Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead

Breast milk is a complex biological fluid that is rich in nutrients and bioactive agents that support the healthy growth and development of the newborns. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are unconjugated glycans that constitute an important component of the protection conferred by breast milk on t...

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Main Authors: Chandan Ray, Joshi A. Kerketta, Subhash Rao, Snehal Patel, Shantanu Dutt, Kamal Arora, Femitha Pournami, Phani Bhushan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2390240
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author Chandan Ray
Joshi A. Kerketta
Subhash Rao
Snehal Patel
Shantanu Dutt
Kamal Arora
Femitha Pournami
Phani Bhushan
author_facet Chandan Ray
Joshi A. Kerketta
Subhash Rao
Snehal Patel
Shantanu Dutt
Kamal Arora
Femitha Pournami
Phani Bhushan
author_sort Chandan Ray
collection DOAJ
description Breast milk is a complex biological fluid that is rich in nutrients and bioactive agents that support the healthy growth and development of the newborns. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are unconjugated glycans that constitute an important component of the protection conferred by breast milk on the neonate. HMOs may act locally on the neonatal intestine by acting as signalling molecules and directly interacting with the host cells. Although fucosylated and sialylated HMOs have little nutritional value, they exert important prebiotic as well as immunomodulatory effects on the infant gut. However, there is heterogeneity in the quantity and quality of HMOs in breast milk produced by mothers under influence of the genetic and environmental factors. This review encompasses the salient aspects of HMOs such as composition, function, structural diversity, and functional impact on the growth and survival of newborns. In this review, the current knowledge on HMOs is contextualised to discuss the gaps in scientific understanding and the avenues for future research.
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id doaj-art-4d4ee3253a444eaf82be35c8c095e4c7
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-9740
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language English
publishDate 2019-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-4d4ee3253a444eaf82be35c8c095e4c72025-02-03T01:12:27ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592019-01-01201910.1155/2019/23902402390240Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey AheadChandan Ray0Joshi A. Kerketta1Subhash Rao2Snehal Patel3Shantanu Dutt4Kamal Arora5Femitha Pournami6Phani Bhushan7Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Center, 2 Rawdon Street, Park street Area, Kolkata 700017, West Bengal, IndiaHealthworld Hospitals, C-49, Commercial Area, Opp. ESIC, Sub-Regional Office, Near Gandhi More, City Centre, Durgapur 713216, West Bengal, IndiaFortis Hiranandani Hospital, Mini Sea Shore Road, Sector 10, Vashi, Navi Mumbai 400703, Maharashtra, IndiaSmt. NHL Municipal Medical College, Pritan Rai Cross Road, Ellise Bridge, Paldi, Ahmedabad 380006, Gujarat, IndiaDr. Dutt Children Hospital & Nursing Home, Parker College Rd, Budh Bazaar, Moradabad 244001, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaDayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Civil Lines, Ludhiana 141001, Punjab, IndiaKerala Institute of Medical Science, P.B. No. 1, Anayara P.O., Trivandrum 695029, Kerala, IndiaColumbia Asia Referral Hospital Yeshwanthpur, 26/4, Brigade Gateway, Beside Metro Cash and Carry West, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru 560055, Karnataka, IndiaBreast milk is a complex biological fluid that is rich in nutrients and bioactive agents that support the healthy growth and development of the newborns. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are unconjugated glycans that constitute an important component of the protection conferred by breast milk on the neonate. HMOs may act locally on the neonatal intestine by acting as signalling molecules and directly interacting with the host cells. Although fucosylated and sialylated HMOs have little nutritional value, they exert important prebiotic as well as immunomodulatory effects on the infant gut. However, there is heterogeneity in the quantity and quality of HMOs in breast milk produced by mothers under influence of the genetic and environmental factors. This review encompasses the salient aspects of HMOs such as composition, function, structural diversity, and functional impact on the growth and survival of newborns. In this review, the current knowledge on HMOs is contextualised to discuss the gaps in scientific understanding and the avenues for future research.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2390240
spellingShingle Chandan Ray
Joshi A. Kerketta
Subhash Rao
Snehal Patel
Shantanu Dutt
Kamal Arora
Femitha Pournami
Phani Bhushan
Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead
International Journal of Pediatrics
title Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead
title_full Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead
title_fullStr Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead
title_full_unstemmed Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead
title_short Human Milk Oligosaccharides: The Journey Ahead
title_sort human milk oligosaccharides the journey ahead
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2390240
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