Chicory Root Fiber (Inulin / Oligofructose)
Synonyms/labeling: inulin, oligofructose (FOS from inulin), chicory fiber
Source: root of Cichorium intybus L.
Definition
A dietary-fiber ingredient composed of fructans (β(2→1)-linked fructose chains, often terminating in glucose) extracted from chicory root. Commercial grades differ by degree of polymerization (DP):
Inulin (higher DP, typically ≥10): lower sweetness, stronger structuring/gel capability.
Oligofructose / FOS (DP ~2–9): higher solubility and sweetness (~0.3–0.6 × sucrose).
Caloric value
~2 kcal per gram (8 kJ/g) by EU convention; lower energy than available sugars.
Indicative composition (typical ranges)
Total fructans (inulin + FOS): ≥85–95% (dry basis, grade-dependent)
Moisture: ≤5–8% (powders); syrups 20–35% water
Ash/minerals: ≤1%
Free sugars (fructose/glucose/sucrose): trace–few %, process-dependent
Techno-functional properties
Solubility: high for FOS, moderate for long-chain inulin; increases with temperature.
Sweetness: low–moderate (FOS > inulin).
Bulking: replaces sugar/fat solids with fewer calories; improves body.
Gelation / fat-mimetic: high-DP inulin forms microcrystalline gels that mimic fat, enhancing creaminess and mouthfeel.
Crystallization control: helps inhibit sugar crystallization in candies/jams; modestly lowers water activity.
Prebiotic soluble fiber: bifidogenic, slight viscosity, good water binding.
Thermal/pH stability: stable in neutral to mildly acidic systems; at pH <3.5 and high heat it hydrolyzes toward shorter FOS/monosugars.
Manufacturing overview
Washed, sliced chicory roots → hot-water extraction → clarification (filtration, decolorization, ion exchange) → concentration → spray drying (powders) or standardization (syrups). Oligofructose may be produced by partial enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin or via enzymatic synthesis from sucrose.
Primary applications
Bakery & snacks: raise fiber, reduce sugars/fats, improve moistness and freshness (anti-staling).
Dairy & plant-based: yogurts, frozen desserts, creams, and beverages for creaminess and body; emulsion stabilization.
Confectionery/bars: bulking with moderate sweetness (FOS); synergy with polyols and high-intensity sweeteners.
Beverages: low-DP FOS for fiber addition with low turbidity (verify acid stability/solubility).
Sauces/dressings/mayonnaise: fat reduction while maintaining mouthfeel.
Formulation guidelines (indicative)
Bread/bakery: 3–10% on flour/solids; increase water +2–6%. Use long-chain inulin for structure, FOS for sweetness/softness.
Dairy/plant-based: 2–6% inulin for creaminess; in ice cream 3–8% to cut fat/sugars and manage ice crystals.
Beverages: 1–4% FOS; evaluate pH 3–4 stability and clarify via homogenization.
Dressings: 2–6% inulin; apply high shear for a smooth fat-mimetic gel.
Bars/confectionery: 5–30% combined with low-GI syrups/polyols; manage aw and texture.
Nutrition & physiology
Prebiotic effect: supports Bifidobacterium/Lactobacillus, contributes to regularity, and may aid glycemic and lipid modulation (dose-dependent).
Glycemic index: low (minimal available sugars).
GI tolerance: large single intakes can cause bloating/flatulence (colonic fermentation). Typical single-tolerance ranges: sensitive individuals 3–5 g, general population up to 8–10 g; daily intake 5–15 g divided across meals improves tolerance.
FODMAP: fructans are FODMAPs—titrate dose for IBS-sensitive consumers.
Regulatory & labeling
Recognized as dietary fiber (EU/US) with documented physiological benefits.
Allergens: none inherent; naturally gluten-free (keep cross-contact controls for GF claims).
Labeling: “inulin (from chicory)”, “chicory root fiber”, or “oligofructose” per grade.
EU claims on finished foods: “source of fiber” ≥ 3 g/100 g; “high in fiber” ≥ 6 g/100 g.
Quality & specifications (typical themes)
Declared fructan content (e.g., ≥90% for high-purity grades).
Controlled average DP (drives gel strength, sweetness, solubility).
Neutral color/odor; compliant heavy metals/residues; low microbiological counts.
Limited acid/thermal hydrolysis during processing.
Storage & shelf life
Store dry, airtight, protected from heat/humidity (hygroscopic) and odors; syrups in barrier containers.
Typical shelf life: ~24 months unopened; avoid prolonged hot storage to limit hydrolysis.
