Impact of HMO on toddler microbiota and its activity

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) were reported to promote growth of specific component of the infant gut microbiota, such as bifidobacteria, as well as production of health-related bacterial metabolites. In the present work, the impact of HMO or their combination of on toddler gut microbiota and its metabolites were examined for the first time. The present data provide the first evidence that HMOs drive toddler gut microbiota growth and metabolic activity shifting their metabolism from a proteolytic to a saccharolytic metabolism. The formed SCFA are related to health beneficial effects.