Prebiotic oligosaccharides

Abstract

The present invention provides galacto-oligosaccharide compositions that preferentially stimulate growth of specific Bifidobacterium species and subspecies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising galacto-oligosaccharides, wherein at least 45% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are tetra or penta galacto-oligosaccharides or wherein at least 25% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are tetra galacto-oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has less than 20% by weight of dimeric galacto-oligosaccharides, based on weight of the total oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has less than 10% by weight of dimeric galacto-oligosaccharides, based on weight of the total oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has less than 5% by weight of monomeric sugars based on total sugar and oligosaccharide solids. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has less than 5% by weight of lactose, based on weight of the total oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a lactase enzyme. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a food product or dietary supplement product. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of an infant formula, a follow-on formula, and a toddler beverage. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein less than 10% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight have a degree of polymerization of 6 or greater. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein less than 10% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are trimeric galacto-oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein more than 30% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are trimeric galacto-oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , prepared by a method comprising the step of treating a mixed galacto-oligosaccharide solution (GOS) to reduce monomeric, dimeric and/or trimeric sugars. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the monomeric, dimeric and/or trimeric sugars are removed by size exclusion or enzymatically, or by selective microbial consumption of particular sugars or oligosaccharides. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising  Bifidobacterium breve  or  Bifidobacterium longum  bv.  infantis.    
     
     
         15 . A method for stimulating beneficial  Bifidobacterium  microflora in an animal, the method comprising administering a sufficient amount of the composition of  claim 1  to the animal to stimulate colonization of the gut of the animal by at least one beneficial  Bifidobacterium  strain. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the strain is a strain of  Bifidobacterium breve  or  Bifidobacterium longum  bv.  infantis.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the animal is a human. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the animal is a non-human mammal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the human is less than 5 years old. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the human is over 50 years old. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the human has a condition selected from the group consisting of inflammatory bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, colitis, Crohn's disease, colon cancer, functional bowel disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and excess sulfate reducing bacteria.