Raffinose is a trisaccharide in the oligosaccharide family composed of galactose, glucose, and fructose. It can be found in beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, or other vegetables. Isolated oligosaccharides are now available for incorporation into functional foods and have been added to medical foods and foods such as dairy products and desserts.

The probiotic bacteria in our large intestine feed on raffinose. In doing so, they break off simple sugars from raffinose for our digestive system to absorb. Raffinose is a prebiotic – it feeds those probiotic bacteria, keeping them healthy and strong. That’s important for maintaining a healthy digestive system.

* Oligosaccharide – indigestible sugar