FrieslandCampina Ingredients makes the case for galacto-oligosaccharides in closing the gap between infant formula and breast milk

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FrieslandCampina Ingredients has published a white paper setting out the scientific rationale for galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) as a critical tool for replicating the oligosaccharide complexity of human milk in infant formula – and introducing its next-generation ingredient, Vivinal® GOS-SL, which delivers additional human milk oligosaccharide structures through a novel production process.

Breast milk is, by scientific consensus, the optimal nutrition for infants. Yet its full biochemical complexity remains extraordinarily difficult to replicate. Oligosaccharides – the third largest solid component of human milk after fat and lactose – are central to that complexity, playing a key role in establishing healthy gut microbiota and supporting both digestion and immune function in early life. More than 200 distinct human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) have been identified to date, each present at varying concentrations and potentially conferring its own specific benefits.

It is against this backdrop that FrieslandCampina Ingredients has issued its white paper, A new era in milk oligosaccharide diversity: unlock the power of GOS, arguing that while a small number of individual HMOs can now be synthesised and incorporated into infant formulas, GOS remains indispensable for approximating the breadth of oligosaccharide diversity found in breast milk.

GOS: far more than a single ingredient

A common misconception in the infant nutrition sector, the white paper suggests, is that GOS is a straightforward, uniform ingredient. In fact, GOS is biochemically complex. More than 100 distinct oligosaccharide structures have been identified within GOS, produced enzymatically from lactose. Crucially, several of these structures are also naturally present in human milk – specifically 3’-galactosyllactose (3’-GL), 4’-galactosyllactose (4’-GL) and 6’-galactosyllactose (6’-GL), collectively known as galactosyllactoses.

The white paper notes that GOS has been incorporated into infant milk formula for over two decades, during which time a substantial body of clinical research has accumulated. Vivinal® GOS, the company’s proprietary ingredient, is described as the most extensively studied GOS in the world, with more than 70 clinical studies conducted in infants and children. Research has demonstrated measurable effects on bowel function, stool consistency and transit time – outcomes that translate directly into improved digestive comfort, which the paper identifies as a leading concern among parents of formula-fed infants.

Beyond digestive function, GOS acts as a substrate for beneficial gut bacteria, selectively supporting the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. This bifidogenic effect helps shape a healthier overall gut microbiome, which in turn supports the maturation of the infant immune system. GOS has also been shown to enhance absorption of calcium and iron – minerals critical to normal growth and skeletal development in early life.

Galactosyllactoses: the hidden functional components within GOS

A significant focus of the white paper is the emerging science around the three galactosyllactoses found within Vivinal GOS: 3’-GL, 4’-GL and 6’-GL. These structures, though present in human milk as part of the broader HMO pool, have until recently attracted relatively limited research attention.

Preclinical studies cited in the paper indicate that galacto­syllactoses can support gut health and immune function through several distinct mechanisms. In vitro data show that all three structures promote the growth of beneficial Bifidobacterium species, including B. longum, B. breve and
B. pseudocatenulatum, in formula-fed infant microbiota models. Among the three, 4’-GL appears to be the most potently bifidogenic, making it of particular interest for infant nutrition applications.

Additional findings cited include evidence that 3’-GL can help protect the integrity of the gut barrier, and that all three galactosyllactoses can suppress the secretion of IL-8 – a pro-inflammatory cytokine – in immature intestinal cells. There is also preliminary evidence that 3’-GL may stimulate T-regulatory cell responses, potentially supporting immune balance in the developing infant. The white paper acknowledges that the majority of these findings derive from preclinical and in vitro models, and characterises the galactosyllactose research field as still emerging. Nevertheless, the concentration data presented are striking: incorporating 6.5% w/w Vivinal GOS syrup (equivalent to 4 g/L of GOS) into infant formula delivers galactosyllactose levels that not only match but substantially exceed those found in mature human milk. 4’-GL in particular is present at 595 mg/L in Vivinal GOS syrup at that inclusion level, compared with 1.9 mg/L in mature human milk. The total galactosyllactose contribution from Vivinal GOS (623 mg/L) is more than 56 times that found in human milk (11 mg/L).

A new generation: sialylated oligosaccharides through GOS

FrieslandCampina Ingredients uses the white paper to introduce Vivinal GOS-SL, described as a next-generation ingredient that builds on the existing Vivinal GOS composition while also delivering two sialylated HMO structures: 3’-sialyllactose (3’-SL) and 6’-sialyllactose (6’-SL). These are retained from bovine milk through a patent-pending production process rather than being synthesised separately and added, distinguishing this approach from conventional HMO addition strategies.

Both 3’-SL and 6’-SL are found in human milk, and preclinical and association studies suggest they may have functional significance beyond gut health. The paper cites evidence that both structures can inhibit infectivity of rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus in vitro. 6’-SL has been associated with improved learning and memory in animal models, and with neurodevelopmental outcomes in human association studies. 3’-SL has been positively associated with language development during infancy in a published clinical study.

For infant formula manufacturers, the practical implication is that Vivinal GOS-SL could enable labelling of up to five HMO structures – 3’-GL, 4’-GL, 6’-GL, 3’-SL and 6’-SL – through a single GOS ingredient, subject to country-specific regulatory frameworks governing health claims and ingredient communications.

Synergistic effects with 2’-FL and implications for formulation strategy

The white paper also addresses the emerging evidence for synergistic effects when GOS is combined with 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), currently one of the most widely added individual HMOs in infant formula. The two ingredient classes appear to be complementary rather than interchangeable.

In vitro fermentation studies cited in the paper show that some Bifidobacterium species are unable to thrive on 2’-FL alone, but that adding GOS supports cross-feeding and metabolite production that enables a more diverse and balanced microbiota. Combined GOS and 2’-FL formulations have also been shown to significantly reduce populations of Proteobacteria – a bacterial group associated with gut dysbiosis and inflammation – to a greater extent than either ingredient alone. There is preliminary evidence from in vitro colon models that the combination may also support faster recovery of the gut microbiota following antibiotic perturbation, which has practical relevance given the frequency of antibiotic use in early infancy.

The white paper positions GOS not as a substitute for individual HMOs but as a complementary ingredient that contributes structural diversity that a small number of synthetic HMOs cannot replicate.

Market context: parental concern driving formulation priorities

FrieslandCampina Ingredients positions the science within a market context, citing findings from a global consumer study conducted with Innova in 2020. According to that research, 55% of parents who purchase infant formula express concern about their child’s gut health, and 59% say they would be interested in buying a product with a gut health claim. Separately, 55% of parents globally report a preference for formulas containing a prebiotic ingredient.

The paper identifies prebiotics as a sustained trend in early life nutrition, driven by the high incidence of immune-related symptoms and digestive discomfort in infants aged 0-12 months. For manufacturers, the message is that GOS ingredients with robust clinical substantiation are well positioned to meet these consumer expectations while also delivering genuine nutritional function.

Download the white paper

The white paper, which includes detailed references to the clinical and preclinical literature supporting these findings, is available to download from FrieslandCampina Ingredients.

• A new era in milk oligosaccharide diversity: unlock the power of GOS https://www.frieslandcampinaingredients.com/#modal-form-download