Recent Developments in Manufacturing Oligosaccharides with Prebiotic Functions

Abstract

The market for prebiotics is steadily growing. To satisfy this increasing worldwide demand, the introduction of effective bioprocessing methods and implementation strategies is required. In this chapter, we review recent developments in the manufacture of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS). These well-established oligosaccharides (OS) provide several health benefits and have excellent technological properties that make their use as food ingredients especially attractive. The biosyntheses of lactose-based GOS and sucrose-based FOS show similarities in terms of reaction mechanisms and product formation. Both GOS and FOS can be synthesized using whole cells or (partially) purified enzymes in immobilized or free forms. The biocatalysis results in a final product that consists of OS, unreacted disaccharides, and monosaccharides. This incomplete conversion poses a challenge to manufacturers because an enrichment of OS in this mixture adds value to the product. For removing digestible carbohydrates from OS, a variety of bioengineering techniques have been investigated, including downstream separation technologies, additional bioconversion steps applying enzymes, and selective fermentation strategies. This chapter summarizes the state-of-the-art manufacturing strategies and recent advances in bioprocessing technologies that can lead to new possibilities for manufacturing and purifying sucrose-based FOS and lactose-based GOS.

Prebiotics in healthy infants and children for prevention of acute infectious diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…in 1995 and updated one decade later . Accordingly, food ingredients are classified as prebiotic when they meet three major criteria: first, they escape digestion in the upper gastrointestinal tract and reach the colon intact; second, they are fermented by the intestinal microflora; and third, they selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of those intestinal bacteria that are associated with health and wellbeing . Prebiotics are food ingredients shown to be well tolerated and safe in both full‐term and preterm neonates when given as supplements.…”

Fructosyltransferase Sources, Production, and Applications for Prebiotics Production

“…A prebiotic must fulfill three criteria: (1) no hydrolysis or absorption in the upper part of the digestive system, (2) selective substrate for one or more desired bacteria species in the colon and stimulation of that species regarding growth and activation and (3) able to positively influence the numeric proportion of different bacteria species in the colon [76]. FOS selectively stimulates the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus sp.…”

Two-Step Production of Neofructo-Oligosaccharides Using Immobilized Heterologous Aspergillus terreus 1F-Fructosyltransferase Expressed in Kluyveromyces lactis and Native Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous G6-Fructosyltransferase

“…These diverse molecules differ in terms of their basic structure, the monosaccharides used for elongation and the chain length, resulting in a range of physicochemical and biological characteristics [1,2]. FOS are short-chain fructans, mainly consisting of fructose units, with a low calorific value [4][5][6][7][8]. Their prebiotic effects reflect their ability to stimulate the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacilli while inhibiting undesirable bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens [9][10][11][12].…”