COMPOSITION FOR PROMOTING THE ASSIMILATION OF AN OLIGOSACCHARIDE

A technique for promoting the assimilation of an oligosaccharide such as an HMO by an intestinal bacterium, especially a bifidobacterial strain, is provided. As a first aspect, a composition for promoting the assimilation of an oligosaccharide containing a tocopherol is provided. As a second aspect, a nutritional composition (excluding breast milk) containing an oligosaccharide and a tocopherol is provided. The tocopherol in the aspects contains one, two or more kinds selected from the group consisting of beta -tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and delta-tocopherol. The oligosaccharide in the aspects is preferably a human milk oligosaccharides. The mass ratio of the delta-tocopherol content to the beta -tocopherol content (delta/ beta) in the aspects is preferably 5 or more, and the mass ratio of the gamma-tocopherol content to the delta-tocopherol content (gamma/delta) is preferably 8.8 or less.