Indigenous Oligosaccharides in Bovine Milk

Abstract

Oligosaccharides are the third most abundant component in human milk and provide a plethora of beneficial effects to the infant. However, until recently, very few commercial products in the market have capitalized on these functions. This is mainly because the quantities of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) required for clinical trials have been unavailable. However, in recent years, formulas containing 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), which is the most abundant oligosaccharide in human milk, and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT) have been developed. The milk of domestic animals has also become a focal point in recent years as an alternative source of complex oligosaccharides with associated biological activity. In this article, we describe the chemical structures and methods for the structural analysis of bovine milk oligosaccharides, quantitative aspects as well as methods for their quantification, their gastrointestinal digestion and biosynthesis, and their biological significance. We also discuss the potential industrial production of milk oligosaccharides.