Skip to content
DE
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

Does it speed bowel transit?

In a crossover trial, 16 healthy adults took 20 g syrup daily, supplying 6.4 g FOS, for two weeks. Average transit time fell from about 60 to 38 hours compared with placebo. This is a small study in healthy people, not a definitive constipation trial. 1

What about weight and blood sugar?

A 2025 review describes weight and insulin improvements in one 120-day trial in women with obesity, but other trials did not show changes in body-size measures. The review could not pool the diverse studies. 2

Effects by health goal

Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.

Weight Management2 effects

Blood sugarWeight ManagementModerateBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Weight lossWeight ManagementModerateBNo linked study

No study is linked to this rating.

Rated by SuppCo · medium confidenceEvidence record

Other effects1 effect

ConstipationStrongA3 studies
Impacts of Yacon Syrup (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Scientific Evidence from the Last Decade2025Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) as a Food Supplement: Health-Promoting Benefits of Fructooligosaccharides2016Effect of Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on Colonic Transit Time in Healthy Volunteers2008

Rated by SuppCo · high confidenceEvidence record

All studies

5 publications are linked to Yacon, newest first.

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

Sources