Method for producing galactooligosaccharides from lactose
Methods are disclosed for the enzymatic preparation of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) from lactose using two different microbial lactase enzymes to maximize the extent of transgalactosylation during the digestion of lactose. Methods are also disclosed for avoiding the turbidity of a solution comprising GOS and lactose as it is adjusted for incubation with a yeast neutral lactase.
1. A galactooligosaccharide (GOS) composition comprising:
galactose;
glucose;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-DGlcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
2. A dietary supplement comprising a galactooligosaccharide (GOS) composition as defined in claim 1 .
3. A food item comprising a galactooligosaccharide (GOS) composition as defined in claim 1 .
4. The GOS composition of claim 1 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
5. The GOS composition of claim 1 , wherein essentially all tetrasaccharides in a tetrasaccharide fraction of the GOS composition include a β-D-Galp-(1→6)- linkage.
6. The GOS composition of claim 1 , wherein a tetrasaccharide fraction of the GOS composition consists essentially of:
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
7. The GOS composition of claim 4 , wherein essentially all tetrasaccharides in a tetrasaccharide fraction of the GOS composition include a β-D-Galp-(1→6)- linkage.
8. The GOS composition of claim 1 , wherein essentially all trisaccharides in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition are linear.
9. The GOS composition of claim 1 , wherein a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition consists essentially of:
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
10. The GOS composition of claim 8 , wherein each trisaccharide in the trisaccharide fraction terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
11. The GOS composition of claim 4 , wherein each trisaccharide in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
12. The GOS composition of claim 1 , wherein each trisaccharide in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
13. The GOS composition of claim 4 , wherein a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition consists essentially of:
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
14. The GOS composition of claim 5 , wherein each trisaccharide in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
15. The GOS composition of claim 6 , wherein each trisaccharide in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
16. The GOS composition of claim 5 , wherein a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition consists essentially of:
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
17. The GOS composition of claim 6 , wherein a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition consists essentially of:
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
18. The GOS composition of claim 5 , wherein essentially all trisaccharides in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition are linear.
19. The GOS composition of claim 18 , wherein each trisaccharide in the trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
20. The GOS composition of claim 6 , wherein essentially all trisaccharides in a trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition are linear.
21. The GOS composition of claim 20 , wherein each trisaccharide in the trisaccharide fraction of the GOS composition terminates with a β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp linkage.
22. The GOS composition of claim 5 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
23. The GOS composition of claim 6 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
24. The GOS composition of claim 8 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
25. The GOS composition of claim 9 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
26. The GOS composition of claim 10 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
27. The GOS composition of claim 12 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
28. The GOS composition of claim 14 , wherein the GOS composition is essentially free of one or more of:
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Galp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→4)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-[β-D-Galp-(1→6)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-[β-D-Galp-(1→2)-]D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→2)-D-Glcp;
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp; and
β-D-Galp-(1→3)-[β-DGalp-(1→6)-]β-D-Galp-(1→4)-D-Glcp.
29. The food item of claim 3 , wherein the food item is animal feed.
30. A dietary supplement comprising a galactooligosaccharide (GOS) composition as defined in claim 5 .