Modulating the developing gut microbiota with 2'-fucosyllactose and pooled human milk oligosaccharides

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nutritional Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Synthetic human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are increasingly used in infant formula.
• Their precise effects on the developing gut microbiota post-weaning remain unclear.
• This study investigates the impact of specific HMOs on microbial communities from young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of pooled HMOs (pHMOs) and 2-fucosyllactose (2'FL) on the composition and activity of cultured gut microbiota.
• To understand the response of individual bacterial species to HMOs.
• To identify potential health-associated metabolites produced by the microbiota.

Main Methods:

• Culturing fecal-derived microbial communities from seven healthy children.
• Exposing these communities to 0.5 g/L 2'FL and 4.0 g/L pHMOs.
• Analyzing microbial community shifts and metabolic output, including culturing and testing 330 bacterial isolates.

Main Results:

• pHMOs significantly altered microbial composition, increasing Bacteroides abundance and producing health-associated metabolites.
• 2'FL alone did not induce substantial changes in the microbial communities.
• Over 100 non-Bifidobacterium species showed enhanced growth with pHMOs, revealing significant intraspecies variation in HMO metabolism.

Conclusions:

• Pooled HMOs demonstrate health-enhancing properties by modulating the gut microbiota.
• Further research is needed on the efficacy of individual HMO structures in infant formula for targeted microbiota modulation.
• Findings contribute to understanding HMOs' role in infant gut health.