Human milk oligosaccharides in premature infants: absorption, excretion, and influence on the intestinal microbiota.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) shape the intestinal microbiota in term infants. In premature infants, alterations in the intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) are associated with risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis, and the influence of HMOs on the microbiota is unclear.

Methods

Milk, urine, and stool specimens from 14 mother-premature infant dyads were investigated by mass spectrometry for HMO composition. The stools were analyzed by next-generation sequencing to complement a previous analysis.

Results

Percentages of fucosylated and sialylated HMOs were highly variable between individuals but similar in urine, feces, and milk within dyads. Differences in urine and fecal HMO composition suggest variability in absorption. Secretor status of th

SUBMITTER: Underwood MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4689671 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature