My Oligosaccharide Romance

On June 22, 2011, I attended the first Functional Sugar Symposium held in Chengdu. I listened to lectures by renowned experts and scholars, gaining my first glimpse into the powerful benefits of functional sugars. Filled with curiosity and a spirit of exploration, I resolved to personally try and experience them for myself.

The most memorable part of that conference was chitosan oligosaccharides and L-arabinose. During the report titled "Functional Application Research on Chitosan Oligosaccharides" from Huazhong Agricultural University, researchers demonstrated through plant cultivation experiments that these compounds can effectively prevent pesticide damage to crops while promoting their healthy growth—truly a significant breakthrough. This naturally brings to mind our daily lives: wouldn’t adding a small amount of chitosan oligosaccharides when washing vegetables help reduce pesticide residues? The live demonstration of L-arabinose by Tangchuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., meanwhile, was unforgettable. Attendees even received two bottles of the product for trial—a delightful treat for those of us who enjoy sugary treats like sucrose and fatty meats! I couldn’t wait to try it myself after noticing how many scholars attending the conference routinely added the product to their purified water. After countless attempts, I discovered that incorporating just a pinch of L-arabinose whenever I indulged in excessive sugar or rich foods indeed helped minimize my body’s absorption of both sucrose and fat—allowing me to savor delicious meals without guilt. What’s more, taking L-arabinose before or after drinking alcohol proved particularly effective in mitigating alcohol-related liver damage, helping my body recover swiftly afterward. Of course, some of my colleagues experienced mild diarrhea or less noticeable results initially—likely because they hadn’t yet mastered the right dosage or fully understood its mechanisms. But here’s the good news: that temporary digestive discomfort turned out to be a sign of detoxification, and once they adjusted their approach, everyone soon returned to feeling great!

Currently, chitosan oligosaccharides are relatively expensive and not yet widely used in practical applications. L-Arabinose does not occur naturally as a free monosaccharide; instead, it typically exists in plants combined with other monosaccharides, forming heteropolysaccharides—especially abundant in human foods and vegetables. It is a completely safe sugar, with market prices consistently above 200 yuan per kilogram. Often, L-arabinose is incorporated into functional sugar products or used as a pharmaceutical intermediate in health foods and medicines. Through my own hands-on experience, I’ve gradually developed a deep affection for functional sugar products. In my subsequent research applications, I’m firmly convinced that galacto-oligosaccharides and xylo-oligosaccharides will soon see rapid adoption.

On June 28, 2013, I attended the 3rd Functional Sugar Symposium and gained insights into galacto-oligosaccharides and xylo-oligosaccharides. In particular, attending the Functional Sugar Annual Conference held in Jinan on June 11, 2014, and visiting Shandong Longli Bio, Baolingbao, and Futian Technology reinvigorated my work—work that I’ve been closely following and dedicating myself to for several years—and deepened my fascination with galacto-oligosaccharides and xylo-oligosaccharides among oligosaccharides.

Oligosaccharides, also known as low-molecular-weight carbohydrates, refer to a class of compounds composed of 2 to 9 monosaccharide units linked together via glycosidic bonds, forming either straight chains or branched structures. Some literature defines polymers containing just 2 sugar residues as disaccharides. Based on their functions, oligosaccharides can be categorized into two main types: conventional oligosaccharides and functional oligosaccharides. Conventional oligosaccharides—such as sucrose, maltose, lactose, malto-trisaccharide, and trehalose—are well-known sugars that can be digested and absorbed by animals, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. On the other hand, functional oligosaccharides cannot be digested or absorbed by animals but instead serve as essential nutrients that support the proliferation of beneficial gut microbes like Bifidobacteria. Examples include lactulose, fructooligosaccharides, isomaltose, and galacto-oligosaccharides.

Galacto-oligosaccharides—a prebiotic derived from milk. It is the only oligosaccharide among various types that can simultaneously nourish both A and B bacteria as a prebiotic.

Oligogalactose, naturally present in breast milk at about 0.6%, has been clinically proven to deliver feeding outcomes most closely resembling those of breastfeeding when added to infant formulas. It is therefore the optimal prebiotic for breast-milk-based infant formula. Oligogalactose enhances the absorption of essential minerals such as calcium and iron, supporting healthy bone development in children and helping to prevent osteoporosis in seniors and women. Similar to dietary fiber, it promotes gastrointestinal motility, improves intestinal function, and effectively alleviates constipation and reduces bloating and abdominal discomfort. As a result, oligogalactose can be widely incorporated into powdered milk, various dairy products, health supplements, beverages, confectioneries, baked goods, animal feed, and more.

Xylo-oligosaccharide—a plant-derived prebiotic. It selectively promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, facilitating their colonization and proliferation. Additionally, it helps establish a dominant microbial community that inhibits the adhesion of harmful gut bacteria. Widely used in pharmaceutical and health-care products, dairy beverages, food items, and feed additive formulations.

Due to the unique benefits of galacto-oligosaccharides and xylo-oligosaccharides, combined with their affordable price, they are the perfect choice for someone like me—someone with sensitive digestion, occasional constipation, and who occasionally overindulges. Nowadays, whenever I have an improper diet, drink alcohol, or experience gastrointestinal discomfort, I turn to these oligosaccharides. To me, they’ve completely replaced traditional gastrointestinal medications, offering both safety and no side effects, while also providing health-promoting benefits. They’ve become an essential part of my daily life—something I simply can’t do without—oligosaccharides. (Written by DDC Zhao Huaxiu)