## Probiotic compositions 

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a probiotic composition comprising a sugar composition of the invention and one or more probiotics. Consumption of a composition comprising both probiotics and prebiotics is one way to ensure that beneficial probiotics are present to benefit from the prebiotics ingested. 

## Foods and beverages 

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a food or beverage comprising one or more of the sugar compositions of the invention, the prebiotic composition of the invention or the probiotic composition of the invention. The food or beverage is optionally prebiotic and/or probiotic. 

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of preparing a food or beverage comprising combining a sugar composition of the present invention, a prebiotic composition of the invention or a probiotic composition of the invention with one or more ingredients suitable for consumption. 

Suitable foods include bread, cereal, chocolate and confectionary. Suitable beverages include fruit juices, tea-based drinks, milk-based drinks, soy milk-based drinks, nut juice-based drinks (eg almond milk) and soft drinks. 

## Methods of using the sugars of the invention 

In a fifth aspect the present, invention provides a method of increasing the quantity of probiotic bacteria in the colon of a mammal comprising consumption by the mammal of at least 3 g of a composition according to the third or fourth aspects of the invention. 

In an alternate fifth aspect, the present invention provides a method of increasing the quantity of probiotic bacteria in the colon of a mammal comprising consumption by the mammal of a prebiotic sugar composition, prebiotic composition and/or probiotic composition of the invention. 

Optionally, the probiotic bacteria increased is one or more of lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Baciullus, Streptococcus, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Anaeropstipes, Bacillus, Odoribacter, Victivallis (phylum Lentisphaerae) and unclassified Lentisphaerae, unclassified Marinilabiaceae and Anaerophaga (family Marinilabiaceae), Anaerophaga, Cerasicoccus, Roseburia, and/or Shigella species. 

