Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)
OTHER NAME(S): Galactooligosaccharides, None., Galacto-oligosaccharides, Galacto oligosaccharides, Galacto-oligosacáridos (GOS)
Overview
Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics made up of plant sugars linked in chains. They're found in dairy products, beans, and certain root vegetables.
Prebiotics act as food for "good" bacteria in the intestine. They pass undigested into the colon where they increase bowel mass and promote growth of certain bacteria.
People use GOS for eczema, colic, hay fever, food allergies, constipation, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Don't confuse GOS with other prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin, and polydextrose. Also, don't confuse prebiotics with probiotics such as lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and saccharomyces, which are live organisms.
Uses
Possibly Effective for
- Excessive crying in infants (colic). Giving a formula that contains prebiotics, including GOS, to infants with colic might help reduce crying.
- Inability to properly digest the sugar lactose (lactose intolerance). Taking GOS by mouth might improve symptoms like stomach pain, cramps, and bloating in people who are lactose intolerant.
- Travelers' diarrhea. Taking GOS by mouth, starting 5 days before travel, might prevent diarrhea while travelling.
Possibly Ineffective for
- Hay fever. Feeding a formula containing GOS and probiotics to infants at risk for allergies doesn't seem to reduce the risk of developing hay fever.
- Food allergies. Feeding a formula containing GOS to infants at risk for allergies doesn't seem to reduce the risk of developing food allergies by the age of 1-2 years.
- A pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia). Taking GOS by mouth during pregnancy doesn't seem to reduce the risk of developing pre-eclampsia.
- Upper airway infection. GOS don't seem to help prevent upper airway infections or reduce their symptoms in healthy infants or college students.
There is interest in using GOS for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: GOS are commonly consumed in foods, including dairy products, beans, and certain root vegetables. It is possibly safe to take supplemental GOS in doses up to 20 grams daily for up to 30 days. Side effects are generally mild and may include gas, bloating, stomachcramps, and diarrhea.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: GOS are commonly consumed in foods, including dairy products, beans, and certain root vegetables. It is possibly safe to take supplemental GOS in doses up to 20 grams daily for up to 30 days. Side effects are generally mild and may include gas, bloating, stomachcramps, and diarrhea.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: GOS are commonly consumed in foods. GOS are possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine in doses of 4.5 grams daily, starting at 25 weeks of pregnancy and continuing until delivery.
Children: GOS are possibly safe when added to breast milk or infant formula at concentrations of no more than 7.2 grams/L and consumed as needed for 4-12 months. Side effects might include constipation or diarrhea.
"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: GOS might cause the immune system to become more active. This might increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have an auto-immune condition, it's best to avoid using GOS as medicine until more is known.
Allergies: GOS might cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to a species of dust mite called Blomia tropicalis.
A long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS): GOS is a type of compound known as a FODMAP. Following a low FODMAP diet is sometimes recommended for patients with IBS.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)GOS can increase the activity of the immune system. Some medications, such as those used after a transplant, decrease the activity of the immune system. Taking GOS along with these medications might decrease the effects of these medications.
Dosing
GOS have most often been used by adults in doses of 5-20 grams by mouth daily for up to 30 days. They've also been added to infant formula. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
References
- Sairanen U, Piirainen L, Nevala R, Korpela R. Yoghurt containing galacto-oligosaccharides, prunes and linseed reduces the severity of mild constipation in elderly subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007;61:1423-8.
- Coppa GV, Pierani P, Zampini L, et al. Characterization of oligosaccharides in milk and feces of breast-fed infants by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Adv Exp Med Biol 2001;501:307-314.
- Boehm G, Stahl B. Oligosaccharides from milk. J Nutr 2007;137(3 Suppl 2):847S-849S.
- Roberfroid MB. Health benefits of non-digestible oligosaccharides. Adv Exp Med Biol 1997;427:211-219.
- Teuri U, Korpela R. Galacto-oligosaccharides relieve constipation in elderly people. Ann Nutr Metab 1998;42(6):319-327.
- Kukkonen K, Savilahti E, Haahtela T, et al. Probiotics and prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides in the prevention of allergic diseases: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007;119(1):192-198.
