Breast milk oligosaccharides: one more step on the path to making infant formulas more like a «gold standard» for infant feeding

Abstract

Breast milk is the «gold standard» for infant feeding. Its unique properties are due to the balanced macroand micro-nutrient composition and the presence of a whole range of functional components that have a multifaceted impact on the postnatal development of the baby’s organs and tissues. The carbohydrate fraction is currently of great interest to the researchers. Particular attention is paid to the human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), which are the third largest component in human milk after fat component and lactose in concentration. The main HMOs are fucosylated molecules – 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and 3’-fucosyllactose (3’-FL), lacto-N-fucopentaose (LNFP I, II, III), as well as some neutral and acidic oligosaccharides. The numerous laboratory and clinical studies showed that HMOs are the key nutrients that contribute to the formation of the intestinal microbiota of the infant, provide an anti-infectious and immunological effect, and participate in the postnatal formation of brain structures. If breastfeeding is not possible, the milk formula is likely to be the sole source of oligosaccharides for infants. The introduction of breast milk oligosaccharides into the baby food composition is an important stage in adaptation of such foods and making those more like the “gold standard” of feeding in composition.