Perhaps the best-known nutritional effect of inulin is its stimulation of bifidobacterial growth in the intestine. Feeding beneficial bacteria, such as bifidobacteria, with inulin allows them to ‘‘outcompete’’ potentially detrimental organisms and thereby contribute to the health of the host. Health benefits ascribed to bifidobacteria include the following: inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, stimulating components of the immune system, aiding the absorption of certain ions and the synthesis of B vitamins.