Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs): Why are they so Beneficial in infant nutrition¹?

Breastfeeding is best

Breastfeeding is universally recognised as the optimal nutrition for babies.^2-4 UK and WHO guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the­ first 6 months of an infant’s life, and breastfeeding in combination with balanced, complementary foods thereafter.^2-4 Research suggests that breastfed babies have fewer infections and may have a stronger immune system,⁴ which in part may be due to the presence of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk.^1,5

What are HMOs?

HMOs are complex carbohydrates. Unlike Galacto-oligosachharides and Fructo-oligosachharides (GOS/FOS), HMOs are unique to breast milk and research suggests that they provide immune support to developing infants.^1,5-7 HMOs have a unique structure which allows them to provide targeted benefits.

They do this in four main ways:

• Selectively feeding good bacteria within the gut, where 70–80% of the body’s immune cells live^1,6

• Blocking bad bacteria from attaching to the gut and doing harm^1,6–7

• Strengthening the developing gut barrier^1,6–7

• Helping to balance the immune system^1,6

The above benefits have not been shown by GOS/FOS.

SMA® Nutrition have been researching HMOs for 30 years

SMA^® Nutrition have been leading research in baby nutrition for over 100 years and are dedicated to learning more about breast milk. Our research into HMO, started in the 1980s and we have been pioneering HMO research for 30 years.

Effects of infant formula with HMOs on growth and mordbidity⁸

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION

Design & objective:

• Randomised, multicentre, double-blind trial to evaluate the effects of infant formula supplemented with two HMOs* (2’fucosyllactose [2’FL] and lacto-N-neotetraose [LNnT]) on infant growth, tolerance and morbidity

Population:

• Healthy infants, recruited at 0–14 days old, randomised to either control (n=87) or intervention (n=88) group

Primary Endpoint:

• Weight gain (g/day) from baseline to age 4 months

Secondary endpoints:

• Additional anthropometric measures, GI tolerance and behavioural patterns, and morbidity through age 12 months

Results:

Primary endpoint

• No signi­ficant difference in weight gain from baseline to age 4 months between groups

Secondary endpoints

Morbidity – infants who received test (vs control) formula had:

• 70% lower risk of parent-reported bronchitis through 12 months of age (P≤0.01)

• 55% lower risk of parent-reported LRTIs through 12 months of age (P<0.05)

• 56% lower use of antipyretics through 4 months of age (P<0.05)

• 53% lower use of antibiotics through 12 months of age (P<0.05)

Digestive tolerance – no significant difference between test and control groups

Stool characteristics – significantly softer stools in test vs control group at 2 months (P=0.021)

Behavioural patterns – fewer night-time awakenings were reported in test group at 2 months (P=0.036); in a subgroup of infants delivered by caesarean section, colic at 4 months was reported less frequently in the test group (P=0.035)

Formula intake – mean daily formula intake was similar between groups

The secondary outcome findings showed associations between consuming HMO* -supplemented formula and lower parent-reported morbidity (particularly bronchitis) and medication use (antipyretics and antibiotics). These findings warrant confirmation in future studies.

Conclusion:

Infant formula supplemented with HMOs* 2’FL and LNnT is safe, and assists age-appropriate growth.