- Moro G, Arslanoglu S, Stahl B, et al. A mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides reduces the incidence of atopic dermatitis during the first six months of age. Arch Dis Child 2006;91(10):814-819.
- Ziegler E, Vanderhoof JA, Petschow B, et al. Term infants fed formula supplemented with selected blends of prebiotics grow normally and have soft stools similar to those reported for breast-fed infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007;44(3):359-364.
- Savino F, Palumeri E, Castagno E, et al. Reduction of crying episodes owing to infantile colic: A randomized controlled study on the efficacy of a new infant formula. Eur J Clin Nutr 2006;60(11):1304-1310.
- Bakker-Zierikzee AM, Tol EA, Kroes H, et al. Faecal sIgA secretion in infants fed on pre- or probiotic infant formula. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2006;17(2):134-140.
- van den Heuvel EG, Schoterman MH, Muijs T. Transgalactooligosaccharides stimulate calcium absorption in postmenopausal women. J Nutr 2000;130(12):2938-2942.
- Wijnands MV, Appel MJ, Hollanders VM, Woutersen RA. A comparison of the effects of dietary cellulose and fermentable galacto-oligosaccharide, in a rat model of colorectal carcinogenesis: fermentable fibre confers greater protection than non-fermentable fibre in both high and low fat backgrounds. Carcinogenesis 1999;20(4):651-656.
- Cheah PY. Hypotheses for the etiology of colorectal cancer--an overview. Nutr Cancer 1990;14(1):5-13.
- Nagengast FM, Grubben MJ, van Munster IP. Role of bile acids in colorectal carcinogenesis. Eur J Cancer 1995;31A(7-8):1067-1070.
- Van Munster IP, Nagengast FM. The role of carbohydrate fermentation in colon cancer prevention. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl 1993;200:80-86.
- Guarner F, Casellas F, Borruel N, et al. Role of microecology in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Eur J Clin Nutr 2002;56 Suppl 4:S34-S38.
- Macfarlane S, Macfarlane GT, Cummings JH. Review article: prebiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2006;24(5):701-714.
- Veereman-Wauters G. Application of prebiotics in infant foods. Br J Nutr 2005;93 Suppl 1:S57-S60.
- Veereman G. Pediatric applications of inulin and oligofructose. J Nutr 2007;137(11 Suppl):2585S-2589S.
- Shadid R, Haarman M, Knol J, et al. Effects of galactooligosaccharide and long-chain fructooligosaccharide supplementation during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal microbiota and immunity--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86(5):1426-1437.
- Sonoyama K, Watanabe H, Watanabe J, et al. Allergic airway eosinophilia is suppressed in ovalbumin-sensitized Brown Norway rats fed raffinose and alpha-linked galactooligosaccharide. J Nutr 2005;135(3):538-543.
- Vos AP, Haarman M, Buco A, et al. A specific prebiotic oligosaccharide mixture stimulates delayed-type hypersensitivity in a murine influenza vaccination model. Int Immunopharmacol 2006;6(8):1277-1286.
- Ito M, Deguchi Y, Matsumoto K, et al. Influence of galactooligosaccharides on the human fecal microflora. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 1993;39(6):635-640.
- van Dokkum W, Wezendonk B, Srikumar TS, van den Heuvel EG. Effect of nondigestible oligosaccharides on large-bowel functions, blood lipid concentrations and glucose absorption in young healthy male subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999;53(1):1-7.
- Rycroft CE, Jones MR, Gibson GR, Rastall RA. A comparative in vitro evaluation of the fermentation properties of prebiotic oligosaccharides. J Appl Microbiol 2001;91(5):878-887.
- Fanaro S, Boehm G, Garssen J, et al. Galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides as prebiotics in infant formulas: a review. Acta Paediatr Suppl 2005;94(449):22-26.
- Zentek J, Marquart B, Pietrzak T. Intestinal effects of mannanoligosaccharides, transgalactooligosaccharides, lactose and lactulose in dogs. J Nutr 2002;132(6 Suppl 2):1682S-1684S.
- Moro GE, Stahl B, Fanaro S, et al. Dietary prebiotic oligosaccharides are detectable in the faeces of formula-fed infants. Acta Paediatr Suppl 2005:27-30.
