Prebiotic Oligosaccharides

Abstract

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed alacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) formulations selectively promote growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria species by tailoring oligosaccharide chain lengths.

Full Description

This technology provides specialized galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) compositions enriched for specific degrees of polymerization (DP) that preferentially stimulate growth of target Bifidobacterium species in the gastrointestinal tract. By adjusting the distribution of oligosaccharide chain lengths (e.g., DP3, DP4-5, DP6-8) and reducing undesired mono- and disaccharides, these purified GOS preparations enhance colonization of beneficial gut bacteria such as B. breve, B. longum subspecies infantis and longum, and B. adolescentis. The compositions can be incorporated into diverse food and dietary supplement products, including infant formula, follow-on formula, toddler beverages, and probiotics, thereby supporting gut health, immunity, and potentially alleviating gastrointestinal disorders.

Applications

• Prebiotic dietary supplements targeting gut microbiome optimization. 
• Infant nutrition products, including enhanced infant and follow-on formulas. 
• Toddler beverages and pediatric nutrition supplements. 
• Functional foods and nutraceuticals for adult and elderly gut health. 
• Pharmaceutical formulations addressing gastrointestinal diseases and immune support. 
• Animal feed additives for improved digestive health and microbiota management. 
• Probiotic-prebiotic combination formulations for synbiotic therapies.

Features/Benefits

• Selectively stimulates specific Bifidobacteria species by tailoring GOS chain lengths. 
• Reduces monosaccharide and lactose content to enhance bifidogenic efficacy. 
• Increases thermal and pH stability for versatile food applications. 
• Enables synergistic gut flora modulation through compatibility with probiotic co-formulation. 
• Employs scalable enzymatic synthesis and purification for consistent production quality. 
• Serves infants, adults, elderly, and animals with varied microbiome needs. 
• Supports management of gastrointestinal conditions like IBS, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and colon cancer prevention. 
• Enables selective enrichment of beneficial bifidobacteria within complex microbiota. 
• Overcomes limitations of existing GOS products with non-optimized oligosaccharide profiles. 
• Reduces competing monosaccharide content found in conventional formulations. 
• Provides tailored prebiotic compositions to address age-specific microbiome requirements. 
• Addresses challenges in analyzing GOS fermentation and bacterial substrate preferences. 
• Improves prebiotic efficacy by regulating oligosaccharide size distribution.

Patent Status