Prebiotic Properties of Non-Fructosylated α-Galactooligosaccharides from PEA (Pisum sativum L.) Using Infant Fecal Slurries

The interest for naturally-occurring oligosaccharides from plant origin having prebiotic properties is growing, with special focus being paid to supplemented products for infants. Currently, non-fructosylated alpha-galactooligosaccharides (alpha-GOS) from peas have peaked interest as a result of their prebiotic activity in adults and their mitigated side-effects on gas production from colonic bacterial fermentation. In this study, commercially available non-fructosylated alpha-GOS from peas and beta-galactooligosaccharides (beta-GOS) derived from lactose were fermented using fecal slurries from children aged 11 to 24 months old during 6 and 24 h. The modulatory effect of both GOS on different bacterial groups and bifidobacteria species was assessed; non-fructosylated alpha-GOS consumption was monitored throughout the fermentation process and the amounts of lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) generated were analyzed. Non-fructosylated alpha-GOS, composed mainly of manninotriose and verbascotetraose and small amounts of melibiose, were fully metabolized and presented remarkable bifidogenic activity, similar to that obtained with beta-GOS. Furthermore, non-fructosylated alpha-GOS selectively caused an increase on the population ofBifidobacterium longumsubsp.longumandBifidobacterium catenulatum/pseudo-catenulatum.In conclusion, non-fructosylated alpha-GOS could be used as potential ingredient in infant formula supplemented with prebiotic oligosaccharides.