Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infancy is associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis, characterised by low Bifidobacteriaceae levels. For breastfed infants, the main remedy consists in dietary exclusion of milk in the mother’s diet. For formula-fed infants, however, extensively hydrolysed formulae are often recommended. Such formulae tend to not provide supporting nutrients for the gut microbiome. We investigated the use of HMO blends, lactose, and mixes thereof, to alleviate dysbiosis in CMPA infants, using the predictive, ex vivo SIFR^® technology in prism mode.

We tested the impact of blends of HMOs (LNnT, 2’FL, 3FL, 3’SL or 6’SL), lactose, and their mix, on the gut microbiota of 12 suspected CMPA infants, and analysed the shifts in microbial composition and metabolome. Lactose addition to HMO formulae had a clear impact: the fermentative data showed an additive effect on SCFA production, while quantitative 16S rRNA gene profiling did underline an enhanced stimulation of HMO-utilising Bifidobacteriaceae, and a reduction in Clostridiaceae. On the metabolic side, all product arms, especially the HMO + lactose arms, stimulated health-related metabolites pertaining to gut-brain axis, immune health, and gut motility, like aromatic lactic acids and N-acetylated amino acids.

Full article: Van den Abbeele et al, 2024, Beneficial Microbes