Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation [30•] and there is evidence that prebiotics may act to reduce this state. The hypothesis is that SCFA resulting from prebiotic fermentation in the gut can reduce intestinal permeability with concomitant reduction in levels of circulating inflammatory mediators, notably bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) [30•]. Consumption of inulin-enriched pasta reduced intestinal permeability as determined by the lactulose-mannitol excretion assay [31] and this was correlated with lower zonulin but higher GLP-2 expression. These peptides regulate tight junction integrity and have been shown to be modulated by prebiotic fermentation in animal models [30•]. The Dewulf study [23] also measured serum LPS and the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP) and found that both were reduced on consumption of OF. A mixture of OF and inulin has shown positive effects in a study of women with type-2 diabetes [32] where 52 women with type-2 diabetes were fed 10 g OF + inulin per day or a maltodextrin placebo. Plasma LPS was significantly decreased and a non-significant effect was seen with CRP. Volunteers on the fructans also exhibited lower plasma glucose levels and lower glycosylated haemoglobin levels. Significant reductions were found in IL-6 and TNFα and a non-significant decrease in interferon-γ and increase in IL-10 were also seen.