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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

A Generalized Method for Determining Free Soluble Phenolic Acid Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Cereals and Legumes
Published on: June 10, 2022
Fructan and free fructose content of common Australian vegetables and fruit
Jane G Muir1, Susan J Shepherd, Ourania Rosella
1Monash University, Department of Medicine, Box Hill Hospital, Victoria 3128, Australia. Jane.Muir@med.monash.edu.au
Abstract:
Fructans are not digested in the small intestines of humans. While many health benefits have been attributed to these carbohydrates, they can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in some individuals. We measured the total fructans in 60 vegetables and 43 fruits using the Megazyme fructan assay. Vegetables with the highest quantity of fructans included garlic, artichoke, shallots, leek bulb, and onions (range, 1.2-17.4 g/100 g fw). Fruits with low, but detectable, fructans included longon, white peach, persimmon, and melon (range, 0.21-0.46 g/100 g fw). The fructan assay was modified to provide an estimate of the average chain length (degree of polymerization) for high fructan vegetables. d-Fructose can also be malabsorbed in the small intestine of humans, so the d-fructose content in some foods was measured to supplement the current food tables. Research in this area will be facilitated through the availability of more comprehensive food composition data.
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