Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)

Also known as short-chain inulin consists of 2-7 fructose units. This type of inulin has higher solubility compared to longer-chain varieties. Short-chain inulin is often used in food products for its prebiotic properties and as a sugar substitute.

Since fructooligosaccharides (FOS) have a simple chemical structure (primarily beta-2-1-linked fructans) and are commonly found in diets (Leshem et al. 2020 mSystems 5: e00665-20), it is expected that many microbes have evolved to utilize them and have the ability to degrade this simple linkage type. Moreover, the soluble nature of FOS allows easy microbial accessibility for its degradation.
Cantu-Jungles et al. 2021 mBio 12:e01028-21

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) increases the occurrence of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
Patnode et al. 2019 Cell 179: 59-73

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are Water-soluble dietary Fibers (DF) which are digested by, and result in the proliferation of, the Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in the gut
Niness 1999 The Journal of Nutrition. 129(7 Suppl): 1402S-6S
Savignac et al. 2013 Neurochem. Int. 63: 756–764

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) is a subgroup of inulin, consisting of polymers with a degree of polymerization (DP) </= 10. Some articles considered the fractions with degree of polymerization (DP) lower than 10 as short-chained fructo-oligosaccharides
Niness 1999 The Journal of Nutrition. 129(7 Suppl): 1402S-6S

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) is not digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract; therefore, it has a reduced caloric value
Niness 1999 The Journal of Nutrition. 129(7 Suppl): 1402S-6S

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) has a sweet, pleasant flavor and is highly soluble
Niness 1999 The Journal of Nutrition. 129(7 Suppl): 1402S-6S

see also:
Inulin & Types
ORAFTI TM P95