NANP Board Practice Exam

Fructooligosaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that is resistant to digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which includes the stomach and small intestine. They are not broken down until they reach the large intestine. In fact, it is in the large intestine where these compounds undergo fermentation by beneficial bacteria. This fermentation process supports the growth of probiotics and contributes to gut health, exemplifying their role as prebiotics. Therefore, the primary site where fructooligosaccharides escape degradation and exert their prebiotic effects is in the large intestine, as they help in promoting a healthy microbiome.