2’-FL HMO—

Far More Than a Prebiotic

by Rachael H. Buck, PhD
Associate Research Fellow
Global R&D, Abbott Nutrition

Scientific Overview Applying to Your Practice

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are important HMOs’ Important Roles in Protecting Baby’s
immune supporting ingredients1 that impact digestion and Digestion and Immune Health
immune health in infants.2

Infection,
Act as prebiotics; Inflammation

support microbiota Food NEC,

Allergies Sepsis

2’-FL
HMOs act as selective prebiotics that resist digestion HMO
by human intestinal enzymes2 and promote growth Gut
of healthy microbiota in the gut1 to support baby’s Microbiota Health

developing immune system.3

Emerging research indicates HMOs play multiple roles to
Prevent Adhesion of Pathogens to Enterocytes
help support baby’s digestion and immune health2 and are
Pathogen associated with reduced incidence of gastrointestinal and
HMO respiratory illness4 and less eczema.5,6
Pathogen
A 15-year scientific breakthrough now makes it possible
Surface- Surface- to add 2’-FL HMO to infant formula.5 Studies have shown
Bound Bound
Human Sugar Human Sugar an immune response more like breastfed infants when
Cells Cells feeding infant formulas with 2’-FL HMO.3

Without HMOs Infection With HMOs Reduced infection Key Takeaways

HMOs bind to infant gut pathogens to act as receptor Recommend Formulas With 2’-FL HMO to
decoys and prevent pathogens from adhering to cell
surfaces. HMOs structurally resemble the sugars
Support Baby’s Digestion and Strengthen
that bacteria use to cause infections, functioning as Immune Health Like Breastfed Infants
soluble decoys that block the attachment of potentially 1 HMOs support the developing immune system3
pathogenic bacteria.2 and are associated with reduced incidence of
HMOs, like 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), may exert positive gastrointestinal and respiratory illness4 and
health benefits on the gut microbiome, infection and less eczema.5,6
inflammation (infectious disease, immunity and allergy), 2 Infant formulas containing 2’-FL HMO help
brain development and Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC).1 strengthen the immune system to be more like
breastfed infants.3

www.PediatricNutritionAdvocate.org
References: 1. Castanys-Munoz E, et al. 2’-fucosyllactose: an abundant, genetically determined soluble glycan present in human milk. Nutr Rev. 2013;71(12):773-89.
2. Bode L. Human milk oligosaccharides: every baby needs a sugar mama. Glycobiology. 2012;22(9):1147-62. 3. Goehring KC, et al. Similar to those who are breastfed,
infants fed a formula containing 2’-fucosyllactose have lower inflammatory cytokines in a randomized controlled trial. J Nutr. 2016;146(12):2559-2566. 4. Stepans
MB, et al. Early consumption of human milk oligosaccharides is inversely related to subsequent risk of respiratory and enteric disease in infants. Breastfeed Med.
2006;1:207-215. 5. Marriage BJ, et al. Infants Fed a Lower Calorie Formula With 2’FL Show Growth and 2’FL Uptake Like Breast-Fed Infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol
Nutr. 2015;61(6):649-58. 6. Sprenger N, et al. FUT2-dependent breast milk oligosaccharides and allergy at 2 and 5 years of age in infants with high hereditary allergy
risk. Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(3):1293-1301.