XOS(Xylo-oligosaccharides)

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are polymers of the sugar xylose. They are produced from the xylan fraction in plant fiber. Their C5 (where C is a quantity of carbon atoms in each monomer) structure is fundamentally different from other prebiotics, which are based upon C6 sugars. They have more recently become more widely available commercially, as technologies have advanced and production costs have fallen. Some enzymes from yeast can exclusively convert xylan into only xylooligosaccharides-DP-3 to 7.

Digestive health. Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. XOS increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which are beneficial for gut health and have anti-inflammatory properties, improving bowel regularity and reducing symptoms of constipation.

Immune support. Xylooligosaccharides modulate the immune response and enhance gut barrier function.

Cardiometabolic support. XOS supplementation suppots blood glucose control and reduces glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) as well as fructosamine, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol, oxidised low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and apolipoprotein B levels. Additionally, Prebiotic XOS may be beneficial in reversing changes in the gut microbiota during the development of diabetes.

Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) is a type of oligosaccharide that is demonstrated to provide benefits to intestinal motility, another phrase for prebiotics.

Chemically, XOS is the xylose-based oligosaccharides comprising 2–10 D-xylose residues linked via β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. When XOS is ingested, it can travel directly to the large intestine, where it is selectively utilized by bifidobacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei for their proliferation.

Hence, XOS ultimately provides the effect of inhibiting the growth of other harmful bacteria within the intestine due to targeted growth of those which are beneficial. It has been reported that XOS is the most efficient among the oligosaccharide peers (such as galacto-oligosaccharides, lactulose, inulin, and fructose-oligosaccharides) in promoting bifidobacterium proliferation.

As a reflection of the increasing interest in XOS, studies on XOS as prebiotics have increased year by year in the past 20 years. This is due to widespread demonstration, both in vivo and in vitro, of the health benefits provided through human consumption of XOS.

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are saccharides composed of xylose molecules linked by β-(1–4) bonds. They are considered nondigestible oligosaccharides due to the fact that they cannot be hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes. Furthermore, they are recently recognized as "emerging prebiotic" since they promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon.

Currently, it is known that the consumption of XOS has several benefits on human health such as colon cancer prevention, blood cholesterol reduction, regulation of insulin secretion, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, improvement of immunity, and maintenance of gastrointestinal health.

XOS are obtained by processing lignocellulosic biomass, derived mainly from forestry and agro-industrial wastes. There are different types of XOS, depending on the chemical structure and the presence of different side groups (glucuronic acid, arabinose, and others) forming branched structures.

XOS can be obtained by different methods, but all of them are based on the cleavage of the xylan present in the lignocellulosic biomass. This can be carried out by acid hydrolysis, by enzymatic hydrolysis, or by a process called autohydrolysis.

XOS can be used as stabilizers and emulsifiers or to replace fat in food products. Due to the fact that XOS are very stable at high temperatures and low acidity, they can be used as an ingredient in foodstuffs that undergo pasteurization or sterilization processes and in acid foods. Moreover, due to their sweet taste, XOS are used as an artificial sweetener for diabetics and in dietetic foods.