Galacto-Oligosaccharides (GOS)
Galacto-oligosaccharides, or GOS, are a type of dietary fibre. Instead of being absorbed by the body, they act as food for the gut microbiome — the billions of healthy bacteria that support both digestive health and the immune system.
What makes GOS in Little Étoile different?
- Gluten-free — gentle on sensitive tummies.
- Allergen-free — suitable for little ones with common food sensitivities.
- Fully safety tested — every batch is checked for quality and purity.
- Naturally derived — made from trusted dairy milk sources.
How is it produced?
GOS is created through a special process using lactose, the main carbohydrate in milk. Its name comes from galactose — a natural part of lactose. Interestingly, many of the oligosaccharides (simple, soluble carbohydrates) found in breast milk also contain galactose.
How does it work?
GOS plays an important role in digestive and immune health for infants and children:
- Prebiotic effect & immune support — GOS feeds beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, some of the very first microbes to colonise the infant gut. These good bacteria help protect against early immune challenges.
- Supports digestive health — GOS helps improve stool consistency, promoting regularity and digestive comfort.
GOS helps with lowering respiratory infections
What does the research say?
In one study, GOS has been reported to stabilize stool softness [1]. GOS has also been demonstrated to boost Bifido-bacterium (good bacteria) levels and reduce Clostridium (bad bacteria) levels in the gut, while also lowering colic after 2 weeks [2].
In other research, GOS contributed to a drop in the likelihood of children developing respiratory infections. A GOS-containing prebiotic has been used in milk-based nutrient interventions to significantly reduce the risk of respiratory or gut infection episodes, including diarrhea and vomiting [3] in children up to 29 months.
This figure shows how GOS helped to reduce the percentage of kids with infection episodes by 8%, and this reduced the number of children who needed treatment by 30% (adapted from [3]).
A further research study has reported that the inclusion of GOS has contributed to improvements in gut motility in children up to 4 years of age [4].
To see how ingredients like GOS fit into everyday feeding, explore our formula range with digestive-support nutrients.
References:
1. Sierra et al. Eur J Nutr. 2015 Feb;54(1):89-99.
2. Giovanni et al. J Am Coll Nutr. 2014;33(5):385-93.
3. Chatchatee et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 Apr;58(4):428-37.
4. Ribeiro, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr., 2012. 54(2): p. 288-90.
Which Little Étoile products contain Galacto-Oligosaccharides (GOS)?
$50.90
