#

Save this page

Saved

Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Frequently Asked Questions

1) What are Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)?

Human Milk Oligosaccharides are a group of unique prebiotics that are the third most abundant solid component of human milk after fats and lactose. Preclinical and clinical research show HMOs may provide unique benefits to infants’ immune and digestive health, in addition to a possible role in cognitive development.

2) Can a mother impact HMO composition in her breast milk?

It is not clear whether a mother can impact HMO composition. Maternal genetics, diet, and exercise are thought to play a role.

3) What is 2′-FL HMO, and why is it important?

2′-FL HMO is the most abundant HMO in most mothers’ milk and has been shown to have unique benefits to infants’ immune and digestive health, in addition to a possible role in cognitive development.

4) What percentage of total HMOs is 2′-FL HMO?

Approximately 30% of total HMOs in most mothers' milk is 2′-FL.

5) How do you pronounce the names of these HMOs?

Acetylated (uh·see·tuh·lay·tid)

  • LNT: lacto-N-tetraose

Fucosylated (few·cose·uh·lay·tid)

  • 2'-FL: 2'-fucosyllactose
  • 3-FL: 3-fucosyllactose

Sialylated (sigh·a·lay·tid)

  • 3'-SL: 3'-sialyllactose
  • 6'-SL: 6'-sialyllactose

6) Why may a diversified HMO profile be better than one?

There are over 150 HMOs found in human milk, and they fall into 3 categories. Each HMO is unique in structure, and they have different functions. Preclinical and clinical research show that HMOs may provide unique benefits to the immune and digestive systems, in addition to a possible role in cognitive development. Additionally, HMOs act as receptor decoys for different pathogens in cell culture studies. 

7) What is 3-FL HMO, and why is it important?

3-FL HMO represents the fucosylated category of HMOs. Emerging research shows that 3-FL may help support the infant’s immune system by acting as a receptor decoy for various intestinal pathogens in cell culture studies (Weichert, 2013; Weichert, 2016) and supporting growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

8) What is 3′-SL HMO, and why is it important?

3′-SL HMO represents the sialylated category of HMOs. 3′-SL contains sialic acid, which is an important building block for the developing brain. Furthermore, emerging research shows that 3′-SL may help support the infant’s immune system by acting as a receptor decoy for various intestinal pathogens in cell culture studies (Angeloni, 2005; Idota, 1995; Simon, 1997; Mysore, 1999; Kim, 2019; Hester, 2013; Laucirica, 2017) and supporting growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

9) What is 6′-SL HMO, and why is it important?

6′-SL HMO represents the sialylated category of HMOs. 6′-SL contains sialic acid, which is an important building block for the developing brain. Furthermore, emerging research shows that 6′-SL may help support the infant’s immune system by acting as a receptor decoy for various intestinal pathogens in cell culture studies (Facinelli, 2019; Simon, 1997; Kim, 2019; Duska-McEwen, 2014; Hester, 2013; Laucirica, 2017) and supporting growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

10) What is LNT HMO, and why is it important?

LNT HMO represents the acetylated category of HMOs. Emerging research shows that LNT may help support the infant’s immune system by acting as a receptor decoy for various intestinal pathogens in cell culture studies (El-Hawiet, 2015; Lin, 2017; Jantscher-Krenn, 2012) and supporting growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

11) What are the roles for these 5 HMOs in cognition?

Three of the 5 HMOs are thought to benefit brain development. 3′-SL and 6′-SL contain sialic acid, which is an important building block for the developing brain (Lis-Kuberka, 2019). Clinical evidence from breastfeeding studies shows positive associations between 2′-FL and cognitive development through 24 months of age (Oliveros, 2021; Berger, 2020).

12) What are the roles for these 5 HMOs in immune health?

Emerging research shows that all 5 HMOs may help support the infant’s immune system by acting as a receptor decoy for various intestinal pathogens in cell culture studies and supporting growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Additionally, HMOs play a role in balancing the immune response.

13) What are the roles for these 5 HMOs in digestive health?

Preclinical research shows that the 5 HMOs help support growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Having a variety of HMOs that support the growth of beneficial bacteria may help support a healthy immune system.

14) What is the difference between LNT and LNnT?

Both represent the acetylated category of HMOs. However, in human breast milk, LNT is more widely represented.

15) Are Human Milk Oligosaccharides organic?

HMOs that are available in infant formula are not organic.

16) Are 2′-FL, 3-FL, LNT, 3′-SL, and 6′-SL HMOs safe for preterm infants?

Preterm infants consume breast milk that contains HMOs; however, 2′-FL, 3-FL, LNT, 3′-SL, and 6′-SL HMOs are currently not available in preterm formulas. There are many benefits associated with HMOs; therefore, this will remain an active area of research.

17) How are 2′-FL, 3-FL, LNT, 3′-SL, and 6′-SL HMOs different from other oligosaccharides such as GOS or FOS?

HMOs are immune-nourishing prebiotics, and HMOs added to infant formula are structurally identical to those in human milk. Other prebiotics such as GOS and FOS are not structurally identical to those in human milk. Research indicates these other prebiotics do not function the same way as HMOs due to their structures. Only HMOs have been found in the circulation of infants. Fucose from 2'-FL and 3-FL and sialic acid from 3'-SL and 6'-SL may play a role in brain development.

