Experts Corner

Prebiotics are now considered as key ingredients in infant formulas although their use is not mandatory. The demonstration of their multiple benefits on gut health, immunity and global development in infants has led to the development of several prebiotics among which galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are now considered as gold standards. While the prevalence of lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy are rising in infants and young children, the choice of prebiotic compounds that are safe and suitable for these populations is limited as most prebiotics for infants are produced from dairy raw materials. A new generation of lactose-free prebiotic substances has emerged with the development of plant-based galacto-oligosaccharides extracted from legumes. Their safety and benefits will be detailed in this article.

Every weight-loss program requires a better lifestyle ; but « move more” and “eat better” are not enough, and “eat less” is also crucial… and generally experienced badly. Craving and frustrations due to hypocaloric diets can have a negative impact on the best resolutions and most motivated people – all the more so as they require long-term efforts: losing weight is more like a marathon than a sprint!!

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are amongst the most widely studied prebiotics until now. They are generally obtained from cow’s milk lactose through a trans-galactosylation process that allows to branch galactose molecules together. However GOS obtained from cow’s milk lactose generally contain residual amounts of cow’s milk products and then are generally not suitable for use in products aimed at people suffering from cow’s milk allergy or lactose intolerance. Lactose-free prebiotic alternatives to lactose-based GOS such as inulin or fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are available but do not display similar fermentation patterns in the gastrointestinal tract. To fill this gap, new patented plant-based GOS have been recently introduced under the brand name AlphaGOS® and offer an interesting alternative to lactose-based GOS as they do not contain any trace of dairy product.