Overview of Yacon
Scientific Name: Smallanthus sonchifolius
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
The sweet tubers (roots) of this plant are prepared as a snack or used to make syrup. The syrup contains a high amount of fructooligosaccharide, an indigestible fructose complex; thus, yacon has little caloric value.
Strong:
insufficient informationGood:
insufficient informationPromising:
insufficient informationConflicting (Unclear):
insufficient informationLimited Evidence:
- Constipation [1]
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, yacon in combination with milk thistle may be effective [2]
- Weight Loss in Obese Pre-Menopausal Women with Insulin Resistance [3]
No Evidence:
insufficient informationNo Clinical Research:
All other conditions.- Bloating
- Avoid or contact a licensed healthcare practitioner, if you have allergies to plants in the family Asteraceae (ragweed, chamomile, etc.).
- Since there is not enough research on the use of supplements containing yacon, use caution or contact a licensed healthcare practitioner.
There is not enough research on the use of supplements containing yacon during pregnancy and breast-feeding, so consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before use or avoid use. [4]
Major:
insufficient informationModerate:
insufficient informationPotential:
insufficient informationYacon is not a "drug", so the best doses have not been thoroughly established. Make sure to follow the specific product instructions and take as directed on the label, or consult a licensed healthcare practitioner before use.
1. Geyer M, Manrique I, Degen L, Beglinger C. Effect of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on colonic transit time in healthy volunteers. Digestion. 2008;78(1):30-3. 2. Valentová K, Stejskal D, Bartek J, Dvorácková S, Kren V, Ulrichová J, Simánek V. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) and yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) in combination with silymarin as food supplements: in vivo safety assessment. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Mar;46(3):1006-13. 3. Genta S, Cabrera W, Habib N, Pons J, Carillo IM, Grau A, Sánchez S. Yacon syrup: beneficial effects on obesity and insulin resistance in humans. Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;28(2):182-7. 4. Geyer M, Manrique I, Degen L, Beglinger C. Effect of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on colonic transit time in healthy volunteers. Digestion. 2008;78(1):30-3. 5. Afendi FM, Okada T, Yamazaki M, Hirai-Morita A, Nakamura Y, Nakamura K, Ikeda S, Takahashi H, Altaf-Ul-Amin M, Darusman LK, Saito K, Kanaya S. KNApSAcK family databases: integrated metabolite-plant species databases for multifaceted plant research. Plant Cell Physiol. 2012 Feb;53(2):e1.