References: 

Akkerman R, et al. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(9):1486-1497. 

Al-Khafaji AH, et al. J Funct Foods. 2020;74. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2020.104176

Angeloni S, et al. Glycobiology. 2005;15(1):31-41.

Austin S, et al. Nutrients. 2016;8(6):346.

Berger PK, et al. PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0228323.

Bode L. Glycobiology. 2012;22(9):1147-1162.

Bode L. Human milk oligosaccharides: next-generation functions and questions. In: Donovan SM, et al, eds. Human Milk: Composition, Clinical Benefits and Future Opportunities. Karger Publishers; 2019:191-201.

Bunesova V, et al. BMC Microbiol. 2016;16(1):248. 

Castanys-Muñoz E, et al. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(2):323-330.

Coppa GV, et al. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 1999;88(430):89-94.

Costa S, et al. Ital J Pediatr. 2018;44(1):96.

Donovan SM, et al. Ann Nutr Metab. 2016;69(suppl 2):41-51.

Duska-McEwen G, et al. Food Nutr Sci. 2014;5:1387-1398. 

El-Hawiet A, et al. Glycobiology. 2015;25(8):845-854.

Erney RM, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000;30(2):181-192.

Facinelli B, et al. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2019;32(17):2950-2952. 

Garrido D, et al. Sci Rep. 2015;5:13517. doi: 10.1038/srep13517

Goehring KC, et al. J Nutr. 2016;146(12):2559-2566.

Gotoh A, et al. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):13958.

He Y, et al. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(1):102-111.

Hester SN, et al. Br J Nutr. 2013;110(7):1233-1242.

Idota T, et al. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1995;59(3):417-419.

Jacobi SK, et al. J Nutr. 2016;146(2):200-208.

James K, et al. Sci Rep. 2016;6:38560. doi: 10.1038/srep38560 

Jantscher-Krenn E, et al. Br J Nutr. 2012;108(10):1839-1846.

Kim J, et al. Infect Immun. 2019;87. doi:10.1128/IAI.00694-18

Koromyslova A, et al. Virology. 2017;508:81-89.

Kunz C, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;64(5):789-798. 

Laucirica DR, et al. J Nutr. 2017;147(9):1709-1714.

Lawson MA, et al. ISME J. 2020;14(2):635-648. doi: 10.1038/s41396-019-0553-2

Lin AE, et al. J Biol Chem. 2017;292(27):11243-11249.

Lis-Kuberka J, et al. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):306. 

Marriage BJ, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2015;61(6):649-658. 

McGuire MK, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;105(5):1086-1100.

Mudd AT, et al. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1297.

Mysore JV, et al. Gastroenterology. 1999;117(6):1316-1325.

O’Connor DL, et al. JAMA. 2016;316(18):1897-1905. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.16144

Oliveros E, et al. J Nutr Food Sci. 2021;4(1):024.

Özcan E, et al. Front Nutr. 2018;5:46. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2018.00046 

Ruiz-Palacios GM, et al. J Biol Chem. 2003;278(16):14112-14120. 

Samuel TM, et al. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):11767. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48337-4

Simon PM, et al. Infect Immun. 1997;65(2):750-757.

Sprenger N, et al. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0171814. 

Stepans MB, et al. Breastfeed Med. 2006;1(4):207-215.

Tarr AJ, et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2015;50:166-177.

Thongaram T, et al. J Dairy Sci. 2017;100(10):7825-7833.

Thurl S, et al. Nutr Rev. 2017;75(11):920-933.

Thurl S, et al. Br J Nutr. 2010;104(9):1261-1271.

Tonon KM, et al. Food Chem. 2019;274:691-697. 

Triantis V, et al. Front Pediatr. 2018;6:190. doi: 10.3389/fped.2018.00190

Walsh C, et al. J Funct Foods. 2020;72:104074.

Wang B. Annu Rev Nutr. 2009;29:177-222. 

Wang B. Adv Nutr. 2012;3(3):465S–472S. doi:10.3945/an.112.001875

Wang B, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(2):561-569.

Weichert S, et al. Nutr Res. 2013;33(10):831-838.

Weichert S, et al. J Virol. 2016;90(9):4843-4848.

Yu ZT, et al. Glycobiology. 2013;23(11):1281-1292.

Yu ZT, et al. Glycobiology. 2013;23(2):169-177.

Yu Z-T, et al. J Nutr. 2016;146(10):1980-1990.

Zehra S, et al. J Food Sci. 2018;83(2):499-508.

 

Error

Something went wrong, please close this window and try again.

Confirmation

This article has been removed from My Resources.

Please click "Accept Sale/Sharing and Targeted Advertising" to enable full site functionality.

At this time, we are experiencing problems with broken links on our site. As an interim solution, for full site functionality you must enable functional and advertising cookies. If you continue to opt-out of these cookies, some content on our site may not be viewable.

We use functional cookies to analyze your use of the site, improve performance and provide a better customer experience. We use advertising cookies to allow us, through certain data assigned and obtained from the user's device, to store or share with third parties information related to user's browsing activity in our website, in order to create an advertising profile and place relevant advertising in our website or those third parties websites. For more information about how Abbott uses cookies please see our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.

In order to accept functional and advertising cookies, please click "Enable Cookies" and then click "Accept Sale/Sharing and Targeted Advertising" to view the full site.

Collapse
Learn more about cookies