Maintaining a diverse and stable gut microbiota are key factors in a healthy gut. GOS supports the abundance of gut bifidogenic bacteria and has been shown in multiple studies that it impacts the gut microbiota in different age groups¹Sierra C, Bernal M-J, Blasco J, Martínez R, Dalmau J, et al. Prebiotic effect during the first year of life in healthy infants fed formula containing GOS as the only prebiotic: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr 2015; 54(1): 89–99.²Vulevic J, Juric A, Tzortzis G, Gibson GR. A mixture of trans–galactooligosaccharides reduces markers of metabolic syndrome and modulates the fecal microbiota and immune function of overweight adults. J Nutr 2013; 143(3): 324–331.³Davis LMG, MartÍnez I, Walter J, Hutkins R. A dose dependent impact of prebiotic galactooligosaccharides on the intestinal microbiota of healthy adults. Int J Food Microbiol 2010; 144(2): 285–292.⁴Vulevic J, Juric A, Walton GE, Claus SP, Tzortzis G, et al. Influence of galacto-oligosaccharide mixture (B-GOS) on gut microbiota, immune parameters and metabonomics in elderly persons. Brit J Nutr 2015; 114(4): 586–595.. Consuming prebiotics like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) that help support healthy microbiota is just one way of supporting a healthy gut which contributes to our overall wellness.

Diets including pro and prebiotics along with a healthy lifestyle and exercise can help maintain some immune biomarkers in the elderly population⁵Vaiserman AM, Koliada AK, Marotta F. Gut microbiota: a player in aging and a target for anti-aging intervention. Ageing Res Rev 2017; 35: 36–45.. GOS, a prebiotic, has been shown to positively affect gut microbiota and help support the immune system in elderly adults aged 65 to 80 years old; evidenced by an improvement in NK cell activity which plays a crucial role in the human innate immune system⁶Vulevic J, Juric A, Tzortzis G, Gibson GR. A mixture of trans–galactooligosaccharides reduces markers of metabolic syndrome and modulates the fecal microbiota and immune function of overweight adults. J Nutr 2013; 143(3): 324–331.⁷Vulevic J, Juric A, Walton GE, Claus SP, Tzortzis G, et al. Influence of galacto-oligosaccharide mixture (B-GOS) on gut microbiota, immune parameters and metabonomics in elderly persons. Brit J Nutr 2015; 114(4): 586–595.⁸Vulevic J., Drakoularakou A, Yaqoob P, Tzortzis G, Gibson GR. Modulation of the fecal microflora profile and immune function by a novel trans–galactooligosaccharide mixture (B-GOS) in healthy elderly volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr 2008; 88(5): 1438–1446..

Infants fed formula enriched with GOS have been shown to have increased bifidobacterial levels compared to those that received formula without GOS ⁹Giovannini M, Verduci E, Gregori D, Ballali S, Ghisleni D. Prebiotic effect of an infant formula supplemented with galacto-oligosaccharides: randomized multicenter trial. J Am Coll Nutr 2014; 33 (5): 385–393.­¹⁰Sierra C, Bernal M-J, Blasco J, Martínez R, Dalmau J, et al. Prebiotic effect during the first year of life in healthy infants fed formula containing GOS as the only prebiotic: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr 2015; 54(1): 89–99.¹¹Ben X-M, Li J, Feng Z-T, Shi S-Y, Lu Y-D, et al. Low level of galacto-oligosaccharide in infant formula stimulates growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(42): 6564–6568.¹²Fanaro S, Marten B, Bagna R, Vigi V, Fabris C, et al. Galacto-oligosaccharides are bifidogenic and safe at weaning: a double-blind randomized multicenter study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009; 48(1): 82–88.. Bifidobacterium species are among the first to colonize the intestine and play an essential role in the maturation of the immune system and use of dietary components in infants¹³Hidalgo-Cantabrana C, Delgado S, Ruiz L, Ruas-Madiedo P, Sánchez B, Margolles A. Bifidobacteria and their health-promoting effects. Microbiol Spectrum 2017; 5(3). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.BAD-0010-2016..

Many studies support the effect of GOS on the stools of infants and have shown it leads to softer and more frequent stools. This effect is found to be closer to the consistency and frequency of breastfed infants compared to infants fed with formula without GOS¹⁴Sierra C, Bernal M-J, Blasco J, Martínez R, Dalmau J, et al. Prebiotic effect during the first year of life in healthy infants fed formula containing GOS as the only prebiotic: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr 2015; 54(1): 89–99.¹⁵Rao S, Srinivasjois R, Patole S. Prebiotic Supplementation in Full-term Neonates: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2009;163(8):755–764.¹⁶Ashley C, Johnston WH, Harris CL, Stolz SI, Wampler JL, et al. Growth and tolerance of infants fed formula supplemented with polydextrose (PDX) and/or galactooligosaccharides (GOS): double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Nutr J 2012; 11(38). doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-38.¹⁷Scalabrin DMF, Mitmesser SH, Welling GW, Harris CL, Marunycz JD, et al. New prebiotic blend of polydextrose and galacto-oligosaccharides has a bifidogenic effect in young infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(3): 343–352.¹⁸Veereman-Wauters G, Staelens S, Van de Broek H, Plaskie K, Wesling F, et al. Physiological and bifidogenic effects of prebiotic supplements in infant formulae. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 52(6): 763–771.¹⁹Williams T, Choe Y, Price P, Katz G, Suarez F, et al. Tolerance of formulas containing prebiotics in healthy, term infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2014; 59(5): 653–658..

Vitagos supports beneficial gut bacteria and digestive health in cats²⁰Biagi, G., Cipollini, I., Bonaldo, A., Grandi, M., Pompei, A., Stefanelli, C., & Zaghini, G. (2013). Effect of feeding a selected combination of galacto-oligosaccharides and a strain of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum on the intestinal microbiota of cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 74(1), 90–95. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.74.1.90²¹Kanakupt, K., Vester Boler, B. M., Dunsford, B. R., & Fahey, G. C., Jr. (2011). Effects of short-chain fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides, individually and in combination, on nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative metabolite concentrations, and large bowel microbial ecology of healthy adult cats. Journal of Animal Science, 89(5), 1376–1384. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3201, working harmoniously with other prebiotics to maximize health benefits, in a format that maximizes benefits and minimizes stress on pets.

Vitagos supports gut heath and stool quality by nourishing good gut bacteria²²Rentas, M. F., Pedreira, R. S., Perini, M. P., Risolia, L. W., Zafalon, R. V. A., Alvarenga, I. C., Vendramini, T. H. A., Balieiro, J. C. C., Pontieri, C. F. F., & Brunetto, M. A. (2020). Galactooligosaccharide and a prebiotic blend improve colonic health and immunity of adult dogs. PLOS ONE, 15(8), e0238006. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238006²³Perini, M. P., Rentas, M. F., Pedreira, R., Amaral, A. R., Zafalon, R. V. A., Rodrigues, R. B. A., Henríquez, L. B. F., Zanini, L., Vendramini, T. H. A., Balieiro, J. C. C., Pontieri, C. F. F., & Brunetto, M. A. (2020). Duration of prebiotic intake is a key-factor for diet-induced modulation of immunity and fecal fermentation products in dogs. Microorganisms, 8(12), 1916. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8121916, while simultaneously enhancing immune function in pets, in formats pets love.