Inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides differ in their ability to enhance the density of cancellous and cortical bone in the axial and peripheral skeleton of growing rats.

Although dietary fructans improve calcium absorption and bone mineral content (BMC) in rats, their effect on calcium bioavailability and bone density may vary with their degree of polymerization. Therefore, for a 3-month period, growing rats received either a control diet or a diet enriched with either oligofructose (OLF) or inulin. At sacrifice, body weight, lean body mass and appendicular bone length were similar in the 3 groups.