Intestinal inflammation has become a social health problem and challenge in China, and its incidence rate is increasing rapidly. The causes of intestinal inflammation are complex. Currently, there is a lack of effective drugs for intestinal inflammation. Therefore, it is of vital importance to strengthen the research and development of effective drugs for intestinal inflammation. Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) is a functional oligosaccharide derived from milk with good therapeutic properties, it can effectively promote proliferation of intestinal probiotics, change the structure of intestinal flora and stimulate immune response, consequently improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, ultimately relieving intestinal inflammation. This paper reviews the recent progress in research on intestinal inflammation and the role of intervention with GOS in relieving intestinal inflammation and discusses future prospects for its application. We anticipate that this review will provide a scientific basis for further research in this field.