Food & Beverage Asia October/November 2021

INGREDIENTS 31
increasingly exploring the already strong
body of evidence demonstrating that the
composition and activity of the gut microbiota
can be changed and influenced by a variety
of factors, including food. Indeed, feeding
has one of the biggest roles to play 2 , and
breastfed babies typically have a gut microbiota
composition that is dominated by bifidobacteria,
which has been shown to have widespread
beneficial effects for infant development. 3
GROWING UP WITH GOOD GUT HEALTH
Encouraging beneficial bacteria to colonise
an infant’s gut comes down to shaping an
environment where they can thrive. It has
been shown that microbiota composition
establishes a foundation for both early life
and future health in four key areas. 4,-7
MEET THE OLIGOSACCHARIDES
After lactose and fat, human milk
oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the third largest
component of human milk solids. 8 These are
non-digestible carbohydrates that help provide
the optimum conditions for beneficial bacteria
to thrive. 9 So far, over 200 different HMOs have
been identified at various concentrations and
combinations in breast milk 10 , such as 2’-FL,
3’-FL and LNT. Each of these is expected to
have its potential benefits for infant gut health.
The 2’-FL is the most abundant HMO found at
concentrations of 2-4g/litre. 11-13 However, 2’-FL
and LNT have both been shown to selectively
encourage the growth of various beneficial
species and sub-species of bifidobacteria. 14-16
Studies have further indicated that
nourishing infants with infant milk formula
supplemented with 2’-FL could reduce
the risk of childhood diarrhoea 17-19 and
respiratory tract infections. 20-21 Meanwhile,
the 3’-SL has been positively associated
with neurodevelopmental factors during
infancy, including language development. 22
Oligosaccharide structures are also
found in cow’s milk, and GOS, or galactooligosaccharides,
are a complex mix of over
100 oligosaccharide structures that are derived
from the lactose in cow’s milk. 23 GOS consist
of the building blocks glucose and galactose,
which are also the building blocks of HMOs.
A large body of scientific evidence supports
the influence of GOS on the composition
of infant gut microbiota when added to
infant milk formula. Studies showed that
when breastfeeding is not an option, infant
milk formula containing 4g/litre of GOS can
improve bowel function, stool consistency
and transit time for increased digestive
comfort in babies 24 , while enhancing the
absorption of key minerals such as iron and
calcium 25-26 , which are important for normal
infant growth and development. Also, by
serving as a substrate, GOS modulates
the gut microbiota, giving bifidobacteria a
competitive advantage for growth in the gut
and supporting the body’s natural defences. 27-28
For manufacturers, it is clear to see that
infant milk formula ingredients based on
oligosaccharide structures offer an exciting
opportunity to address the growing priorities
of parents around the globe. In APAC, taking
care of gut health is already a must, and as the
trend spreads globally, brands should be able to
demonstrate the proven benefits of their offering
if they wish to put parents’ minds at ease and
take leadership role in the gut health space.
CREATING A LIFETIME OF
OPPORTUNITY
FrieslandCampina Ingredients believes in
enhancing the composition of infant milk
formula with a wide range of oligosaccharide
structures at relevant concentrations. It seems
logical to consider that combining GOS with
HMOs like 2’-FL can result in complementary
health benefits that impact multiple areas
of infant health. In bringing these benefits
together, brand owners and manufacturers
can deliver the complete, science-backed
solutions for infant health that today’s parents
desire and can help to give their formulafed
infants the best start in life. FBA
REFERENCES
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FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2021