What are oligosaccharides?
Oligosaccharide is a general term consisting of 2 to 20 monosaccharides, such as glucose (the smallest unit of carbohydrate), which is a type of carbohydrate (sugar). "Oligo" means "small/decimal", and oligosaccharides are also called small sugars.
About 20 kinds of oligosaccharides are digested and absorbed in the stomach and small intestine, and there are indigestible oligosaccharides that are difficult to digest and absorb.
Among them, indigestible oligosaccharides are considered to have a healthy function and are added to various foods as specific health foods (Tokuho).
Arrange the effect of the intestinal environment-it becomes food for bifidobacteria in the intestine
Function of Oligosaccharide
1.Oligosaccharides can prepare the intestinal environment
Since indigestible oligosaccharides are not degraded by digestive enzymes, they will not be digested and absorbed in the stomach or small intestine and reach the large intestine. Oligosaccharides that have reached the large intestine become feed for bifidobacteria and have the effect of increasing harmful bacteria such as bifidobacteria (prebiotics), and therefore have the effect of preparing the intestinal environment. Oligosaccharides can also stimulate the large intestine and activate peristalsis, which effectively improves and prevents constipation.
2.Skin beauty effect-prevent skin problems
This is also one of the intestinal effects of oligosaccharides. There is also a beautiful skin effect. When constipation accumulates in the intestine, toxins enter the blood from the capillaries of the large intestine, causing skin irritation such as acne and pimple. It is expected that oligosaccharides have a beautiful skin effect because it releases waste in the intestines and causes rough skin.
3.Prevent arteriosclerosis effect-increase HDL cholesterol
Oligosaccharides can prevent arteriosclerosis. Beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria have the function of increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. As HDL cholesterol increases, LDL (bad) cholesterol and neutral fat in the blood decrease, and oligosaccharides can prevent arteriosclerosis. The effect of low calorie sweetener suppressing the increase of blood sugar level is effective for a low-calorie diet.
4.Oligosaccharides can inhibit blood sugar levels.
Since indigestible oligosaccharides are hardly digested and absorbed, they have the effect of suppressing a sharp rise in blood sugar levels. Oligosaccharides are also less effective on dieting because they have lower calories than glucose. Preventive effect of dental caries-prevent amoeba bacteria from producing acid It can be expected that oligosaccharides can prevent dental caries.
Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates, but one feature is an amoeba, which is the cause of dental caries and cannot be used as a nutrient. Therefore, because the amoeba cannot produce acid and cannot melt the tooth surface, oligosaccharides have a preventive effect on dental caries.
5.Types and functions of main oligosaccharides
According to the raw material, the effect of oligosaccharides is different. The main oligosaccharides have the following types: Trehalose, galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, soybean oligosaccharides.
In addition to the above-mentioned function of oligosaccharides, oligosaccharides are contained in milk, vegetables, honey, soybeans, etc., but due to a small amount, it is difficult to ingest oligosaccharides from food and is artificially manufactured.