- Djouzi Z, Andrieux C. Compared effects of three oligosaccharides on metabolism of intestinal microflora in rats inoculated with a human faecal flora. Br J Nutr 1997;78(2):313-324.
- Whisner CM, Martin BR, Schoterman MH, et al. Galacto-oligosaccharides increase calcium absorption and gut bifidobacteria in young girls: a double-blind cross-over trial. Br J Nutr. 2013;110(7):1292-303.
- Luoto R, Ruuskanen O, Waris M, Kalliomäki M, Salminen S, Isolauri E. Prebiotic and probiotic supplementation prevents rhinovirus infections in preterm infants: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133(2):405-13.
- Vandenplas Y, Ludwig T, Bouritius H, et al. Randomised controlled trial demonstrates that fermented infant formula with short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides reduces the incidence of infantile colic. Acta Paediatr. 2017;106(7):1150-1158.
- Paganini D, Uyoga MA, Kortman GAM, et al. Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides mitigate the adverse effects of iron fortification on the gut microbiome: a randomised controlled study in Kenyan infants. Gut. 2017;66(11):1956-1967.
- Azcarate-Peril MA, Ritter AJ, Savaiano D, et al. Impact of short-chain galactooligosaccharides on the gut microbiome of lactose-intolerant individuals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017;114(3):E367-E375.
- Huet F, Abrahamse-Berkeveld M, Tims S, et al. Partly fermented infant formulae with specific oligosaccharides support adequate infant growth and are well-tolerated. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016;63(4):e43-53.
- van den Berg JP, Westerbeek EA, Bröring-Starre T, Garssen J, van Elburg RM. Neurodevelopment of preterm infants at 24 months after neonatal supplementation of a prebiotic mix: A randomized trial. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016;63(2):270-6.
- Morel FB, Dai Q, Ni J, Thomas D, Parnet P, Fança-Berthon P. a-Galacto-oligosaccharides dose-dependently reduce appetite and decrease inflammation in overweight adults. J Nutr. 2015;145(9):2052-9.
- Sierra C, Bernal MJ, Blasco J, et al. Prebiotic effect during the first year of life in healthy infants fed formula containing GOS as the only prebiotic: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr. 2015;54(1):89-99.
- Vulevic J, Juric A, Tzortzis G, Gibson GR. A mixture of trans-galactooligosaccharides reduces markers of metabolic syndrome and modulates the fecal microbiota and immune function of overweight adults. J Nutr. 2013;143(3):324-31.
- van der Aa LB, Lutter R, Heymans HS, et al. No detectable beneficial systemic immunomodulatory effects of a specific synbiotic mixture in infants with atopic dermatitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2012;42(4):531-9.
- 99221 Hughes C, Davoodi-Semiromi Y, Colee JC, et al. Galactooligosaccharide supplementation reduces stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction and days of cold or flu: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in healthy university students. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93(6):1305-11.
- Bisceglia M, Indrio F, Riezzo G, Poerio V, Corapi U, Raimondi F. The effect of prebiotics in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Acta Paediatr. 2009;98(10):1579-81.
- Arslanoglu S, Moro GE, Schmitt J, Tandoi L, Rizzardi S, Boehm G. Early dietary intervention with a mixture of prebiotic oligosaccharides reduces the incidence of allergic manifestations and infections during the first two years of life. J Nutr. 2008;138(6):1091-5.
- Savaiano DA, Ritter AJ, Klaenhammer TR, et al. Improving lactose digestion and symptoms of lactose intolerance with a novel galacto-oligosaccharide (RP-G28): a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Nutr J. 2013;12:160.
- Laufer Y, Rotem-Lehrer N, Ronen Z, Khayutin G, Rozenberg I. Effect of attention focus on acquisition and retention of postural control following ankle sprain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88(1):105-8.
- Kazemi A, Noorbala AA, Azam K, Eskandari MH, Djafarian K. Effect of probiotic and prebiotic vs placebo on psychological outcomes in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized clinical trial. Clin Nutr 2019;38(2):522-8.