Troubleshooting
Graininess/instability in acidic drinks: switch to lower-DP FOS, dissolve hot, optimize pH 3–4, and homogenize.
Insufficient sweetness: blend with high-intensity sweeteners or small amounts of sugars.
Excess thickness: reduce high-DP inulin or split between inulin and FOS; adjust water.
GI tolerance issues: gradual introduction, split doses, consume with meals.
Conclusion
Chicory root fiber (inulin/FOS) is a multifunctional, prebiotic ingredient delivering bulking at reduced calories, creaminess/fat-mimetic effects, and sugar reduction support across many applications. By selecting the appropriate DP and managing dose/process, formulators can balance sweetness, solubility, texture, and tolerance to create stable, enjoyable low-sugar / high-fiber foods and beverages.
Studies
Its roots have been isolated polyphenols (1) and terpenoids (2) in discrete amounts and the content of inulin (a low-calorie polysaccaride used as a sugar substitute) reaches up to 40%.
Chicory manages to accumulate in its interior esters of coffee acid, interesting components for human health (3) and has as its main characteristic the effect of reducing the content of uric acid in the human body (4)
This vegetable is commonly used as a salad or as a coffee substitute.
Chicory is grown on a large scale and is a plant that can be genetically modified with CRISPR/Cas9 technology (5).
The most common chicory is Cichorium intybus L., but there is also red chicory (Cichorium intybus) which has excellent antioxidant properties.
Chicory studies
References_________________________________________________
(1) Malarz J, Stojakowska A, Kisiel W. Long-term cultured hairy roots of chicory-a rich source of hydroxycinnamates and 8-deoxylactucin glucoside. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2013 Dec;171(7):1589-601. doi: 10.1007/s12010-013-0446-1.
Abstract. A 12-year-old hairy root culture of Cichorium intybus L., a callus culture of the plant as well as roots and leaves of a wild plant of chicory, and roots of two C. intybus L. var. sativum cultivars were examined in respect of their hydroxycinnamate and sesquiterpene lactone compositions and contents. Total phenolics and diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of the examined plant tissues were also analyzed. The most active in radical scavenging were extracts from the hairy roots and leaves of chicory. 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid was the major antioxidant present in the hairy roots. Its content in the root biomass reached 5.5 %, calculated on a dry weight basis. 8-Deoxylactucin glucoside (crepidiaside A) was the major sesquiterpene lactone in the hairy roots. Its content reached 1.4 %, calculated on a dry weight basis, and was nearly two orders of magnitude higher than that in the roots of wild chicory plant. The glucosidic derivative of 8-deoxylactucin constituted over 85 % of the total sesquiterpene lactone content in the long-term cultured hairy roots of chicory. Aglycone of this compound was reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of hydroxycinnamates in callus and hairy root cultures of C. intybus were undertaken for the first time.
(2) Delporte M, Bernard G, Legrand G, Hielscher B, Lanoue A, Molinié R, Rambaud C, Mathiron D, Besseau S, Linka N, Hilbert JL, Gagneul D J A BAHD neofunctionalization promotes tetrahydroxycinnamoyl spermine accumulation in the pollen coat of the Asteraceae family. Exp Bot. 2018 Nov 26;69(22):5355-5371. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ery320
Abstract. In eudicotyledons, accumulation of trihydroxycinnamoyl spermidine that is restricted to the pollen wall constitutes an evolutionary conserved trait. However, the role of this compound, which is synthetized by the BAHD enzyme spermidine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (SHT), is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that this particular phenolamide is replaced by tetrahydroxycinnamoyl spermine in the pollen coat of the Asteraceae. Phylogenetic analyses combined with quantitative RT-PCR experiments allowed the identification of two homologous genes from Cichorium intybus (chicory) putatively involved in its metabolism. In vitro biochemical characterization of the two enzymes, named CiSHT1 and CiSHT2, confirmed the capability of recombinant proteins to synthesize spermine as well as spermidine derivatives. The wild-type metabolic phenotype was partially restored in an Arabidopsis sht mutant expressing CiSHT2. Strikingly, the transgenic plants also accumulated spermine derivatives that were absent in the wild-type. Overexpression of CiSHT2 in chicory hairy roots led to the accumulation of spermine derivatives, confirming its in vivo function. Complementary sequence analyses revealed the presence of an amino acid motif typical of the SHTs among the BAHD enzyme family. Our results highlight a recent neofunctionalization among the SHTs that has promoted the emergence of new phenolamides in the Asteraceae, which could potentially have contributed to the evolutionary success of this family.
