Lactational changes in the human milk oligosaccharide concentration in Chinese and Malaysian mothers' milk

Oligosaccharides are important components of human breast milk with bioefficacy as prebiotics, anti-infectives and immune system modulators, and as a source of sialic acid for neural function and development. Recently, human milk oligosaccharides have been synthesised artificially as ingredients for commercial use, in infant formulae. However, incorporation of human milk oligosaccharides into paediatric foods requires a prior understanding of variations in the levels of oligosaccharides in human breastmilk – between individuals, populations, and lactational stages. In this study, seven acidic [3′-sialyl lactose, 6′-sialyl lactose, 6′-sialyl lactosamine, 3′-sialyl-3-fucosyllactose, disialyl lactose, LS-tetrasaccharide a/b and LS-tetrasaccharide c] and five neutral [lacto-N-neotetraose, lacto-N-tetraose, lacto-N-fucopentaose (total), 2′-fucosyllactose and 3-fucosyllactose] oligosaccharides from the breast milk of Chinese and Malaysian mothers were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, with an internal standard, in multiple reaction monitoring mode. In addition, the changes in the HMOs at an individual level were monitored across lactation.