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Human milk oligosaccharides and infant growth: a global health approach

Pediatric Research (2024)Cite this article

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) represent an important component of breast milk, specifically, they are the third largest part, with a concentration fluctuating from 12.9 g/L in mature milk and 20.9 g/L at 4 days postpartum. There are over 200 different types of HMOs known and they provide multiple health benefits: they act as prebiotics, promoting digestive health; modulating immune responses; and enhancing cognitive development.

Their production depends primarily on the mother’s genotype, in particular, according to specific transferase enzymes expressed in the lactocytes and related to the Secretor and Lewis blood group genes. The Secretor gene encodes for the enzyme α[1,2]-fucosyltransferase (FUT2); the enzyme FUT3 is encoded for by the Lewis blood group gene.1 According to the polymorphism of mothers, newborns naturally receive milk with different amounts and types of oligosaccharides and this could consequently lead to differences in terms of specific infant morbidity, growth, and development.2 The association between HMO and child growth has been inadequately explored with conflicting results.3

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Funding

This paper was partially funded by a contribution from the Italian Ministry of Health (ricerca corrente).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Alessandra Mazzocchi & Carlo Agostoni

  2. Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Carlo Agostoni

Authors
  1. Alessandra Mazzocchi
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  2. Carlo Agostoni
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A.M. drafted the initial version of this manuscript and C.A. read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Carlo Agostoni.

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Mazzocchi, A., Agostoni, C. Human milk oligosaccharides and infant growth: a global health approach. Pediatr Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03037-2

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