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Botanical

Yacon

Yacon is an Andean root crop. Its syrup contains fructooligosaccharides, or FOS, carbohydrates studied for their effects on gut bacteria.

Also listed as Smallanthus Sonchifolius, Yacon Syrup, Aicama, Jicama

Gut HealthWeight Management

What it is studied for

The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.

ConstipationStrongA3 studies
Microbiome healthGut HealthStrongA3 studies
Blood sugarWeight ManagementModerateBNo linked study
Weight lossWeight ManagementModerateBNo linked study
Gut healthModerateBNo linked study
Every rating with its studiesGrouped by health goal, with the publications behind each rating

What is yacon?

Yacon is an Andean root crop. Its syrup contains fructooligosaccharides, or FOS, carbohydrates studied for their effects on gut bacteria. 1

Key studies

The most recent publications linked to Yacon's ratings.

Impacts of Yacon Syrup (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Scientific Evidence from the Last Decade2025The Potential Prebiotic Effects of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) in Colorectal Cancer2020Phytochemical Properties and Nutrigenomic Implications of Yacon as a Potential Source of Prebiotic: Current Evidence and Future Directions2018Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) as a Food Supplement: Health-Promoting Benefits of Fructooligosaccharides2016Effect of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on Colonic Transit Time in Healthy Volunteers2008

Why people take it

Gut Health20.3%
Immune Support15.7%
Energy14.6%
Essential Health13.8%
Detox12.3%
Weight Management11.1%

SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.

Questions people ask

Did faster transit mean more bowel movements?

Stool frequency and consistency did not improve significantly in the transit trial. 1

Is every syrup equivalent?

The trial specified both syrup weight and FOS content; grams of syrup alone do not reproduce that specification. 2

Is long-term safety settled?

The review identifies long-term safety and optimal dosing as unresolved. 1

Sources