European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Annual Congress 2021

Advancing the Management of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy with Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Priming the Immune System

During NNI Symposium at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) hybrid congress 2021, leading experts in paediatric allergy and immunology discussed the importance of the early-life microbiome in driving immune maturation and preventing allergy. They explored key evidence supporting the benefits of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in priming the immune system and promoting infant health, particularly in cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA).

Vandenplas summarised clinical trials of HMOs in CMPA to date, highlighting data on growth, tolerance, and reduction in infection risk achieved with HMO-supplemented specialty formula. The major role that HMOs play in shaping the gut microbiome in early infancy was discussed by Heine. He presented recent data showing how supplementation of standard or extensively hydrolysed infant formula with two HMOs, 2’-fucosyllactose (2’FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), can shift the gut microbiome in CMPA closer to the profile of breastfed infants. Nutten outlined how 2’FL and LNnT can beneficially modulate Type 2 immune responses, which may have important implications for both allergy prevention and treatment strategies.