Important Functions of Fructooligosaccharides
Ⅰ. What is oligofructose fos?
Fructooligosaccharides is a natural active substance. A special component of soluble dietary fiber, a carbohydrate that cannot be digested by intestinal digestive enzymes.
It is often mentioned that oligofructose is a prebiotic, so what is a prebiotic? In theory, any substance that reduces existing harmful bacteria and promotes health-promoting bacteria or activities can be called prebiotics. It is generally believed that prebiotics provide "food" for probiotics, which can be decomposed and absorbed by beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract and promote the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria. Fructooligosaccharides are one of the most excellent representatives of prebiotics.
Ⅱ. The function of fructooligosaccharides
Fructooligosaccharides play an important role in regulating intestinal flora, strengthening the immune system, and promoting mineral absorption. Next, let's understand the first important function of fructooligosaccharides - regulating the intestinal flora. Fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the number of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria in the intestinal flora, and significantly reduce the number of harmful bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens.
1. Promote the growth of beneficial bacteria
The growth of beneficial bacteria in different time periods and different intakes after ingesting fructooligosaccharides. The intake of fructooligosaccharides can significantly increase the number of bifidobacteria, and with the increase in the intake of fructooligosaccharides, the bifidobacteria will also increase significantly.
2. Inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria
The mechanism by which oligofructose inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria is that oligofructose can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria, and then the beneficial bacteria can produce short-chain fatty acids, and short-chain fatty acids can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract.
With the intake of fructooligosaccharides, harmful bacteria (C. perfringens) decreased while beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium) increased.
3. Improve intestinal microecology
Gut microorganisms account for 78% of the total microbial biomass in the human body, so it is called the largest micro-ecosystem in the human body. And fructooligosaccharides have a very significant "two-way" regulation of intestinal flora.
4. Boost the immune system
The regulation of immune function is another important biological effect of fructooligosaccharides, which is related to the increase of bifidobacteria by fructooligosaccharides. The cell walls and secretions of bifidobacteria can produce a large amount of immune substances, such as immunoglobulins, which can prevent bacteria from attaching to the host intestinal mucosal tissue by 7 to 10 times that of other immunoglobulins. A large number of bifidobacteria can also strongly stimulate intestinal immune cells, increase the number of antibody cells, activate the activity of macrophages, and strengthen the body's immune system.
5. Promote mineral absorption
Fructooligosaccharides can significantly promote the transport and absorption of calcium by directly acting on the intestinal mucosal epithelial tissue. On the one hand, fructooligosaccharides can promote calcium absorption by increasing the level of calcium-binding protein in the intestinal mucosa; on the other hand, fructooligosaccharides are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine to form L-lactic acid, which can dissolve minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, and promote the human body. Absorption of minerals.