Abstract
Rationale: Research has shown that the behavioural effects of inulin vary depending on dose, whether combined with food or not, and length of time that the inulin is consumed.
 
 Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of 13g of inulin on digestive symptoms, mood and cognitive performance. 
 
 Methods: This study compared 13g of inulin and maltodextrin placebo over a single day using a cross-over design (N=51), with a measurement of mood and cognition occurring across the day. 
 
 Results: Inulin increased the number of motions occurring and the number of stools passed. Inulin was associated with a more negative mood and impaired cognition, especially episodic memory. 
 
 Conclusions: Inulin can influence behaviour through a variety of mechanisms. Effects seen in this study could not reflect changes in gut flora due to the short time period studied. Other possible mechanisms are discussed.
Highlights
The starting point for the present research was a study investigating the effects of high fibre breakfast cereal on mental energy (Smith et al, 2010a)
The beneficial effects of a high fibre diet did reflect the reduction in digestive problems (Smith, 2010). This led to consideration of other underlying mechanisms and one possibility was that wheat bran has a prebiotic effect which could lead to beneficial behavioural changes
The hypothesis that wheat bran stimulates beneficial bacteria in the colon has been shown to be incorrect (Smith, Deaville and Gibson 2018) but it led to consideration of established prebiotics such as inulin
Summary
The starting point for the present research was a study investigating the effects of high fibre breakfast cereal on mental energy (Smith et al, 2010a). Smith (2010a, 2011) conducted secondary analyses of a large epidemiological database (Smith et al, 2000) and found that digestive symptoms had a negative impact on wellbeing This finding confirms results showing impaired cognition in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (Berrill et al, 2013; Kennedy et al, 2014). The beneficial effects of a high fibre diet did reflect the reduction in digestive problems (Smith, 2010) This led to consideration of other underlying mechanisms and one possibility was that wheat bran has a prebiotic effect (stimulates beneficial bacteria in the colon) which could lead to beneficial behavioural changes. The hypothesis that wheat bran stimulates beneficial bacteria in the colon has been shown to be incorrect (Smith, Deaville and Gibson 2018) but it led to consideration of established prebiotics such as inulin
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