Functional oligosaccharide fermentation in the gut: Improving intestinal health and its determinant factors-A review.

Abstract in brief

• The human gut hosts a complex microbiome that relies on nutrients like microbiota-accessible carbohydrates (MACs) to maintain diversity and support intestinal health; lack of these nutrients can lead to issues like reduced bacterial diversity and inflammation.
• Functional oligosaccharides are a type of MAC that act as prebiotics, providing beneficial effects by serving as food for probiotics, which promotes the production of short-chain fatty acids and helps regulate gut microbiota.
• The review explores the sources, structural features, and factors influencing the effectiveness of oligosaccharides, highlighting strategies to enhance gut health through their fermentation and structural design.]