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Human Milk

Oligosaccharides (HMO):

Creating Differentiating

Offers in Infant Nutrition

By: Marianne Heer
Scientific Marketing
BASF Human Nutrition

Parents are concerned about healthy growth and development of their babies – meeting this demand is the basis
for creating differentiating offers in infant nutrition.

There is broad consensus that breast feeding is the best nutrition for The First Superfood: for Babies’ Healthy Development
newborn infants. Not only does it assure normal growth and development During infancy, HMOs are important for shaping the microbiota by
during infancy, it is also associated with favorable medium-to-long term promoting the colonization of beneficial bacteria, mainly bifidobacteria.
outcomes, such as lower risk of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, More and more ongoing studies show the clinical relevance of
allergy, diabetes or obesity in later life. deviations from a “normal” microbiota, especially during early life (e.g.,
For mothers who cannot breastfeed, infant milk formulas could be dysbiosis preceding allergic diseases, metabolic syndrome or obesity).
the next best alternative to breast milk. Intense research is ongoing to Thus, developing a microbiota close to that of breastfed infants is the
identify specific components of human milk and to make them available objective.
as ingredients for formula – always with the objective to narrow the Healthy immune functions are a pre-requisite for the prevention of
nutritional gap between human milk and cow’s milk-based infant formula. infections and allergies. About 10 years ago, it was found that
Campylobacter diarrhea – one of the major causes of diarrhea during
Designed by Mothers: Discovered by Scientists infancy – occurred less often in babies whose mother’s milk contained
Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) is a breakthrough differentiator: high levels of 2’-FL. In the meantime, mechanistic studies shed light
they are the third largest solid component in human milk, following lactose on this observation: due to the specific molecular structure, 2’-FL is
and fat. The amount is about 300 times higher compared with bovine able to act as a decoy receptor for pathogens. Instead of binding to
milk. the carbohydrate receptors on the intestinal cell surfaces, pathogens
HMOs were discovered many years ago, however, it was only during bind to 2’-FL and the adhesion to the host cells – the first step of
the last decades that detailed insights into the complexity of the structures infections – can be prevented. Moreover, 2’-FL can directly modulate
were gained, thanks to the availability of more precise analytical methods. intestinal cell responses and the thus strengthen the mucous
The HMO composition of human milk is complex and varies barrier.
significantly among mothers, over the course of lactation and according Recent data suggest that 2’-FL can directly attenuate inflammation
to their genetic set-up. The HMO concentration in early milk is highest in experimental models. This confirms HMOs as being an “innate”
and it declines by about 30% over the course of lactation. In mature immune system of human milk whereby the mother protects the
human milk, the content may still be as high as 5 – 20g/L compared to vulnerable newborn child. 2’-FL can also represent a novel preventative
less than 0.05g/L of bovine milk. active to reduce mucosal inflammation associated with diverse bowel
Today, more than 200 HMO molecules have been identified, of which disorders.
2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) is the most abundant in most mothers. Allergies are on the rise in many countries and besides genetic
Up to now, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides predisposition, environmental factors have an important role.
(FOS) have often been added to infant formula to mimic HMOs. However, Observational studies suggest that fucosylated HMOs may have a
both do not occur in human milk. On the other hand, fucose and sialic preventive role in infants with high allergy risk.
acid which appear to be important structural and functional components Further promising results stem from rodent models, in which 2’-FL
of HMOs are absent in infant formula with GOS/FOS. was shown to have a positive effect on learning and memory functions
Thus, the availability of HMOs with molecular structures identical to when supplemented during infancy.
those occurring in human milk, is a breakthrough in infant nutrition.

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