Published online Oct 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i37.13446
Revised: May 9, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: October 7, 2014
Human milk is considered to be the optimal source of infant nutrition. Some of the benefits of breastfeeding have been ascribed to human milk oligosaccharides (HMO). For instance, HMO can affect faecal characteristics such as stool consistency and stool frequency. Such effects on stool characteristics can be beneficial for young infants as hard stools and even constipation is common in that age group. Prebiotics in infant milk formulas have been introduced to exert similar functionalities. A specific mixture of prebiotics consists of a combination of short chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) in a ratio of 9:1. This specific mixture has been developed to closely resemble the molecular size composition of HMO. Many studies have been done with scGOS/lcFOS, and indicators for digestive comfort have often been included as secondary outcomes. This review summarizes the effects of scGOS/lcFOS (9:1) on stool consistency, stool frequency and transit time in healthy term and preterm infants. In several of the studies with scGOS/lcFOS in a ratio of 9:1 in infant milk formulas, positive effects of this mixture on stool characteristics such as stool consistency and stool frequency were observed. As stool consistency was shown to be correlated to whole gut transit time, scGOS/lcFOS can be hypothesised to have a role in reducing the risk of constipation.
Core tip: In several clinical trials with a specific mixture of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides in a ratio 9:1 in infant milk formulas, positive effects were observed on stool consistency and stool frequency. This specific mixture of short chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides may therefore have a role in reducing the risk of constipation.