Breast milk oligosaccharides: what do we know today?

Abstract

Breastfeeding remains the "gold standard" for feeding babies in the first year of life. Breast milk contains a mixture of nutrients; their amount varies throughout the lactation period and even throughout the day. The composition of breast milk (BM) is complex and dynamic. Currently, BM oligosaccharides (BMOs) are of most interest to researchers. Due to advances in science and biotechnology, more than 200 BMOs have been identified. Human BM is the richest source of oligosaccharides among all mammals (for instance, their content in cow's milk is almost 1,000 times lower). Numerous favorable effects of BMOs on child health are related to the immune response, gut barrier function, and protection against pathogens. BMOs as prebiotics contribute to the formation of the infant's intestinal microbiome. The BM contains a complex bacterial community whose composition depends on the maternal microbiome (skin, gut, genital, urethral tracts) that forms the infant gut microbial community. In the absence of breastfeeding, modern formulas can be used; BMOs in their composition make them more like BM.