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Milk Oligosaccharides Unlocking the Power of Complex Sugars in Infant Health

Milk Oligosaccharides Unlocking the Power of Complex Sugars in Infant Health

General PracticePaediatricsObstetrics And Gynaecology
A badge with ribbon in color black Cat3B: 1 point | An analog clock in color black 1 hour | A black calendar with white triangle in center that has a black exclamation point in the middle 13 Apr 2027 

Overview

About this course

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. Milk oligosaccharides, particularly human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), are special complex sugars found in breastmilk. They are known to act as prebiotics, fostering the development of a balanced gut flora. Other key biological functions of HMOs include pathogen blocking, immune modulation, support for intestinal barrier maturation, and brain development, as well as growth and metabolism.

This e-learning educational module provides healthcare professionals with key insights into the importance of HMOs in supporting infant health, through a comprehensive overview of:

  • The structure and key biological functions of HMOs
  • The significance and impact of HMOs on infant health
  • Clinical evidence demonstrating the effect of 5-HMO blends (2'FL, DFL, LNT, 3'SL and 6'SL) on gut microbiota development, microbial metabolites, intestinal integrity, and immune and gut biomarkers such as secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) and calprotectin

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning module, participants should be able to:

  • Understand the foundational role of breastfeeding and the WHO recommendations for infant feeding
  • Describe the composition and unique functions of HMOs
  • Explain how HMOs support infant immunity through prebiotic effects, antiadhesive antimicrobial actions, gut barrier regulation, and immunomodulatory pathways
  • Compare human milk with bovine milk in terms of oligosaccharide content and biological implications
  • Summarise the clinical evidence on the effects of 5-HMO blends on gut microbiota development, microbial metabolites, intestinal integrity, and immune and gut biomarkers (e.g., sIgA, AAT, calprotectin)
  • Recognise the role of HMOs in supporting healthy growth, gut environment modulation, and immune development in infants

Topics covered

  • WHO recommendations on breastfeeding to support healthy infant development
  • Structure and key biological functions of HMOs
  • Significance of HMOs and their role in supporting infant health
  • Clinical evidence to demonstrate the effect of 5-HMO blends on gut microbiota development, microbial metabolites, intestinal integrity, and immune and gut biomarkers

CAT3B: 1 Point Available

  • Score at least 80% on the quiz.
  • A certificate can be downloaded upon successful completion of the quiz. Please use the information on the certificate to claim your CPD points.
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