FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES (FOS)
Synonym(s): oligofructan, oligofructose, neosugar
Source(s): many fruits and vegetables
Fructooligosaccharides(FOS) are fructans that resist degradation by the enzymes of the human digestive tract. They are fermented in the colon by bacteria, producing short-chain fatty acids andlactate. Because they provide health benefits by selectively stimulating the growth of beneficial colonic bacteria, they are regarded as a prebiotic dietary fiber.
Fructooligosaccharide consumption by humans results in increased fecal bacterial biomass. Their consumption selectively stimulates the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria, both Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli and suppresses the population growth of deleterious intestinal bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Clostridia and Enterobacteria. In a human study, fructooligosaccharide consumption was shown to decrease fecal beta-glucuronidase and glycolic acid activity. The presence of these enzymes in the gut has been linked to a higher incidence of colorectal cancer.
In vitro and animal studies suggest that fructooligosaccharide consumption may also alter liver lipid metabolism, resulting in reduced plasma triglyceride, phospholipid and cholesterol levels.Human diabetics consuming fructooligosaccharides showed a decrease in serum total and LDL cholesterols.

The standard specifications of FOS

* General Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is the total of FOS
No.3, FOS No.4 and FOS No.5.

Fructooligosaccharide's functions

1. Regulate the balance of bacterium colonies in the body
2. Low down blood fat
3. Promote the absorption of mineral matter and the elimination of noxious waste in the intestines
4. Eliminate toxicant
5. Enhance the immunity of human body and animal
6. Low quantity of caloric and indigestibility (will not cause fatness)
7. Little decayed tooth

Fructooligosaccharide is suitable for:
1. Pregnant women: it can clean the intestines and blood, detoxifcate and eliminate toxin, make sure that the toxin left in body fluid will not do harm to the foetus.
2. Babies who have not the milk supply: when the babies' milk supply is cut down, it can prevent the sudden decrease of bifidobacteria and help the babies avoiding constipation, diarrhea and bad digestion etc., so it can promote the nourishment absorption.
3. Teen-age persons in upgrowth: it can activate the mineral elements of Ca and Fe in the food, form B Vitamin, niacin and folacin and promote protein digestion and absorption, help growth and do good to intelligence.
4. Persons who have serious mental pressure, a lot of social intercourse, many activities at night, much work or studying should be done at night, insomniac, students who must do much preparation for examination, tourist: the bacterium colonies in the intestines are very easy to be maladjusted, so the harmful bacterium colonies should be restrained.
5. Persons who have regular constipation, chronic diarrhea, effluvial excrement, hair of dry and scorch, halitosis, bitter taste, the skin appears black-yellow mark and blain, the hair and skin are of less elasticity and living.
6. Varieties of consumptive and chronic disease sufferers in treatment, the sufferers with antibiotic injection or taking antibiotic orally, cancer suffers who are in chemical treatment and radioactivity treatment.
7. Old men or middle-age persons in whose intestines the harmful bacterium increase.
8. Persons who need weight-cut or the athlete who need special diet to control the weight in short time, they need Fructooligosaccharide which has low quantity of heat and excellent indigestibility to act as assistant for staple food.
9. Repellent reaction toward outside because of taking bifidobacteria living bacterium preparation, germ drug-resistance diffusion.