Nutrients required by the human body include sugars, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, of which sugar is the main source of calories (accounting for 50%). Sugars can be divided into monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose), disaccharides (lactose, sucrose, maltose) and polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, etc). Babies are mainly fed breast milk and formula milk powder, in which the main sugar is lactose. Therefore, when lactase is deficient, it will cause indigestion and even diarrhea, eventually leading to malnutrition.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS), as a kind of prebiotic, are often added to foods such as infant formula milk powder. Parents should be familiar with these two sugars, so adding them in What exactly does milk powder do? What is the difference between the two sugars?

Functions of fructooligosaccharides (FOS)

Oligofructose is a natural active substance. Its sweetness is 0.3-0.6 times that of sucrose. It not only maintains the pure sweetness of sucrose, but also tastes lighter than sucrose. It has the health functions of regulating intestinal flora, proliferating bifidobacteria, promoting calcium absorption, regulating blood lipids, regulating immunity, and resisting dental caries.

Function of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)

Galacto-oligosaccharide is made of whey and refined by enzymatic synthesis, spray drying and other processes to form a milky white or slightly yellow powder. It is a functional oligosaccharide of breast milk. Galacto-oligosaccharide has a strong proliferation effect on the probiotics in the intestines. It also has the same effect as plant fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and improve intestinal function. Galacto-oligosaccharide is quite stable to heat and acid, and can meet the requirements of various food processing techniques.

The difference between the two materials

Galacto-oligosaccharides have strong acid and heat resistance, and will not lose their original properties due to high-temperature sterilization and decomposition by human gastric acid during processing, while oligofructose does not have these properties. Galacto-oligosaccharides can be effectively used by both Bifidobacterium B bacteria and Lactobacillus A bacteria. Oligosaccharides such as FOS can only be used by Lactobacillus A bacteria, but not by Bifidobacterium B bacteria.

In fact, milk powder should contain a variety of sugars, both monosaccharides and polysaccharides. Lactose is the easiest for babies to absorb, but based on the following three points, it is impossible to use 100% lactose in formula milk:

1. Lactose costs are too high;

2. Lactose does not produce as much calories as polysaccharides, but as babies grow older, they need more calories;

3. For Asians, the proportion of babies with lactose intolerance is higher than that of Westerners. Therefore, no one type of sugar should be biased. The ideal formula should contain oligofructose, oligolactose and polysaccharides (such as sucrose).

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are helpful in preventing constipation

Many parents are confused. They usually feed their babies very carefully, so why do their babies still suffer from constipation (how to treat constipation)? Experts say that dietary reasons for infant constipation cannot be ignored.

When you eat a lot of protein but not enough carbohydrates, the intestinal flora will change, the intestinal fermentation process will be reduced, and the stool will tend to be alkaline and dry; if the food contains more carbohydrates, the fermentation bacteria in the intestine will increase, the fermentation effect will increase, and more acid will be produced, the stool will tend to be acidic, frequent and soft; if the food is high in fat and carbohydrates, the stool will be smooth.

Babies who are bottle-fed are more prone to constipation than those who are breastfed. This is because milk contains more calcium and casein, while the content of sugar and starch is relatively low, which easily forms calcium soap after ingestion and causes constipation. If the amount of sugar is insufficient and the intestinal peristalsis is weak, constipation is more likely to occur.

When parents buy milk powder, they can choose formula milk powder with oligofructose (Bifidobacterium proliferation factor) added to feed their babies. Oligofructose can promote the proliferation of bifidobacteria, and the short-chain fatty acids produced can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, increase the moisture of feces, and maintain a certain osmotic pressure, thereby preventing constipation; at the same time, bifidobacteria can produce lactic acid and acetic acid after fermentation in the human intestine, and can improve the utilization rate of calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and promote the absorption of iron and vitamin D; bifidobacteria ferment lactose to produce galactose, which is a component of cerebrosides in the brain nervous system and is closely related to the rapid growth of the baby's brain after birth.