Dietary Fibre in Children – The Impact of Inulin on Health

Dietary fibre is important for child health, yet most UK children fail to meet recommended intakes. This public health issue may have significant implications for gut health, metabolic regulation, and long-term disease prevention. While dietary guidelines recognise the importance of fibre, a key component, inulin, is often overlooked in dietary assessments, meaning its contribution to total fibre intake remains largely invisible.

This session will provide healthcare professionals with an evidence-based understanding of dietary fibre, from its physiological effects to current intake levels in UK children. Dr Gabriela Morillo-Santander will present her research, a feasibility study on estimating inulin intake in school-aged children. You will explore where inulin is found in the typical UK child’s diet, its potential health benefits, and why its inclusion in dietary assessments matters for public health nutrition.

Join Gabriela to:

• Understand the definition, classification, and physiological effects of dietary fibre, and how current recommendations compare to real-world intakes in UK children.
• Discover the role of inulin as a prebiotic fibre, including its main food sources and its contribution to total fibre intake based on recent research.
• Identify key challenges and practical actions to improve fibre and inulin intake in children, with implications for policy and practice.