FrieslandCampina Ingredients on GOS research advances for infant gut health

Breastfeeding remains the gold standard in infant nutrition. When this isn’t an option, milk formulas offer the only alternative, though they do not reflect the full diversity of human milk. Research has identified over 200 unique human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), with many linked to gut health and immunity support. 

While a staple ingredient in infant nutrition, emerging research indicates that galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) can provide a broader range of oligosaccharide structures than previously understood.

Nutrition Insight discusses new GOS science in infant milk formula with Sophie Nicolas, global marketing innovation lead in Early Life Nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients. 

“Ongoing advances in oligosaccharide research are reshaping the development of infant formula — providing new ways for brands to stand out,” says Nicolas. 

“As our understanding of specific structures and their biological roles improves, manufacturers are better equipped to offer formulations centered around specific needs — such as digestive and immune function support.”

In the future, she expects opportunities to explore complementary approaches: pairing specific HMOs with other prebiotics to enhance gut microbiome support and developing synbiotic formulations that combine probiotics and prebiotics to deliver targeted, evidence-based microbiome benefits.

“Within this context, extensively studied ingredients such as GOS offer a reliable and adaptable platform for product development,” says Nicolas. “Their versatility enables formulators to translate emerging science into practical solutions that meet parental expectations for quality, efficacy, and trust.”

“The latest scientific insights underline how ongoing research can steadily refine and strengthen approaches to early life nutrition.”

GOS research advances

Nicolas underscores that GOS are backed by robust scientific evidence, making them a “tried and trusted ingredient” in infant nutrition.

“Over the years, advances in analytical techniques have deepened our knowledge of the ingredient’s complex composition, revealing that GOS are a highly diverse mixture containing over 100 distinct oligosaccharide structures.”

Additionally, she notes that new findings have shown that FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ GOS contain specific galactosyllactoses — 3’-, 4’-, and 6’-Galactosyllactose (GL) — and notable levels of 4’-GL.

“These structures, which are also naturally present in human milk as part of the HMO pool, have been shown in vitro to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.”

GOS structures, which are also naturally present in human milk, have been shown in vitro to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.“Together, these insights shift how we view GOS toward an ingredient capable of delivering greater oligosaccharide diversity through a single, familiar solution,” she adds.

Nicolas says this creates opportunities for infant formula manufacturers to strengthen the oligosaccharide profile of their formulations by using an ingredient that is already widely accepted, extensively studied, and scalable for commercial application.

Infant formula gaps

Human milk contains over 200 identified oligosaccharide structures, each contributing to critical functions for an infant’s functional and developmental needs, including immune function, growth, nutrient absorption, and digestive comfort.

“However, only a limited selection of oligosaccharides is currently available for inclusion in infant formula,” says Nicolas. “This reflects the technical challenges of producing complex oligosaccharides, the scientific work still needed to understand their specific roles, the regulatory processes involved in bringing new ingredients to market, and the cost considerations that influence which oligosaccharides manufacturers can feasibly include in formulas.”

“As a result, there are important gaps in our ability to fully harness the potential of diverse oligosaccharides to support a child’s health and development when breastfeeding is not an option.”

However, Nicolas notes that ongoing research and innovation in ingredients are gradually expanding the range of oligosaccharides available, enabling the early life nutrition industry to continuously enhance the oligosaccharide composition of formulas.

“A key opportunity lies in leveraging the multiple roles of oligosaccharides to contribute to health outcomes through both microbiota-dependent mechanisms — such as selectively supporting beneficial bacteria — and microbiota-independent pathways, including direct modulation of immune responses and protection against pathogens.”

She says that addressing these gaps with an optimized oligosaccharide offering will be crucial for guiding more nuanced, evidence-based formulation strategies that better reflect the multifaceted demands of early life nutrition.

Oligosaccharide diversity

Nicolas highlights that the complex composition of human milk has “long been recognized” as key in supporting different areas of gut health and overall development in early life.

Nicolas says that only a limited selection of oligosaccharides is currently available for inclusion in infant formula.“Over time, what’s changed is our understanding of why the diversity in human milk oligosaccharides specifically matters — and how we can deliver more diversity in infant formula.”

“We now know that different oligosaccharide structures can perform distinct functions,” she details. “Some selectively feed specific beneficial bacteria, others modulate immune pathways in a microbiota-independent manner, and some provide targeted pathogen protection.”

Nicolas notes that this allows manufacturers to leverage this diversity to provide multiple complementary benefits for infant gut health and immunity that single structures cannot achieve on their own.

She illustrates that 3’-GL, 4’-GL, and 6’-GL, found in FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ GOS, each offer specific benefits for infant health.

“In vitro studies suggest that 3’-GL can protect the gut barrier. 3’-GL, 4’-GL, and 6’-GL may also reduce inflammation in immature intestinal cells. 4’-GL is thought to be the most bifidogenic of the three and has been found in high concentration in our GOS ingredient.”

Next-gen GOS

Nicolas says these considerations are highly pertinent in early-life nutrition, especially as FrieslandCampina and Innova Market Insights research indicates that 55% of parents cite gut health as a key priority for their children.

“We already know that human milk delivers a rich diversity of oligosaccharides,” she underscores. “Advances in GOS science reveal how these ingredients can deliver a wider spectrum of structures, supporting more nuanced formulation strategies.”

Moreover, she says that by focusing on oligosaccharide diversity rather than single components, next-generation GOS enable manufacturers to strengthen the overall nutritional proposition of their infant formulas.

“This approach provides formulators with greater flexibility to develop standout, science-led solutions that better reflect the multifaceted demands of early life nutrition, without depending exclusively on synthesized HMOs,” she concludes.