(3) Guillaume Legrand, Marianne Delporte, Chahinez Khelifi, Adeline Harant, Christophe Vuylsteker, Monika Mörchen, Philippe Hance, Jean-Louis Hilbert, and David Gagneul Identification and Characterization of Five BAHD Acyltransferases Involved in Hydroxycinnamoyl Ester Metabolism in Chicory Front Plant Sci. 2016; 7: 741. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00741
Abstract. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) accumulates caffeic acid esters with important significance for human health. In this study, we aim at a better understanding of the biochemical pathway of these bioactive compounds. Detailed metabolic analysis reveals that C. intybus predominantly accumulates caftaric and chicoric acids in leaves, whereas isochlorogenic acid (3,5-diCQA) was almost exclusively accumulated in roots. Chlorogenic acid (3-CQA) was equally distributed in all organs. Interestingly, distribution of the four compounds was related to leaf age. Induction with methyljasmonate (MeJA) of root cell suspension cultures results in an increase of 3-CQA and 3,5-diCQA contents. Expressed sequence tag libraries were screened using members of the BAHD family identified in Arabidopsis and tobacco as baits. The full-length cDNAs of five genes were isolated. Predicted amino acid sequence analyses revealed typical features of BAHD family members. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli showed that two genes encode HCTs (hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferases, HCT1 and HCT2) whereas, three genes encode HQTs (hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:quinate hydroxycinnamoyltransferases, HQT1, HQT2, and HQT3). These results totally agreed with the phylogenetic analysis done with the predicted amino acid sequences. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene expression indicated that HQT3, HCT1, and HCT2 might be more directly associated with CQA accumulation in cell culture in response to MeJA elicitation. Transient expression of HCT1 and HQT1 in tobacco resulted in a higher production of 3-CQA. All together these data confirm the involvement of functionally redundant genes in 3-CQA and related compound synthesis in the Asteraceae family.
(4) Bian M, Lin Z, Wang Y, Zhang B, Li G, Wang H. Bioinformatic and Metabolomic Analysis Reveal Intervention Effects of Chicory in a Quail Model of Hyperuricemia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Dec 3;2018:5730385. doi: 10.1155/2018/5730385.
Abstract. Background. Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a kind of a metabolic disease that seriously threatens human health worldwide. Chicory, a natural herbal medicine, has an obvious effect of reducing uric acid. The aim of this study is to explore the potential components and pharmacological pathways that may play a role in hypouricemia activity of chicory. Bioinformatics and metabonomics were applied to this research. Firstly, component-target network was used to identify possible components related to the pharmacological properties and their corresponding mechanisms pathway of chicory. Afterwards, animal pharmacodynamic experiments were performed. Blood and stool samples were collected for untargeted metabolomic analysis by dint of UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS methods, and principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were performed for the pattern recognition and characteristic metabolites identification. Significant enriched function pathways were used in bioinformatics suggesting that chicory might have the effect of regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes. PLS-DA analysis was applied to discover differentiating metabolites, and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that chicory had powerful effects of glycosylphosphatidylinositol- (GPI-) anchor biosynthesis, inositol phosphate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Combining bioinformatics and metabolomics results, we consider that chicory may develop on lowering uric acid by adjusting lipid metabolism. In addition, we chose quail as animal model innovatively and discussed the treatment of hyperuricemia with chicory in multiple methods, which may render reference for the research of HUA.
(5) Bernard G, Gagneul D, Alves Dos Santos H, Etienne A, Hilbert JL, Rambaud C. Efficient Genome Editing Using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Chicory. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 6;20(5). pii: E1155. doi: 10.3390/ijms20051155.
Abstract. CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated with protein CAS9) is a genome-editing tool that has been extensively used in the last five years because of its novelty, affordability, and feasibility. This technology has been developed in many plant species for gene function analysis and crop improvement but has never been used in chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). In this study, we successfully applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis to chicory using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation and protoplast transfection methods. A U6 promoter (CiU6-1p) among eight predicted U6 promoters in chicory was selected to drive sgRNA expression. A binary vector designed to induce targeted mutations in the fifth exon of the chicory phytoene desaturase gene (CiPDS) was then constructed and used to transform chicory. The mutation frequency was 4.5% with the protoplast transient expression system and 31.25% with A. rhizogenes-mediated stable transformation. Biallelic mutations were detected in all the mutant plants. The use of A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation seems preferable as the regeneration of plants is faster and the mutation frequency was shown to be higher. With both transformation methods, foreign DNA was integrated in the plant genome. Hence, selection of vector (transgene)-free segregants is required. Our results showed that genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 system can be efficiently used with chicory, which should facilitate and accelerate genetic improvement and functional biology.
Chicory Root Fiber 
