HMO's - Results From Clinical Research in Infant Nutrition

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO’s) represent the third most important component of human breastmilk, after fat and lactose, making up a greater component than protein.  HMO’s are extremely complex and are different during the various stages of lactation.  150 HMO’s have been identified to date, and these differ from mother to mother – but two main HMO’s are consistent – 2’FL+LNnT. 

Phillipe Alliet outlines a randomized control trail to test a formula containing these two key HMO’s.  This clinical research was undertaken recently in Italy and Belgium, and followed the effects of term infant formula with 2’FL+LNnT added, on 175 infants from birth to 12 months on a regular basis, testing for growth, tolerance, stool microbiota and metabolic signatures.  The methodology is shown, alongside detailed clinical results, which demonstrate that synthetic HMO’s are safe and well tolerated and can simulate the effects of HMO’s found in breastmilk.