Inulin

Identification

Generic Name
Inulin
DrugBank Accession Number
DB00638
Background

A starch found in the tubers and roots of many plants. Since it is hydrolyzable to fructose, it is classified as a fructosan. It has been used in physiologic investigation for determination of the rate of glomerular function.

Type
Biotech
Groups
Approved, Investigational, Nutraceutical
Synonyms
  • Inulin

Pharmacology

Indication

Historically used in an important medical test of renal function, specifically a measure of glomerular filtration rate. Sometimes used to help relieve symptoms of diabetes mellitus - a condition characterised by hyperglycemia and/or hyperinsulinemia.

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Pharmacodynamics

The inulin test is a procedure by which the filtering capacity of the glomeruli (the main filtering structures of the kidney) is determined by measuring the rate at which inulin, the test substance, is cleared from blood plasma. Inulin is one of the more suitable and accurate substance to measure because it is a small, inert polysaccharide molecule that readily passes through the glomeruli. The inulin clearance test is performed by injecting inulin, waiting for it to be distributed, and then measuring plasma and urine inulin concentrations by various assays. As nutraceutical agents inulins may have antitumor, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic actions. They may also help to improve mineral absorption and balance and may have antiosteoporotic activity.

Mechanism of action

As a diagnostic agent, inulin is readily soluble and essentially indigestible. It readily passes through the blood and into the urine. It is neither secreted nor resorbed by the kidney making it an excellent indicator for renal clearance rates. The inulin clearance test has largely been succeeded by the creatinine clearance test as a measure of glomerular filtration rate.

Inulin is a hypoglycemic agent. Since it is not digestible by human enzymes ptyalin and amylase, inulin passes through much of the digestive system intact. It is only in the colon that bacteria metabolise inulin, with the release of significant quantities of carbon dioxide and/or methane. Because inulin is not broken down into simple sugars (monosaccharides) by normal digestion, it does not elevate blood sugar levels, hence, helping diabetics regulate blood sugar levels.

TargetActionsOrganism
NCycloinulo-oligosaccharide fructanotransferase
binder
Paenibacillus macerans
Absorption

Poorly absorbed, passes through to urine unmetabolized

Volume of distribution

Not Available

Protein binding

None

Metabolism

Metabolized into carbon dioxide and methane by colonic bacteria

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Route of elimination

Not Available

Half-life

2-4 hours

Clearance

Not Available

Adverse Effects
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Toxicity

Not Available

Pathways
Not Available
Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs
Not Available

Interactions

Drug Interactions
This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.
Not Available
Food Interactions
Not Available

Products

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Unapproved/Other Products
NameIngredientsDosageRouteLabellerMarketing StartMarketing EndRegionImage
Livita AdultsInulin (500 mg/1mL) + Ascorbic acid (200 mg/1mL) + Biotin (30 ug/1mL) + Calcium citrate tetrahydrate (200 mg/1mL) + Cholecalciferol (10 ug/1mL) + Choline bitartrate (200 mg/1mL) + D-alpha-Tocopherol acetate (20.1 mg/1mL) + Levomefolate calcium (1000 ug/1mL) + Magnesium citrate (100 mg/1mL) + Mecobalamin (2.4 ug/1mL) + Nicotinamide (8 mg/1mL) + Calcium pantothenate (5 mg/1mL) + Pyridoxine hydrochloride (1.7 mg/1mL) + Riboflavin (1.3 mg/1mL) + Thiamine mononitrate (1.2 mg/1mL) + Vitamin A acetate (900 ug/1mL) + Zinc picolinate (2 mg/1mL)LiquidOralPureTek Corporation2023-12-15Not applicableUS flag
Livita ChildrenInulin (166.67 mg/1mL) + Ascorbic acid (66.67 mg/1mL) + Biotin (10 ug/1mL) + Calcium citrate tetrahydrate (66.67 mg/1mL) + Cholecalciferol (3.33 ug/1mL) + Choline bitartrate (66.67 mg/1mL) + D-alpha-Tocopherol acetate (10 mg/1mL) + Levomefolate calcium (333 ug/1mL) + Magnesium citrate (33.33 mg/1mL) + Mecobalamin (0.8 ug/1mL) + Nicotinamide (2.67 mg/1mL) + Calcium pantothenate (1.67 mg/1mL) + Pyridoxine hydrochloride (0.57 mg/1mL) + Riboflavin (0.43 mg/1mL) + Thiamine mononitrate (0.4 mg/1mL) + Vitamin A acetate (300 ug/1mL) + Zinc picolinate (0.67 mg/1mL)LiquidOralPureTek Corporation2023-12-18Not applicableUS flag

