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Pediatric Research volume96,pages 277–278 (2024)Cite this article
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Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) represent an important component of breast milk, specifically, they are the third largest part, with a concentration fluctuating from 12.9 g/L in mature milk and 20.9 g/L at 4 days postpartum. There are over 200 different types of HMOs known and they provide multiple health benefits: they act as prebiotics, promoting digestive health; modulating immune responses; and enhancing cognitive development.
Their production depends primarily on the mother’s genotype, in particular, according to specific transferase enzymes expressed in the lactocytes and related to the Secretor and Lewis blood group genes. The Secretor gene encodes for the enzyme α[1,2]-fucosyltransferase (FUT2); the enzyme FUT3 is encoded for by the Lewis blood group gene.1 According to the polymorphism of mothers, newborns naturally receive milk with different amounts and types of oligosaccharides and this could consequently lead to differences in terms of specific infant morbidity, growth, and development.2 The association between HMO and child growth has been inadequately explored with conflicting results.3
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Funding
This paper was partially funded by a contribution from the Italian Ministry of Health (ricerca corrente).
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Authors and Affiliations
Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Alessandra Mazzocchi&Carlo Agostoni
Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Carlo Agostoni
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- Alessandra Mazzocchi
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A.M. drafted the initial version of this manuscript and C.A. read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Correspondence to Carlo Agostoni.
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Mazzocchi, A., Agostoni, C. Human milk oligosaccharides and infant growth: a global health approach. Pediatr Res 96, 277–278 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03037-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03037-2
