Introduction

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS), also known as oligogalactosyllactose, oligogalactose, oligolactose or transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS), belong to the group of prebiotics. Prebiotics are defined as non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by stimulating the growth and/or activity of beneficial bacteria in the colon. GOS occurs in commercially available products such as food for both infants and adults.

Product series item

• GOS57B

Characteristic

Odorless and Colorless transparent or Slighly yellow and have a less sweet in syrup form.

Application

Because of the configuration of their glycosidic bonds, galactooligo saccharides largely resist hydrolysis by salivary and intestinal digestive enzymes.Galactooligo saccharides are classified as prebiotics, defined as non-digestible food ingredients as substrate for the host by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria in the colon. The increased activity of colonic bacteria results in various effects, both directly by the bacteria themselves or indirectly by producing short-chain fatty acids as byproducts via fermentation. Examples of effects are stimulation of immune functions, absorption of essential nutrients, and synthesis of certain vitamins.

Galactooligo saccharides are a substrate for bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacteriaand lactobacilli. Studies with infants and adults have shown that foods or drinks enriched with galactooligo saccharides result in a significant increase in Bifidobacteria. These sugars can be found naturally in human milk, known as human milk oligosaccharides.