文摘
This study sought to determine the fermentation potential of human milk oligosaccharides by mixed cultures of fecal microbiota from breast-fed (BF; n = 4) and formula-fed (FF; n = 4) infants. Infant fecal inocula were incubated with galactooligosaccharide (GOS), gum arabic (GA), HP inulin (HP), 2鈥?fucosyllactose (2鈥睩L), 6鈥?sialyllactose (6鈥睸L), and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnt). GOS, 2鈥睩L, and LNnT had a lower pH than other substrates after 3 h (P < 0.05). Total short chain fatty acids were greater in FF compared to BF infants at 6 h (P = 0.03) and 12 h (P = 0.01). GOS, 2鈥睩L, and LNnT led to more lactate than 6鈥睸L, HP, and GA (P < 0.05). Bifidobacteria populations were greater (P = 0.02) in FF at 6 and 12 h. Overall, GOS, 2鈥睩L, and LNnT were rapidly fermented by infant fecal inocula, 6鈥睸L and HP had intermediate fermentability, while GA had little fermentation. Inocula from FF infants fermented substrates more rapidly than inocula from BF infants, which should be accounted for when evaluating substrate fermentability. These data will aid in future infant formulas to promote optimal gut health in FF infants.
Keywords:
human milk oligosaccharides; fermentation; in vitro; infant