Production and Bioactivity of Oligosaccharides Derived from Lactose

Abstract

In an attempt to offer a broad overview on lactose applications as a source of bioactive carbohydrates, in this chapter the authors have collected the most recent investigations on methods to produce these compounds, which have a positive effect on gut microbiota. Chemical and biological productions of tagatose, lactulose, lactosucrose, lactulosucrose and galactooligosaccharides, among others, have been described. Moreover, their main uses, based on their bioactivity and techno-functional properties, are also shown together with a brief description of purification methods of the mixtures obtained. Particular attention has been paid to a new generation of oligosaccharides derived from lactulose with a potential prebiotic effect, which is even better than that of this recognised functional ingredient. These novel oligosaccharides, mainly composed of 6'-galactosyl lactulose and 1-galactosyl lactulose can be obtained with good yields either by transgalactosylation of lactulose or by chemical isomerisation under basic media of galactooligosaccharides; the latter constitutes a good and economic option.

Current state and latest advances in the concept, production and functionality of prebiotic oligosaccharides

“…The main carbohydrates present in tofu whey permeate as sucrose, raffinose and stachyose are enzymatically converted to mixtures of fructosylated αgalactosides and FOS [9]. The hydrolysis and subsequent transgalactosylation of lactulose to produce novel prebiotic oligosaccharides has been described by using βgalactosidase from different microbial sources [10].…”

Low-Lactose, Prebiotic-Enriched Milk

“…Depending on the source of the enzyme used, commercial GOS may contain predominantly β(1 → 3), β(1 → 4), or β(1 → 6) linkages (Park and Oh, 2010;Torres et al, 2010;Villamiel et al, 2014). The complete identification of the GOS synthesized by a particular enzyme is a difficult job due to the multiple combinations of monomers and linkages.…”

Biotechnological Production of Oligosaccharides — Applications in the Food Industry

“…Galactooligosaccharides can be defined as a mixture of substances produced from lactose, with two to eight saccharide units, in which one of the units is a terminal glucose and the remaining units are galactose and disaccharides comprising two units of galactose [85]. Several of these GOS are recognized as prebiotics, because they are non-digestible saccharides and can be used selectively by bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in human intestine, and thus improve host health [86,87].…”

“…The interaction in the active site of the enzyme differs with the acceptor. When the acceptor is water, glucose and galactose are formed; whereas if the acceptor is a sugar, reaction results in GOS [86,87].…”