Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS)

Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) are complex carbohydrates composed of mannose sugars linked together in a chain-like structure. Extracted from the cell wall of yeast (commonly Saccharomyces cerevisiae), MOS serves as a prebiotic, selectively promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while inhibiting the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to the intestinal wall.

Here are three critical roles of MOS in human health:

1. Gut health: MOS primarily acts as a prebiotic, fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn helps maintain a healthy intestinal ecosystem.¹Asbury R, Dipede E, Saville B. Prebiotic Mannan-Oligosaccharides and Their Role in the Gut Microbiota. Curr Dev Nutr. 2022 Jun 14;6(Suppl 1):1130. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzac072.002.
2. Immune support: Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) have been researched for their potential immunomodulatory effects in humans. While much of the research has focused on animals, some studies suggest that MOS could have a similar impact on human immune function. The oligosaccharides are thought to act as immunostimulants that help in activating white blood cells like macrophages and increasing antibody levels, thereby enhancing the body’s ability to fight off pathogens.²Jana UK, Kango N, Pletschke B. Hemicellulose-Derived Oligosaccharides: Emerging Prebiotics in Disease Alleviation. Front Nutr. 2021 Jul 27;8:670817. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.670817.
3. Reducing inflammation: A third potential health benefit of MOS is its role in reducing inflammation. Some preliminary research has suggested that MOS could have anti-inflammatory properties and that, by binding to specific receptors in the gut and interacting with the gut microbiota, MOS can potentially modulate signaling pathways that are involved in inflammatory responses. This could be particularly beneficial in conditions characterised by chronic inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and cardiovascular disease. It should be noted that this is emerging evidence that and more human trials are needed to substantiate this claim.³Mavrogeni ME, Asadpoor M, Henricks PAJ, Keshavarzian A, Folkerts G, Braber S. Direct Action of Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides against a Leaky Gut. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 7;14(21):4699. doi: 10.3390/nu14214699.⁴Hoving LR, Katiraei S, Heijink M, Pronk A, van der Wee-Pals L, Streefland T, Giera M, Willems van Dijk K, van Harmelen V. Dietary Mannan Oligosaccharides Modulate Gut Microbiota, Increase Fecal Bile Acid Excretion, and Decrease Plasma Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis Development. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018 May;62(10):e1700942. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700942.⁵Hoving LR, van der Zande HJP, Pronk A, Guigas B, Willems van Dijk K, van Harmelen V. Dietary yeast-derived mannan oligosaccharides have immune-modulatory properties but do not improve high fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. PLoS One. 2018 May 3;13(5):e0196165. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196165.

Which bacteria are involved in the metabolism/fermentation of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS)?

Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species are among the beneficial bacteria known to be involved in the metabolism and fermentation of mannanoligosaccharides in the gut, breaking it down into beneficial byproducts such as short-chain fatty acids.⁶Kango, N., Jana, U. K., Choukade, R., & Nath, S. (2022). Advances in prebiotic mannooligosaccharides. Current Opinion in Food Science, 47, 100883. doi: 10.1016/j.cofs.2022.100883 It also appears that Roseburia may benefit from MOS-derived molecules that have been pre-digesed by other microbes as part of a collaborative relationship known as cross-feeding.⁷Bhattacharya A, Majtorp L, Birgersson S, Wiemann M, Sreenivas K, Verbrugghe P, Van Aken O, Van Niel EWJ, Stålbrand H. Cross-Feeding and Enzymatic Catabolism for Mannan-Oligosaccharide Utilization by the Butyrate-Producing Gut Bacterium Roseburia hominis A2-183. Microorganisms. 2022 Dec 16;10(12):2496. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10122496.

How can you get more mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) in your diet?

Our Complete Prebiotic provides a good source of MOS. It is also often found in fortified foods and dietary supplements like brewers’ yeast and nutritional yeast. It can also be present in functional foods like certain yoghurts.

Where to find your mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) score in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You will find your MOS score in the “Prebiotics” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results. Guidance on how to work with your MOS score will be featured in your personal action plan. Please note that this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified health provider if you have any questions about the impact of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) on your health.

Synonyms: Mannose-rich oligosaccharides, yeast cell wall extracts, mannose-based prebiotics, mannan oligomers.

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

• 1
  Asbury R, Dipede E, Saville B. Prebiotic Mannan-Oligosaccharides and Their Role in the Gut Microbiota. Curr Dev Nutr. 2022 Jun 14;6(Suppl 1):1130. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzac072.002.
• 2
  Jana UK, Kango N, Pletschke B. Hemicellulose-Derived Oligosaccharides: Emerging Prebiotics in Disease Alleviation. Front Nutr. 2021 Jul 27;8:670817. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.670817.
• 3
  Mavrogeni ME, Asadpoor M, Henricks PAJ, Keshavarzian A, Folkerts G, Braber S. Direct Action of Non-Digestible Oligosaccharides against a Leaky Gut. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 7;14(21):4699. doi: 10.3390/nu14214699.
• 4
  Hoving LR, Katiraei S, Heijink M, Pronk A, van der Wee-Pals L, Streefland T, Giera M, Willems van Dijk K, van Harmelen V. Dietary Mannan Oligosaccharides Modulate Gut Microbiota, Increase Fecal Bile Acid Excretion, and Decrease Plasma Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis Development. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018 May;62(10):e1700942. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700942.
• 5
  Hoving LR, van der Zande HJP, Pronk A, Guigas B, Willems van Dijk K, van Harmelen V. Dietary yeast-derived mannan oligosaccharides have immune-modulatory properties but do not improve high fat diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. PLoS One. 2018 May 3;13(5):e0196165. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196165.
• 6
  Kango, N., Jana, U. K., Choukade, R., & Nath, S. (2022). Advances in prebiotic mannooligosaccharides. Current Opinion in Food Science, 47, 100883. doi: 10.1016/j.cofs.2022.100883
• 7
  Bhattacharya A, Majtorp L, Birgersson S, Wiemann M, Sreenivas K, Verbrugghe P, Van Aken O, Van Niel EWJ, Stålbrand H. Cross-Feeding and Enzymatic Catabolism for Mannan-Oligosaccharide Utilization by the Butyrate-Producing Gut Bacterium Roseburia hominis A2-183. Microorganisms. 2022 Dec 16;10(12):2496. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10122496.

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