Yacon and Reduced Body Weight

Research synthesisModerate evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, all reported statistically significant beneficial effects on body weight reduction, with effect sizes ranging from small to large. The median study duration was 81 days (approximately 12 weeks). The most common dose was 0.1–0.14 g FOS/kg/day, studied in overweight and obese adults.

Effective dose range: 0.1–0.14 g FOS/kg/day (equivalent to approximately 25 g yacon flour or yacon syrup providing that amount)
Studied populations: overweight and obese adults

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed).

Generated Jul 15, 2026

Doses used in studies

g/day: 25 (median 25, IQR 25–25) — 1 study
g/kg/day: 0.14 (median 0.14, IQR 0.14–0.14) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 11.6 weeks · IQR 8.8 weeks–3.4 months · Range 6 weeks–4 months — Reported in 2 of 3 studies

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityReported
Daily yacon flour consumption was well tolerated
from: Consumption of yacon flour improves body composition and intestinal function in overweight
gastrointestinal adverse effectsReported
did not cause adverse gastrointestinal effects
from: Consumption of yacon flour improves body composition and intestinal function in overweight

3 of 3 papersPopulation:

Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans.
- 2009-04
- RCT
- Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) 28(2)
- - Susana Genta
  - Wilfredo Cabrera
  - Natalia Habib
  - Juan Pons
  - Iván Manrique Carillo
  - Alfredo Grau
  - Sara Sánchez
- PubMed: 19254816
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.013
10 Insights on
- Reduced Body Weight
- High evidence
- Highly Cited
- Clinical
Daily intake of yacon syrup produced a significant decrease in body weight, waist circumference and body mass index.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
0.14 g fructooligosaccharides/kg/day
Consumption of yacon flour improves body composition and intestinal function in overweight adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
- 2018-12-29
- RCT · n = 13
- Clinical nutrition ESPEN 29
- - Adriane M Machado
  - Nayara B M da Silva
  - José Benício P Chaves
  - Rita de Cássia G Alfenas
- PubMed: 30661690
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.12.082
7 Insights on
- Reduced Body Weight
- High evidence
- Clinical
Daily yacon flour consumption … promoted greater body weight … reduction
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
25 g of yacon flour (0.1 g of FOS/kg body weight)
The Effects of Yacon Consumption on Body Weight and C-reactive Protein: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- 2026-06
- Review · n = 246
- Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental 104
- - Fariborz Porbafrani
  - Mohammad Samadi
  - Karim Parastouei
- PubMed: 41685137
- DOI: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2025.100817
4 Insights on
- Reduced Body Weight
- High evidence
The pooled effect size indicated that yacon intake was associated with weight reduction (weighted mean difference [WMD], -8.22 kg; 95% CI, -16.01 to -0.43; P = .039).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes

Yacon and Reduced Body Weight

Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans.

Consumption of yacon flour improves body composition and intestinal function in overweight adults: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The Effects of Yacon Consumption on Body Weight and C-reactive Protein: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.