Advance Search

Potential Of Jicama as A Synbiotic Product For Stunted Children: A Narrative Literature Review

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53823/jgn.v6i1.214
Article History

Submited : May 21, 2026
Published : May 28, 2026

Keywords:

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem associated not only with inadequate nutrient intake but also with imbalances in gut microbiota and digestive tract disorders. One potential strategy to improve this condition is the development of synbiotic beverages based on local food sources, such as jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus), which contains natural prebiotics, including inulin and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). This study aimed to examine the potential of jicama as a prebiotic source in the development of synbiotic beverages for stunted children. This study employed a narrative literature review method through article searches in PubMed/NCBI, ResearchGate, Taylor & Francis, MDPI, and Google Scholar databases. The keywords used included “stunting,” “gut microbiota,” “synbiotic,” “prebiotic,” and “jicama.” Articles published between 2016 and 2026 were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review results showed that jicama contains oligosaccharides, inulin, and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) that have the potential to enhance the growth of lactic acid bacteria and support the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). In addition, a synbiotics product may help improve gut microbiota balance and digestive health in stunted children. In conclusion, jicama has the potential to be developed as a functional synbiotic beverage ingredient to support improvements in digestive health in stunted children.

  1. Kalangi R, Suba B, Kabo DR. The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Factors and Parenting Styles and the Risk of Stunting in Children. Dharma Med. 2024;4(2):56–65.
  2. World Health Organization. Levels and trends in child malnutrition. 2025.
  3. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. The 2024 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) in Figures. 2025. 20–22 p.
  4. Asri O:, Bakhtiar A, Azzahra NA, Idrus II, Suhaeb FW, Makassar UN. Exploring the Root Causes of Stunting in Indonesia. SUPREMASI J Pemikiran, Penelit Ilmu-ilmu Sos Huk dan Pengajarannya [Internet]. 2024;19(2):392–9. Available from: http://ojs.unm.ac.id/supremasi/article/view/60897
  5. Kusumo PD. Microbiota Balance in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Stunted Children. Maj Kedokt UKI. 2023;39(1):23–9.
  6. Nireeksha, Maniangat Luke A, Kumari N S, Hegde MN, Hegde NN. Metabolic interplay of SCFA’s in the gut and oral microbiome: a link to health and disease. Front Oral Heal. 2025;6(August).
  7. Zakiy MJ, Dwiloka B, Rizqiati H. The Quality of Bengkuang Synbiotic Beverages Using Lactobacillus fermentum Inoculum with Different Incubation Times. J Teknol Pangan. 2017;1(1):21–4.
  8. Cahyaningtyas FD, Wikandari PR. Article Review: The Potential of Fructooligosaccharides and Inulin from Local Food Sources as Prebiotics. Unesa J Chem. 2022;11(2):97–107.
  9. Jaiswal V, Chauhan S, Lee HJ. The Bioactivity and Phytochemicals of Achyrhizus erosus (L.) urb.: A Multifunctional Underutilized Crop Plant. Antioxidants. 2022;11(1):1–23.
  10. Wangko WS. Physiological aspects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Med Scope J. 2020;2(1):26–35.
  11. Fajri RF, Pato U. The Use of Lactobacillus Plantarum 1 RN2-12112 in the Production of a Synbiotic Beverage Made from Jicama and Red Dragon Fruit Juice. JOM Faperta. 2021;8(2):1–15.
  12. Bhattacharjee A, Burr AHP, Overacre-delgoffe AE, Justin T, Yang D, Huckestein BR, et al. Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Induces Intestinal Regulatory T Cells that Inhibit Local CD4+ T Cell Responses and Impair the Efficacy of Oral Vaccines. PubMed Cent. 2022;54(8):1745–57.
  13. Surono IS, Venema K, Martosudarmo S, Kusumo PD. Effect of a 6-Month Functional Food Intervention on the Microbiota of Stunted Children in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia—A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Parallel Trial. Foods. 2025;14(13):1–17.
  14. Li S, Nor NM, Kaliappan SR. Long-term Effects of Child Nutritional Status on the Accumulation of Health Human Capital. SSM - Popul Heal. 2023 Dec 1;24.
  15. Kristiani, Hendrianingtyas M. The Relationship Between the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and C-Reactive Protein in Neonatal Infections. JNH (Journal Nutr Heal. 2017;5(3):187–94.
  16. Stumpff F, Manneck D. Prebiotics as Modulators of Colonic Calcium and Magnesium Uptake. Acta Physiol. 2025;241(2):1–23.
  17. Budge S, Parker AH, Hutchings PT, Garbutt C. Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Child Stunting. Nutr Rev. 2019;77(4):240–53.
  18. Vélez-Ruiz JF, Hernández T. Development, Characterization, and Stability of a Functional Beverage from Whey. MOJ Food Process Technol. 2024;12(2):140–7.
  19. Gavzy SJ, Kensiski A, Lee ZL, Mongodin EF, Ma B, Bromberg JS. Bifidobacterium Mechanisms of Immune Modulation and Tolerance. Gut Microbes [Internet]. 2023;15(2):1–13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2023.2291164
  20. Yasmina AR, Probosari E. Differences in Fasting Blood Glucose Levels Before and After Administration of Jicama Juice in Women with Prediabetes. J Nutr Coll. 2014;3(4):440–6.
  21. Bhide Kshirsagar S, Takarkhede S, Govind Jha A, Pradeep Jain R, Sunil Jadhav V, Dharmendra Jadhav D. A comprehensive review on dietary fiber and their functional properties in human body. World J Biol Pharm Heal Sci. 2020;2020(03):2582–5542.
  22. Tandon D, Haque MM, Gote M, Jain M, Bhaduri A, Dubey AK, et al. A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response relationship study to investigate efficacy of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on human gut microflora. Sci Rep [Internet]. 2019;9(1):1–15. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41837-3
  23. Mei Z, Yuan J, Li D. Biological activity of Galacto-oligosaccharides: A Review. Front Microbiol. 2022;13(9):1–7.
  24. Desnilasari D, Lestari NPA. Formulation of a Synniotic Beverage with the Addition of Ambon Banana (Musa paradisiaca var. sapientum) Puree and Inulin Using Lactobacillus casei Inoculum. J Agritech. 2014;34(3):257.
  25. Ferdiansyah MR, Santosa E. Cultivation of Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) in Situgede Village, Bogor City. J Pus Inov Masy Juli. 2020;2(5):723–31.
Malik, A., & Harianti, R. (2026). Potential Of Jicama as A Synbiotic Product For Stunted Children: A Narrative Literature Review. Journal of Global Nutrition, 6(1), 894-902. https://doi.org/10.53823/jgn.v6i1.214

Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Global Nutrition

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Fulltext
PDF