2. Beneficial Aspects of Inulin Supplementation as a Fructooligosaccharide Prebiotic in Monogastric Animal Nutrition – A Review

Inulin is widely used as a prebiotic additive in the nutrition of farm animals and pets. This fructooligosaccharide demonstrates a beneficial effect on host health by stimulating the growth and development of commensal bacterial species inhabiting the large intestine. Used for example in the feeding of piglets, inulin greatly enhances their daily body weight gains and also reduces the risk of anemia (Tako et al., 2008). In poultry, in the case of meat breeds, inulin provides better feed utilization, increases the daily gains and the final carcass weight (Ammerman et al., 1988). In laying hens, it positively stimulates the production of eggs (Chen et al., 2005). The addition of prebiotics in the diet of dogs has a positive effect on the concentration of the end products of sugar and protein fermentation in the colon, thus contributing to the health status and good condition of the animal (Flickinger et al., 2003 b; Middelbos et al., 2007). Moreover, inulin beneficially affects the efficiency of the immune system of the organism (including the anticarcinogenic properties) (Kelly-Quagliana et al., 1998), as well as lipids and the cholesterol metabolism by effectively reducing their concentrations in the blood serum (Grela et al., 2014 a). This paper characterizes inulin as a prebiotic additive in the diet of selected species of monogastric animals. In addition, data about the hypolipidemic and immunostimulatory properties of inulin are presented.