Functional Oligosaccharides

Jump to Section

Online Inquiry

Functional oligosaccharides consist of short-chain carbohydrates with 2 to 10 monosaccharide units connected by glycosidic bonds. These non-digestible oligosaccharide compounds withstand breakdown by the gastrointestinal enzymes present in human and animal bodies. These dietary fibers work as fermentable oligosaccharides to promote beneficial gut bacteria growth selectively. Prebiotic oligosaccharides represent a broad category of compounds that enhance intestinal health and support the immune system along with additional functions. Creative Biolabs offers specialized services that cover customized oligosaccharide synthesis and their subsequent characterization and analytical evaluations. Our custom synthesis services for oligosaccharides expedite research efforts focused on functional oligosaccharides and medical applications.

Fig.1 FOSs anticancer mechanism: direct and indirect ways. Fig.1 Anticancer activities of FOSs through direct and indirect mechanisms.¹

Types and Sources of Functional Oligosaccharides

Functional oligosaccharides differ in their monosaccharide composition, linkage type, and natural or synthetic origins.

Type	Source	Notable Features
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)	Bananas, onions, chicory, garlic	Enzymatically or chemically synthesized; supports gut flora
Galactooligosaccharides (GOS)	Human/bovine milk	Mimics human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs); immune-supportive
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS)	Bamboo shoots, corn cobs	High thermal/acid stability; effective bifidogenic activity
Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO)	Starch (via enzymatic hydrolysis)	Mild sweetness; low-calorie bulking agent in foods
Soybean Oligosaccharides (SBOS)	Soybeans	Contain raffinose and stachyose; aid mineral absorption
Chitosan Oligosaccharides (COS)	Chitin (crustacean shells)	Antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory
Mannan Oligosaccharides (MOS)	Yeast cell walls	Prevent pathogen adhesion in animal gut health
Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)	Human breast milk	Prevent bacterial adhesion; shape infant gut microbiota

Biomedical Significance of Functional Oligosaccharides

Gut Microbiota Modulation

As resistant oligosaccharides, these molecules bypass digestion and reach the colon intact, where they undergo fermentation by commensal bacteria. This leads to:

Increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production
Reduced intestinal pH
Suppression of pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli)

Immune Modulation and Disease Prevention

Functional oligosaccharides contribute to innate and adaptive immunity through:

T-cell activation and elevated IgA production
COS induce apoptosis via Bcl-2/Bax pathways, inhibiting tumor
FOS and GOS improve insulin sensitivity, reduce LDL levels, and exhibit potential in managing obesity and type 2 diabetes

Neuroprotective and Anti-inflammatory Activities

Emerging evidence links gut microbiota with brain function—the gut-brain axis. The breakthrough drug GV-971 (oligomannate) targets this axis by:

Reprogramming microbial composition
Reducing neuroinflammation
Reversing cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease

Side Effects of Prebiotic Oligosaccharides

While beneficial, excessive intake of prebiotic oligosaccharides may lead to:

Gas and Bloating: Due to microbial fermentation
Diarrhea: Osmotic effect from unabsorbed sugars
Abdominal Discomfort: Especially in FODMAP-sensitive individuals

Practical Applications in Biomedicine

Functional oligosaccharides are increasingly integrated into:

Drug Development

Anticancer Therapies: COS and fucoidan oligosaccharides regulate inflammation and suppress tumor proliferation.
Neurotherapeutics: HMOs and oligomannates show promise in Alzheimer's treatment.

Functional Foods and Supplements

Infant Formula: GOS and HMOs simulate breast milk benefits.
Prebiotic Nutrition: FOS and XOS enrich health foods for digestive and immune support.

Advanced Delivery Systems

Nano-COS carriers enhance drug solubility and tumor targeting.
Cyclodextrins stabilize active compounds in formulation pipelines.

Glycomic Diagnostics

Structural profiling of oligosaccharides aids biomarker discovery for diseases like cancer and metabolic disorders.

Our Glyco-Solutions at Creative Biolabs

We are proud to support your glycoscience innovations with an integrated service portfolio, tailored to the complex demands of oligosaccharide research. Whether you're developing a new prebiotic supplement or an oligosaccharide-based therapeutic, we're here to support your ideas from concept to bench—and beyond.

Creative Biolabs Services	Highlights
Custom Oligosaccharide Synthesis	Tailor-made FOS, GOS, HMOs, COS, etc., from milligram to gram scale
Oligosaccharides Analysis	Advanced HPAEC-PAD, CE, and HPLC platforms for purity, composition, and isomeric form assessments
Glycan Profiling	In-depth profiling for functional validation and therapeutic consistency

Research Advances and Future Prospects

Recent studies on functional oligosaccharides have expanded their therapeutic relevance:

COS modulate apoptotic pathways, suppressing lung tumor cell growth.
GV-971's Phase III trials show measurable cognitive improvements in Alzheimer's patients.
COS and fucoidan oligosaccharides lower blood glucose, lipids, and uric acid.
Enzymatic methods now offer eco-friendly and scalable production, including xanthan lyase-mediated synthesis of novel oligosaccharides.

Functional oligosaccharides bridge nutrition and therapeutics, offering a naturally inspired avenue for modulating microbiota, enhancing immunity, and managing complex diseases. Our team at Creative Biolabs supports cutting-edge glycoscience breakthroughs through advanced synthesis capabilities and innovative analytics methods. Contact our glycobiology specialists who will help you launch your oligosaccharide project with assurance.

FAQs

Q: What are prebiotic oligosaccharides?

A: Prebiotic oligosaccharides represent a unique class of non-digestible carbohydrates that remain unchanged as they move through both the stomach and small intestine. Beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus use prebiotic oligosaccharides as food sources once these substances reach the colon. Prebiotic oligosaccharides enhance gut health and immune support while decreasing harmful bacterial levels through selective support of beneficial microbes. Creative Biolabs delivers integrated services to create and examine prebiotic oligosaccharides customized for application in research projects and food or pharmaceutical productions.

Q: What are functional oligosaccharides?

A: Functional oligosaccharides are short-chain sugars made up of 2–10 monosaccharides which provide health benefits beyond their nutritional value. These compounds are not digested by human enzymes yet display positive impacts through gut microbiota modulation, immune enhancement, and inflammation reduction. GOS, FOS, and HMOs are extensively studied because of their importance in metabolic regulation and disease prevention. Creative Biolabs drives advanced functional oligosaccharide research with our custom synthesis capabilities combined with structural analysis and glycoengineering solutions.

References

Wang, Min, et al. "Fucoidan-derived functional oligosaccharides: Recent developments, preparation, and potential applications." Foods 12.4 (2023): 878. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12040878