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Faecal excretion of oligosaccharides and other carbohydrates in normal neonates
Insights
A novel milk oligosaccharide containing fucose, glucose, and galactose was detected in 85% of newborn infant stool samples. This finding impacts the interpretation of infant fecal sugar excretion analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Infant gut microbiota composition and function are influenced by diet.
- Breast milk contains complex carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) crucial for infant development.
- Accurate analysis of fecal sugars is important for assessing infant digestion and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize oligosaccharides present in the stools of normal newborn infants.
- To investigate the origin of detected fecal oligosaccharides, particularly their relationship with breast milk composition.
- To assess the implications of these findings on the interpretation of fecal sugar excretion studies.
Main Methods:
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed for sugar analysis.
- Stool samples were collected from 40 healthy, normal newborn infants.
- Comparative analysis with breast milk oligosaccharide profiles was performed.
Main Results:
- An oligosaccharide composed of fucose (6-deoxygalactose), glucose, and galactose was identified in 85% of infant stool samples.
- This specific oligosaccharide was also found to be present in normal breast milk.
- Free fucose and galactose were detected in some samples, likely resulting from milk oligosaccharide breakdown.
Conclusions:
- The presence of a specific milk-derived oligosaccharide in infant stools is a common finding.
- Fucose-containing oligosaccharides in infant feces are primarily of dietary (breast milk) origin.
- These findings necessitate a re-evaluation of current methods for interpreting fecal sugar excretion in newborns.
Abstract:
Chromatographic analysis of sugars in the stools of 40 normal newborn infants has shown the presence of an oligosaccharide in 85% of samples. The oligosaccharide has been shown to contain fucose (6-deoxygalactose), glucose, and galactose and is present in normal breast milk. In addition fucose has also been found in the presence of galactose in some samples and is probably a breakdown product of milk oligosaccharides. These findings, which affect the interpretation of faecal sugar excretion, have not been described previously.