At the very beginning, it is found in detection and analysis of infants’ intestinal flora that, intestinal bifidobacterium of breast fed infants accounts for approximately 99% of anaerobic bacterium, while that of manually fed infants only accounts for about 90%. What’s the reason? Research findings show that, human milk, especially colostrum, contains a substance named N-acet-D glucose, which is capable of promoting bifidusfactor proliferation. Therefore, people call the substance as bifidusfactor.
Bifidusfactor is a new subject of international micro-ecological research. Therefore, translation of its name has not been united in China yet. In addition to bifidusfactor, it is also named as growth factor of bifidobacterium, bifidus-stimulating factor, bifidus proliferator and multiplication factor, etc.
According to the latest data, international bifidusfactor preparations are mainly composed of over 20 oligosaccharides, such as xylo-oligosaccharides, yogurt oligosaccharides, fructose oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides and soybean oligosaccharides. Longlive xylo-oligosaccharides, also named as XOS, is a type of functional polymer sugar composed of 2-7 xylose molecules bonded with β-1, 4 glycosidic bonds. Compared with common soybean oligosaccharides, fructose oligosaccharides and isomalto-oligosaccharides, it has unique advantages. It is capable of selectively promoting proliferation activity of intestinal bifidobacterium. Its bifidusfactor functions as 10-20 times of other polymer sugar. It mainly functions to promote bifidobacterium proliferation in body and relieve constipation. Generally, it is extensively applied in dairy beverages, health products, feedstuff, cake and biscuits as a functional food additive, and used to increase higher added value of products as prebiotics. It is recommended as a nutrition and health advocated product by Chinese Nutrition Society.