- Suh MG, Hong YH, Jung EY, Suh HJ. Inhibitory effect of galactooligosaccharide on skin pigmentation. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2019;24(3):321-6.
- Lee LYGN, Zhong Y, Leow SY, et al. Allergy to prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides: house dust mites-the putative primary sensitizer. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020;145(2):707-710.e5.
- Jeroense FMD, Michel L, Zeder C, Herter-Aeberli I, Zimmermann MB. Consumption of galacto-oligosaccharides increases iron absorption from ferrous fumarate: a stable iron isotope study in iron-depleted young women. J Nutr 2019;149(5):738-46.
- Paganini D, Uyoga MA, Kortman GAM, et al. Maternal human milk oligosaccharide profile modulates the impact of an intervention with iron and galacto-oligosaccharides in Kenyan infants. Nutrients 2019;11(11). pii: E2596.
- Wilson B, Rossi M, Kanno T, et al. ß-Galactooligosaccharide in conjunction with low FODMAP diet improves irritable bowel syndrome symptoms but reduces fecal bifidobacteria. Am J Gastroenterol 2020;115(6):906-15.
- Chey W, Sandborn W, Ritter AJ, Foyt H, Azcarate-Peril MA, Savaiano DA. Galacto-oligosaccharide RP-G28 improves multiple clinical outcomes in lactose-intolerant patients. Nutrients 2020;12(4):1058.
- Colombo J, Carlson SE, Algarín C, et al. Developmental effects on sleep-wake patterns in infants receiving a cow's milk-based infant formula with an added prebiotic blend: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Res 2021;89(5):1222-31.
- Schaafsma A, Mallee L, van den Belt M, et al. The effect of a whey-protein and galacto-oligosaccharides based product on parameters of sleep quality, stress, and gut microbiota in apparently healthy adults with moderate sleep disturbances: a randomized controlled cross-over study. Nutrients 2021;13(7):2204.
- Wilms E, An R, Smolinska A, et al. Galacto-oligosaccharides supplementation in prefrail older and healthy adults increased faecal bifidobacteria, but did not impact immune function and oxidative stress. Clin Nutr 2021;40(5):3019-31.
- EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, et al. Safety of a change in the conditions of use of galacto-oligosaccharides as a novel food ingredient in food supplements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J 2021;19(1):e06384.
- Johnstone N, Milesi C, Burn O, et al. Anxiolytic effects of a galacto-oligosaccharides prebiotic in healthy females (18-25 years) with corresponding changes in gut bacterial composition. Sci Rep 2021;11(1):8302.
- Johnstone N, Dart S, Knytl P, Nauta A, Hart K, Cohen Kadosh K. Nutrient Intake and Gut Microbial Genera Changes after a 4-Week Placebo Controlled Galacto-Oligosaccharides Intervention in Young Females. Nutrients 2021;13(12):4384.
- Wilson B, Eyice Ö, Koumoutsos I, et al. Prebiotic Galactooligosaccharide Supplementation in Adults with Ulcerative Colitis: Exploring the Impact on Peripheral Blood Gene Expression, Gut Microbiota, and Clinical Symptoms. Nutrients 2021;13(10):3598.
- Giorgetti A, Husmann FMD, Zeder C, Herter-Aeberli I, Zimmermann MB. Prebiotic Galacto-oligosaccharides and Fructo-oligosaccharides, but not Acacia Gum, Increase Iron Absorption from a Single High-dose Ferrous Fumarate Supplement in Iron-depleted Women. J Nutr 2022;152(4):1015-1021.
- Schoemaker MH, Hageman JHJ, Ten Haaf D, et al. Prebiotic Galacto-Oligosaccharides Impact Stool Frequency and Fecal Microbiota in Self-Reported Constipated Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients 2022;14(2):309.
- Barnett DJM, Endika MF, Klostermann CE, et al. Human milk oligosaccharides, antimicrobial drugs, and the gut microbiota of term neonates: observations from the KOALA birth cohort study. Gut Microbes. 2023;15(1):2164152.
- Iqbal S, Ahmed W, Zafar S, et al. Effect of inulin, galacto oligosaccharides and iron fortification on iron deficiency anemia among women of reproductive age; a randomized controlled trial. Front Nutr 2022;9:1028956.