMD -0.15 mmol/L (95%CI -0.30,-0.00; p=.049; I2=77.5%). HOMA-IR: WMD -0.51 (95%CI -0.93,-0.09; p=.02; I2=25%, 7 trials/332). FBI NS; HbA1c borderline NS (p=.07). Benefit g |
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