Human Milk Oligosaccharides and 2’-FL

Human Milk Oligosaccharides

Breast milk contains protective immune factors, including human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), that help build the infant's developing immune system.^1-3

HMOs are:

Non-digestible carbohydrates⁴
The third largest solid component of breast milk⁴

HMOs in Breast Milk Support the Infant’s Developing Immune System

Promote a healthy microbiota^5-8
Prevent the adhesion of pathogens^9.10
Modulate the immune response^8,11-16

2’-FUCOSYLLACTOSE (2’-FL) is the most abundant HMO, secreted in the milk of 75-80% of mothers.^17,18

Compared to Infants Fed Control Formula Without 2’-FL^†, Infants Fed Similac® with 2’-FL^† had:

Reduced levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines¹⁹
Significantly fewer respiratory infections^20,21‡
Lower reports of eczema²¹
Less parent-reported antibiotic use²²

† Not derived from human milk; identical structure to 2’-FL found in breast milk.

‡ Post-hoc analysis of parent-reported, doctor-assessed adverse events.

References:

1. Field CJ. The immunological components of human milk and their effect on immune development in infants. J Nutr 2005;135(1):1-4. 2. Iyengar SR, Walker WA. Immune factors in breast milk and the development of atopic disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012;55(6):641-7. 3. Gregory KE, Walker WA. Immunologic Factors in Human Milk and Disease Prevention in the Preterm Infant. Curr Pediatr Rep 2013;1(4):10. 4. Zivkovic AM, German JB, Lebrilla CB et al. PNAS 2011;108(Suppl. 1):4653-8. 5. Castanys-Munoz E, Martin MJ, Vazquez E. Adv Nutr 2016;7(2):323-30. 6. Marcobal A, Barboza M, Froehlich JW et al. J Agr Food Chem 2010;58(9):5334-40. 7. Bode L. Nutr Rev 2009;67(Suppl. 2):S183-91. 8. Jantscher-Krenn E, Bode L. Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Role in Infant Health. Nutrition in Infancy (9781627032230) [Internet]. 2013 Jan [cited 2020 Mar 18];209. Available from: http://search.ebscohost.com.ez03.infotrieve.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=93943118&site=eds-live&scope=site. 9. Engfer MB, Stahl B, Finke B et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71(6):1589-96. 10. Forchielli ML, Walker WA. Br J Nutr 2005;93(Suppl. 1):S41-8. 11. Weichert S, Jennewein S, Hufner E et al. Nutr Res Oct 2013;33(10):831-8. 12. He Y, Lawlor NT, Newburg DS. Adv Nutr 2016;7(1):102-11. 13. He Y, Liu S, Kling DE et al. Gut 2016;65(1):33-46. 14. Wickramasinghe S, Pacheco AR, Lemay DG, Mills DA. BMC Microbiol 2015;15:172. 15. Kulinich A, Liu L. Carbohydr Res 2016;432:62-70. 16. Duska-McEwen G, Senft AP, Ruetschilling TL, Barrett EG, Buck RH. Food Nutr Sci 2014;5(14):1387-98. 17. Castanys-Munoz E, Martin MJ, Prieto PA. Nutr Rev 2013;71(12):773-89. 18. Lewis ZT, Totten SM, Smilowitz JT et al. Microbiome 2015;3:13. 19. Goehring KC, Marriage BJ, Oliver JS et al. J Nutr 2016;146(12):2559–66. 20. Marriage BJ, Buck RH, Goehring KC et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2015;61(6):649-58. 21. Reverri EJ, Devitt AA, Kajzer JA et al. Nutrients 2018 Sep 21;10(10):1346. doi: 10.3390/nu10101346. 22. SA01. Data on file. September 2018. Abbott Nutrition, Columbus, Ohio.

HMOs are:

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