Providing adequate nutrition for newborns presents a substantial challenge for new mothers and their infants. Consuming the right food can promote the growth of a robust gut microbiota and improve immune function.
Research suggests that combining probiotics and human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) can mimic breast milk changes and promote bifidobacteria growth, creating a more robust gut environment and improving immune defenses.
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are a category of prebiotic carbohydrates that nourish beneficial bacteria in the colon. These are non-digestible sugar chains that transit to the large intestine and are assimilated by beneficial bacteria. The bacteria decompose them to generate diverse beneficial compounds.
Human breast milk contains over 100 unique human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) structures, and these beneficial carbohydrates vary at different stages of breastfeeding. The HMOs are ranked in order of concentration, with 2’-fucosyllactose (2’FL) having the highest concentration, followed by lacto-Neotetraose (LNnT), difucosyl lacto-Neotetraose, and 3’-sialyllactose (6’SL).
Offspring born to mothers lacking this gene display reduced levels of 2’FL and all a-fucosylated oligosaccharides in their breast milk.
The existence of the Fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) gene plays a crucial role in the diversity of human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) levels in breastfed babies. This gene is accountable for producing the enzyme implicated in the biosynthesis of HMOs. Offspring born to mothers lacking this gene display reduced levels of 2’FL and all a-fucosylated oligosaccharides in their breast milk.
Studies suggest that infants who lack FUT2 exhibit a delayed establishment of their microbiota, specifically the bifidobacteria population. Furthermore, they are more prone to developing an allergy to cow’s milk and have a decreased occurrence of complex oligosaccharides in their feces, such as difucosyl-LNT and a-fucosyl-6’SL.
The researchers at Nestle discovered that a specific strain of bifidobacterium, B. infantis LMG11588, efficiently absorbs and metabolizes HMOs. This enhances the strain’s capacity to selectively metabolize HMOs and produce vital beneficial compounds that closely resemble those found in breast milk.
The ingredients are combined in a foundation of prebiotic inulin and subsequently converted into a powdered form through spray drying.
The result was an innovative product called Sinergity, which merged the benefits of this probiotic and HMO mixture. The formula combines a probiotic strain with varying levels of six human milk oligosaccharides, specifically 2’-FL, LNT, LNnT, 3’-SL, and 6’SL.
The ingredients are combined in a foundation of prebiotic inulin and subsequently converted into a powdered form through spray drying. The resulting product can be added to any existing recipe and helps promote and maintain a diverse gut microbiota.
Moreover, this revised formulation includes a distinctive variation of the Bifidobacterium strain, exhibiting a notable capacity to metabolize 2’-FL and other oligosaccharides in human milk. The amalgamation of these components provides unparalleled protection and promotes a more robust gut microbiota in premature infants.
Incorporating this unique recipe represents a noteworthy milestone in exploring the microbiome’s impact on well-being and the most efficient methods of supporting it. This infant formula is the first to include a unique blend of a probiotic and HMO, an innovative approach to enhance a robust and healthy gut microbiome and develop a strong immune system. This stage is pivotal in establishing the foundation for sustained welfare.
