Tag: Milk oligosaccharides

While chemically identical at its core, lactose is present in different concentrations in human and cow milk. The higher amount of lactose in human milk, for instance, plays a crucial role in infant brain development, setting it apart from its bovine counterpart. This distinction extends beyond mere quantity, affecting overall nutritional profiles and infant digestive health.

With concentrations of 5–15 grams per liter, human milk contains significantly more oligosaccharides than most other mammals. This raises the question: does milk contain oligosaccharides from other sources like cows, and what are the functional differences?

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are a class of prebiotic carbohydrates that are found naturally in milk, but are also commercially synthesized from lactose, a sugar present in dairy products. Their ability to resist digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract allows them to reach the colon intact, where they selectively fuel beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria. This unique property has made understanding where do galactooligosaccharides come from increasingly important for the functional food industry.