Study on Functional Oligosaccharides Technical Aspects, Properties, Applications, Regulations, and Health Benefits | Chapter 01 | Emerging Challenges in Agriculture and Food Science Vol. 3

 Carbohydrates with two to ten monosaccharide units connected together by glycosidic linkages are known as functional oligosaccharides. Maltose, sucrose, and lactose are disaccharides that are bonded together by glycosidic linkages from two monosaccharides. These three disaccharides are not categorised as functional oligosaccharides because they are digestible sugars by gastrointestinal enzymes. Functional oligosaccharides are generally non-digestible by stomach enzymes and act as fibres and prebiotics, providing health advantages [1]. Fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, lactosucrose, malto-oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides, trehalose, cyclodextrins, xylo-oligosaccharides, and soy-oligosaccharides are the most well-known functional oligosaccharides. The goal of this work is to emphasise the physiologic roles of these functional oligosaccharides that are advantageous to human and animal health. The flavour of functional oligosaccharides is somewhat sweet, and they have a pleasant mouth feel. The food industry is interested in incorporating these functional oligosaccharides into foods as a partial replacement for fat and carbohydrates, as well as to improve food texture. Functional oligosaccharides, with the exception of malto-oligosaccharides and trehalose, are non-digestible by gut digestive enzymes in the small intestine and reach the large intestine (colon), where they act as a growth factor (prebiotics) to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria via a competitive exclusion system. These benefits to colon and other health benefits in addition to the unique chemical and physical qualities of function oligosaccharides expanded their global market uses in foods, pharmaceuticals, and in other industries. Furthermore, cyclodextrins and trehalose, two of these functional oligosaccharides, have essential pharmacological applications in drug delivery systems, as well as cryoprotectants for biological materials, living cells, and foods. Functional oligosaccharides are being synthesised enzymatically at higher yield and cheaper cost from various natural sources of carbohydrates as an alternative for costly plant extraction methods due to increased demand for their health advantages and other characteristics.

Author(S) Details

Osama O. Ibrahim
Department of Biotechnology, 7434 Korbel, Dr. Gurnee IL-60031, USA.

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