Abstract
Human milk oligosaccharides are unconjugated complex glycans present in high concentration in human milk that serve as pre-biotics and immunomodulators. They are not primarily absorbed or metabolized by the infant and reach the lower part of the intestinal tract unaltered. One of the main oligosaccharides found in human milk is 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL). This study aimed to investigate the effects of daily oral administration of 2′-FL in healthy suckling rats. From days 2 to 16 of life, rats were daily given the oligosaccharide (2′-FL) or vehicle (REF), weighed and their stool characteristics were assessed. On days 8 and 16 of life the morphometry, intestinal architecture, and cytokine release, mesenteric lymph nodes cell composition, plasma immunoglobulin concentrations, fecal microbiota composition, cecal short-chain fatty acids content, and the urinary metabolic profile were assessed. Animals given 2′-FL showed higher plasma IgG and IgA and more T cell subsets in the mesenteric lymph nodes on day 16. Moreover, at intestinal level, villus heights, and areas were increased on day 8. Cecal samples displayed a higher Lactobacillus proportion and a different urinary metabolic profile was observed on day 8, and a higher proportion of butyrate on day 16. In conclusion, supplementation of 2′-FL in early life has a pre-biotic and intestinal trophic effect and promotes maturation of the immune system.
Highlights
Human milk provides all the essential nutrients to newborn and developing infants, as well as bioactive compounds such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which promote health benefits beyond nutrition [1]
2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) is the major short chain HMO found in the milk of secretor (FUT2)-positive women, accounting for more than 30% of the total HMOs mixture [5]
There is evidence supporting the beneficial effects of HMOs in early life, for example by modulating the immune system, changing the microbial composition, or protecting against infections [4, 36, 37]
Summary
Human milk provides all the essential nutrients to newborn and developing infants, as well as bioactive compounds such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which promote health benefits beyond nutrition [1]. HMOs are produced in the mammary gland from the monosaccharides galactose, glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, and sialic acid, forming unconjugated complex glycans consisting of both short chain as well as long chain structures (in 9:1 ratio), that range from 10 to 15 g/L in mature milk [2]. The secretor and the Lewis blood group status direct the amount and type of oligosaccharides present in the milk [4]. In this respect, 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) is the major short chain HMO found in the milk of secretor (FUT2)-positive women, accounting for more than 30% of the total HMOs mixture [5]. The concentration of 2′-FL in human milk remains stable in the first month post-delivery; afterwards, its concentration declines [3]
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