Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO)

HMOs are considered as main metabolites from human milk which have a direct impact on the gut microbiota composition of infants, yet how particular bacteria respond to individual HMO is not clear. In this study, 12 bacterial strains were isolated from breastfed infant faeces, so as to examine their ability to utilize 5 major HMOs* as a carbon source. Results showed that:

This review article highlights the benefits of human milk on newborns and mothers from physiological and health implication perspective. Significance of milk microbiota (i.e. origins, diversity, benefits and impact of maternal diet) and human milk oligosaccharides as well as their potential interaction were presented.

Over 200 human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) structures have been identified and this recent review article provides an overview of HMO levels from healthy women throughout lactation. 57 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed and a summary as below: Total HMO levels were: Colostrum (0-5 days): 17.7 g/L Transitional milk (6-14 days): 13.3 g/L Mature milk (15-90 days): 11.3 g/L   HMO levels differed greatly for individual HMO and varied throughout different lactational stage, e.g. 2’-FL significantly dropped from colostrum to late milk 3-FL significantly increased from colostrum to late milk   Pooled human milk consisted of a diverse HMO profile with over 200 structures, but the top 10 HMOs contributed over 70% of total HMO   Top HMOs in descending order of magnitude: 2’-FL LNDFH-I (DFLNT) LNFP-I LNFP-II LNT 3-FL 6’-SL DSLNT LNnT DFL (LDFT) FDS-LNH LNFP-III 3’-SL LST c TF-LNH   Abbreviations: 2’-FL = 2′-Fucosyllactose; LNDFH-I (DFLNT) = Lacto-N-difucohexaose I (or Difucosyllacto-N-Tetraose); LNFP-I = Lacto-N-Fucopentaose I; LNFP-I = Lacto-N-Fucopentaose II;  LNT = Lacto-N-Tetraose; 3-FL = 3-Fucosyllactose; 6’-SL = 6’-Sialyllactose; DSLNT = Disialyllacto-N-Tetraose; LNnT = Lacto-N-Neotetraose; DFL (LDFT) = Difucosyllactose (Lactodifucotetraose); FDS-LNH = Fucosyl-Disialyl-Lacto-N-Hexaose; LNFP-III = Lacto-N-Fucopentaose III; 3’-SL = 3’-Sialyllactose; LST c = Sialyllacto-N-Neotetraose c; TF-LNH = Trifucosyllacto-N-Hexaose