Functional glycans and glycoconjugates in human milk

Gilda Georgi1, Nana Bartke, Frank Wiens

  • 1Danone Research–Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Friedrichsdorf, Germany.

Human milk contains complex carbohydrates that are important dietary factors with multiple functions during early life. Several aspects of these glycostructures are human specific; some aspects vary between lactating women, and some change during the course of lactation. This review outlines how variability of complex glycostructures present in human milk is linked to changing infants' needs.

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