Breast milk oligosaccharides are the most essential ingredient in breast milk, affecting the health of infants: A review

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Abstract

Breastfeeding remains the “gold standard” of nutrition for children in the first years of life. However, factors such as hypogalactia, maternal stress, health problems and simply an unwillingness to breastfeed deprive the baby of breast milk (BM) and challenge pediatricians to choose an alternative food for the baby. The BM composition is complex, dynamic, and of scientific interest, and the attention of most scientists is directed to BM oligosaccharides (BMOs). Many benefits of BMOs have been proven in relation to the child's health, including the formation of the intestinal microbiota, maturation of the immune response, contribution to the barrier function of the intestine, and protection against pathogens. In the absence of breastfeeding, modern formulas containing BMOs can be used. The addition of a combination of 5 BMOs is a promising and effective approach to maintaining the overall health of formula-fed infants.

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Irina N. Zakharova

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education

Author for correspondence.
Email: zakharova-rmapo@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4200-4598

D. Sci. (Med.), Prof.

Russian Federation, Moscow

Yana V. Orobinskaya

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education; Khimki Hospital

Email: zakharova-rmapo@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0005-2121-4010

Graduate Student

Russian Federation, Moscow; Khimki

Narine G. Sugian

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education; Khimki Hospital

Email: narine6969@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2861-5619

 Cand. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, Moscow; Khimki

Irina V. Berezhnaya

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education

Email: zakharova-rmapo@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2847-6268

Cand. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, Moscow

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2. Fig. 1. Breast milk oligosaccharides (BMOs) functions.

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3. Fig. 2. Relative abundance of Bifidobacterium in the groups of infants fed with a standard formula without BMOs (CG), a formula with a concentration of 5 BMOs of 1.5 g/L (TG1), a formula with a concentration of 5 BMOs of 2.5 g/L (TG2) [66].

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4. Fig. 3. Relative abundance of B. infantis in the groups of infants fed with a standard formula without BMOs (CG), a formula with a concentration of 5 BMOs of 1.5 g/L (TG1), a formula with a concentration of 5 BMOs of 2.5 g/L (TG2) [66].

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5. Fig. 4. The concentration of sIgA in TG1 and TG2 was 53% (p<0.01) and 43% (p<0.05) higher than that in CG, respectively, and the difference persisted after 6 months for TG2 (p<0.05) [66].

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