1. What are fructooligosaccharides?

FOS (fructooligosaccharides) are a prebiotic composed of short chains of fructose derived from plants. Oligofructose is also known as soluble fiber due to its ability to dissolve in water.

The distinguishing features of this type of carbohydrate are that it is slightly sweet and low in calories. Therefore, fructooligosaccharides are considered a sweetener that can be added to foods in place of sugar.

Fructooligosaccharides provide many benefits to human health, especially in children with their ability to support a healthy digestive system, and in the elderly with their ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent atherosclerosis.

Fructooligosaccharides have been studied and approved for:

·Functional food for adults

·Infant formula milk for 6 months and above

·Weaning baby cereal powder

Some outstanding features of fructooligosaccharide soluble fiber:

·It is a soft sticky substance.

·It is not absorbed by the human small intestine, but can be utilized by the flora.

·Converted to gel during digestion.

2. Five noteworthy benefits of Fructooligosaccharides

1). Solve constipation

Fructooligosaccharides ferment in the large intestine to produce gas and water, making stool soft and spongy, helping stool move easily in the intestine.

In addition, this end product of soluble fiber fermentation also stimulates the growth of colonic epithelial cells, promotes the absorption of salt and water in the gastrointestinal tract, and increases the need for food.

Promote intestinal peristalsis, reduce the contact of waste products with the intestines, and help feces be quickly excreted from the digestive system. This mechanism also helps reduce the reabsorption time of water.

Therefore, soluble fiber can solve the problem of constipation in infants and children.

Formula-fed babies are at a higher risk of constipation than breast-fed babies. Therefore, adding fructooligosaccharides to formula milk for children aged 6 months and above overcomes this shortcoming of formula milk.

2). Strengthen intestinal flora

Research shows that fructooligosaccharides are a selective food source for the two main beneficial flora: Bifidobacterium in the large intestine and Lactobacillus in the small intestine.

These probiotics help:

·Inhibit harmful bacteria

·Protect intestinal mucosa

·Helps the digestive system absorb nutrients into the bloodstream

·Relieve or eliminate digestive problems such as constipation or diarrhea

·Produce antibodies to boost your child's immunity.

After entering the human body, fructooligosaccharides are not hydrolyzed in the stomach and small intestine. For the colon, soluble fiber can help beneficial bacteria multiply 50 times while maintaining the balance of intestinal flora.

Thanks to its function of promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, soluble fiber also inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria by excreting lactic acid and acetic acid, lowering the pH value of the internal environment.

Trials showed that infants who drank formula fortified with fructo-oligosaccharides had significantly higher numbers and percentages of Bifidobacteria and lower numbers of Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes a variety of intestinal diseases, compared with other infants.

At the same time, the results did not show any difference when compared to breastfed infants.

This demonstrates that the addition of this prebiotic to infants and infant formula is necessary to help establish the desired microbial profile in infants that is very similar to that of breastfed infants.

3). Regulate baby’s immune system 

As mentioned above, supplementing children with fructo-oligosaccharide soluble fiber can help increase bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut.

These probiotics are involved in preventing pathogenic bacteria from colonizing the intestines, helping to regulate the immune function of the intestines by stimulating gut-associated lymphoid tissue (the largest immune system tissue in the body) and promoting the growth of B lymphocytes.

In addition, when given appropriate amounts of fructooligosaccharides, children's bodies increase the secretion of antibodies, including the immune modulators immunoglobulin A and interferon (IFN).

These cells and antibodies help strengthen the immune system, increase resistance in infants and young children, and help prevent disease:

§neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

§intestinal infection

§Food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens

§Salmonella infection

This soluble fiber also helps children improve their antibacterial abilities by reducing the number of endogenous bacteria in the gut .

4). Reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis in children

Atopic dermatitis in infancy is thought to be related to an underdeveloped immune system. Adding fructooligosaccharides to infants and young children can help enhance intestinal flora and promote the development of the immune system, thereby reducing the risk of atopic dermatitis in children .

5). It has a positive effect on the absorption of calcium and other minerals.

The fermentation of fructo-oligosaccharides produces short-chain fatty acids, which form a mild acidic environment in the large intestine, thereby reducing the pH value of the colon and allowing the body to dissolve and absorb calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, etc. The mineral's ability to help support growth and development in children is increased.

3.People who need to supplement fructooligosaccharides

After understanding what fructooligosaccharides are and the benefits of soluble fiber for children, it is even more necessary to understand when and how to provide children with this prebiotic supplement.

Subjects that need to supplement fructooligosaccharides and methods of providing soluble fiber for infants and young children include:

·Children over 6 months old: This is the first person who needs to supplement fructooligosaccharides. Since breast milk only contains lactose and no fructose, this formula containing soluble fiber needs to be given to infants 6 months and older to reduce constipation and enhance immunity.

·Children in the Early Weaning Stage: Babies often breastfeed less when transitioning to solid foods. If the mother is still not used to the process of giving solid foods to her baby, this can lead to problems with nutritional imbalances. At this time, it is necessary to supplement the child with soluble fiber to strengthen the intestinal flora.

·Constipated children: If the baby has difficulty defecating and the stool is dry and hard, it is necessary to provide the baby with soluble fiber and drink water to make the stool softer and easier to pass through the intestines and excreted.

Some foods containing fructo-oligosaccharide soluble fiber include: bananas, apples, avocados, carrots, asparagus, cabbage, green vegetables, garlic, oatmeal,etc.

In addition, pregnant women can also drink milk with added soluble fiber to reduce the risk of pregnancy before and after delivery of constipation. Older adults should also eat enough fructo-oligosaccharide soluble fiber to control blood sugar and avoid atherosclerosis.