Categories

ATC Codes
V04CH01 — Inulin and other polyfructosans
Drug Categories
Classification
Not classified
Affected organisms
  • Humans and other mammals

Chemical Identifiers

UNII
JOS53KRJ01
CAS number
9005-80-5

References

Synthesis Reference

Ernst Hoehn, Curtis J. McKay, E. Donald Murray, "Production of high fructose syrup from inulin involving ultrafiltration." U.S. Patent US4421852, issued July, 1981.

US4421852
General References
  1. Abrams SA, Griffin IJ, Hawthorne KM, Liang L, Gunn SK, Darlington G, Ellis KJ: A combination of prebiotic short- and long-chain inulin-type fructans enhances calcium absorption and bone mineralization in young adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Aug;82(2):471-6. [Article]
  2. Coudray C, Demigne C, Rayssiguier Y: Effects of dietary fibers on magnesium absorption in animals and humans. J Nutr. 2003 Jan;133(1):1-4. [Article]
  3. Coussement PA: Inulin and oligofructose: safe intakes and legal status. J Nutr. 1999 Jul;129(7 Suppl):1412S-7S. [Article]
  4. Roberfroid MB: Introducing inulin-type fructans. Br J Nutr. 2005 Apr;93 Suppl 1:S13-25. [Article]
KEGG Drug
D00171
KEGG Compound
C03323
PubChem Compound
24763
PubChem Substance
46508287
ChemSpider
23149
RxNav
5924
ChEBI
15443
ChEMBL
CHEMBL1201646
Therapeutic Targets Database
DAP001304
PharmGKB
PA450043
Drugs.com
Drugs.com Drug Page
PDRhealth
PDRhealth Drug Page
Wikipedia
Inulin
MSDS
Download (71.2 KB)

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials
PhaseStatusPurposeConditionsCount
4CompletedTreatmentCerebral Palsy (CP) / Chronic Constipation1
4CompletedTreatmentCystic Fibrosis (CF) / Dysbiosis1
4Not Yet RecruitingTreatmentDiabetes, Autoimmune / Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus1
3CompletedDiagnosticKidney Diseases1
2Active Not RecruitingPreventionAntibiotic Resistant Infection / Critically Ill Patients / Hospital Acquired Infections / Nutrition Disorders / Pathogen Transmission / Sepsis1

Pharmacoeconomics

Manufacturers
  • Iso tex diagnostics inc
Packagers
  • Ben Venue Laboratories Inc.
  • Iso Tex Diagnostics Inc.
Dosage Forms
FormRouteStrength
LiquidOral
Prices
Not Available
Patents
Not Available

Properties

State
Solid
Experimental Properties
PropertyValueSource
melting point (°C)178 °CNot Available
water solubility280 mg/mL (at 80 °C), insoluble at room temperatureNot Available

Targets

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Kind
Protein
Organism
Paenibacillus macerans
Pharmacological action
No
Actions
Binder
General Function
Transferase activity
Specific Function
Not Available
Gene Name
cft
Uniprot ID
Q9F0I5
Uniprot Name
Cycloinulo-oligosaccharide fructanotransferase
Molecular Weight
149562.53 Da
References
  1. Overington JP, Al-Lazikani B, Hopkins AL: How many drug targets are there? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Dec;5(12):993-6. [Article]
  2. Imming P, Sinning C, Meyer A: Drugs, their targets and the nature and number of drug targets. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006 Oct;5(10):821-34. [Article]
  3. Kawamura M, Uchiyama T, Kuramoto T, Tamura Y, Mizutani K: Formation of a cycloinulo-oligosaccharide from inulin by an extracellular enzyme of Bacillus circulans OKUMZ 31B. Carbohydr Res. 1989 Oct 23;192:83-90. [Article]
  4. Chen X, Ji ZL, Chen YZ: TTD: Therapeutic Target Database. Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jan 1;30(1):412-5. [Article]

Drug created at June 13, 2005 13:24 / Updated at December 02, 2023 06:53