By Kristina Campbell, Contributing Writer06.03.19
Human milk is unlike any other kind of milk. It is a chemical marvel: a nutrient-dense substance with constantly-changing ratios of fats and immunologically active components (Ballard & Morrow, 2013). Most importantly, it’s chock full of unique sugars called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that have complex, highly diverse structures (Bode, 2012).
HMOs are known to support infant health—and they do so through several different mechanisms, but most notably by shaping gut microbiota development. Because of recent food science innovations, it has become possible to add these unique carbohydrates to infant formula; and with the cutting-edge tools now at hand, scientists will increasingly be able to uncover how HMOs affect the gut microbiota and health, bringing new focus to the search for infant nutritional products that support optimal health.
A Mystery Substance
It was through the study of infant gut bacteria that HMOs were identified and named in the first place. Pediatricians in the late 1800s were investigating how infants’ intestinal bacteria influenced their physiology, and by the 1920s
HMOs are known to support infant health—and they do so through several different mechanisms, but most notably by shaping gut microbiota development. Because of recent food science innovations, it has become possible to add these unique carbohydrates to infant formula; and with the cutting-edge tools now at hand, scientists will increasingly be able to uncover how HMOs affect the gut microbiota and health, bringing new focus to the search for infant nutritional products that support optimal health.
A Mystery Substance
It was through the study of infant gut bacteria that HMOs were identified and named in the first place. Pediatricians in the late 1800s were investigating how infants’ intestinal bacteria influenced their physiology, and by the 1920s
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