Vivinal GOS Shows Gut Benefits in Children
A study by FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Cryptobiotix examined how the prebiotic Vivinal GOS affects gut microbiota in children aged 3 to 12.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Nutrition
FrieslandCampina Ingredients unveiled findings from a study on the effects of its Vivinal GOS ingredient on gut microbiota in children. The research, published in Frontiers in Nutrition, reported a bifidogenic response and higher short-chain fatty acid production across both age groups.
Why it matters
The findings add to research on how prebiotics may support gut health in young children, a population for which targeted nutrition evidence is still developing. The study was conducted with Cryptobiotix using its SIFR technology platform, and the company says it intends to help unlock more targeted gut health innovation for children.
The study tested three doses (1.25 g, 2.5 g and 5 g per day) on gut microbiota from children aged 3 to 12, with significant effects seen at the lowest dose. The extraction does not indicate whether these laboratory-level results have been confirmed in clinical outcomes for children.
The players
FrieslandCampina Ingredients
The ingredients arm of the Netherlands-based dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina, which produces Vivinal GOS and reported combined 2025 sales of €1.486 billion.
Cryptobiotix
A company that provides the SIFR technology platform used to study gut microbiota in the research.
The details
Researchers measured microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid production using faecal samples from children aged 3 to 6 and 6 to 12. Fermentation samples also produced dose-dependent improvements in epithelial barrier integrity in a co-culture model of intestinal and immune cells.
Timeline
- 2026-11-05
FrieslandCampina Ingredients unveiled the study findings.
Health Landscape
The study adds to the clinical literature on galactooligosaccharides, a prebiotic category supported by more than 70 clinical studies for Vivinal GOS. Its focus on children aged 3 to 12 extends that evidence base into a population where prebiotic research remains comparatively limited.
For parents, the study suggests that a prebiotic ingredient may influence gut bacteria in young children even at a relatively low daily dose. The extraction does not indicate that the product is available for direct consumer purchase or that the findings should change any child's diet.
The takeaway
Early research suggests prebiotic ingredients may influence gut microbiota in young children at modest doses. Readers should treat these laboratory findings as preliminary until clinical outcome studies confirm them.
Further reading
For more on how dietary ingredients shape gut health, see the Nutrition section.
More information
Learn about the science behind the ingredient on the Vivinal GOS science and benefits page from FrieslandCampina Ingredients.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AFJMag.
