What is HMO?

HMO Introduction

• HMO is a unique component in human breast milk and more than 80 times is found in breast milk compared to any other types of milk.
• HMOs are prebiotics that cannot be digested and absorbed by our bodies. Instead, they become food for beneficial bacteria producing many other health benefits.

GUT

Why is gut health important?

Recent studies have found that 70% of our body's immune cells are made in the gut!
Therefore, it is important to create a healthy intestinal environment (gut microbiome) for a good overall health!
Within the gut microbiome, one of the most vital probiotics is bifidobacteria!

HMO's selectivity towards Bifidobacteria

Bifidobacteria makes up 70% to 90% of the gut microbiomes of newborn babies, thanks to human milk oligosaccharide.
 
However, this number is significantly reduced due to stresses from the external environment we get older. Human Milk Oligosaccharide is the optimum food for bifidobacteria. Bifidobacteria feeds on HMO and metabolizeds it into short-chain fatty acids.

Through this, HMO increases the acidity in the gut, creating an environment where harmful bacteria cannot survive, and only beneficial bacteria are left. This can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory diseases.

IMMUNE

Human Milk Oligosaccharides have 3 main functions in supporting Immune Health.

HMO as cell wall decoy preventing harmful bacteria from attaching to cells

Prevent Viral Attachment

We fall sick when viruses attach rom the outside sticks to the cell link and penetrates into the cell. These viruses cause infections, causing serious illnesses such as bronchitis, colds, and HIV.

However, if HMOs is taken regularly, it attaches itself to viruses and help in expelling it from the body. HMOs also alerts the immune cells that viruses have been detected and encourage the body to change the shape of its receptors so that viruses cannot attach to them!

In doing so, invasions by pathogenic bacteria and viruses such as E. coli, Norovirus, Rotavirus, Campylobacter jejuni can be prevented.

Anti-inflammation

Human milk oligosaccharide inhibits the secretion of LPS-induced inflammatory factors.
Direct virus expulsion reduces respiratory infections by 55%, bronchitis by 70%, and antibiotics by 53%.

As published in JPGN, fewer cases of bronchitis were reported in infants who were fed breast milk oligosaccharide, resulting in less use of fever reducer and antibiotics.

Anti-inflammatory function

Balancing the immune system

T-cell balance

Balancing the immune factor is an important key point in maintaining immune health! Human milk oligosaccharide helps to regulate immune cells T Cells (Th1, Th2) to promote immune homeostasis.

Excess Th1 cells can lead to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatism, arthritis, Crohn's disease, and hyperthyroidism while too much Th12 cells can lead to allergies, and atopic diseases.

BRAIN

Human milk oligosaccharide supports brain functions directly through:

• Memory improvement by strengthening synapses and LTP (long-term potentiation) in the hippocampus.
• Brain development when comparing children who were fed beast milk or HMO supplemented formula against their non supplemented peers.
• Protect against brain damage by stroke and aiding brain recovery as published in research papers

Gut-brain connection

Did you know that microorganisms in the intestines help the brain and gut communicate?

This is known as the Gut-brain connection! This is might also be the reason why we get indigestion when we are stressed or have a lot to think about. And when we have indigestion, chances are that we might also have a headache! 

Human Milk Oligosaccharide can play a part in alleviating this! 95% of our serotonin, the neurotransmitter in charge of emotions, sleep etc, is produced in the gut! Human Milk Oligosaccharide stimulates the production of tryptophan, which serotonin is made from!