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Fructans

Fructans are fructose polymers. Inulin-type fructans are the linear β(2→1) members. Oligofructose is the short-chain mixture in that family. Longer-chain inulin, oligofructose-enriched inulin, and sucrose-derived fructooligosaccharides are related names, not the same substance.

Inulin

Longer-chain inulin-type fructan. The mouse mucus result used oligofructose-enriched inulin, which is not inulin alone and not oligofructose alone.

Chemical structure

Oligofructose

Short-chain inulin-type fructan mixture. FOS and fructooligosaccharides overlap with this name but are not exact synonyms.