Isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) is a common and widely used functional sugar substitute. Simply put, it is a sweetener that can be utilized by beneficial bacteria in the gut, but is difficult for the human body to digest and absorb, has low calories, and is anti caries. It is often used as a “prebiotic”.
Low molecular weight IMO is made from starch as raw material. The sweetness is only 40% -50% of sucrose, so the sweetness is gentle and not as sweet as sucrose. The appearance is white powder or light yellow transparent syrup.
I. Why is low molecular weight IMO called “bifid factor”?
1. In vitro experiments have confirmed the ability to cultivate beneficial bacteria: When using IMOs as the sole carbon source (food) to cultivate Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus in a laboratory environment, the number of these beneficial bacteria will significantly increase.
2. Human and animal experiments have confirmed the effect of “regulating bacteria”: after continuous intake of low molecular weight IMO by subjects or experimental animals, the number of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in their feces significantly increases. A commonly used measure is the B/E ratio (i.e. the ratio of Bifidobacteria to Escherichia coli), which also significantly increases after ingestion, indicating an increase in the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the gut and a more balanced microbiota.
3. Combination use has better effects: Studies have also found that when low molecular weight IMO is combined with other prebiotics (such as low molecular weight Galacto-Oligosaccharide and Fructo-oligosaccharide), it has a synergistic effect on the proliferation of some probiotics (such as Lactobacillus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07), and the effect is better than using it alone.
The action of this “bifid factor” also brings chain health benefits, such as helping to improve constipation and promoting intestinal peristalsis, which is also an important reason why it is widely used in the fields of food and health products.
II. How much IMO should be consumed to exert its regulatory effect on the intestine?
1. Effective dosage: Based on multiple studies, a daily intake of 15-20 grams of IMO is considered an effective dosage range for healthy adults.
2. Tolerance study: In a clinical trial, subjects were administered a total dose of 36 grams (12 grams each time) or 54 grams (18 grams each time) of IMO in three daily doses to evaluate their tolerance and impact on gut microbiota. This indicates that the human body has good tolerance to it.
III. The safety of low molecular weight IMO.
1. High safety: Animal experiments have shown that its acute toxicity (LD50) is greater than 44g/kg body weight, which is safer than sucrose (LD50 about 29.8g/kg) and maltose (LD50 about 26.7g/kg). Long term feeding experiments also do not find any abnormalities.
2. Interval between taking the same medication: Although it has no toxic side effects, it is recommended to take the medication 2 hours apart. Because its non fermentable properties may affect the absorption of certain drugs by the human body, reducing their efficacy.
IV. New application: IMO not limited to “prebiotics“.
In addition to being used as a functional ingredient in yogurt and beverages, low molecular weight IMO also has some special uses:
1. Reduce oil content in fried foods: A recent study found that adding IMO-90 to fried instant noodles can significantly reduce the oil content of the finished product. When the addition amount reaches 15%, the oil content can be reduced to 12.4%, while also improving the color and flavor of the product. This provides a new idea for developing low calorie fried foods.
2. Improving the flavor of yogurt: Research has found that yogurt with added IMO has a slightly lower acidity compared to the control group (sucrose, 112.49 mg/g) in terms of total free amino acid content (108.93 mg/g) produced during fermentation.
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