In Vitro
Impact of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on
Enterobacteriaceae Growth
- Publication date
- 2015
- Publisher
Abstract
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)
function as prebiotics in the
infant gut by selecting for specific species of bifidobacteria and
bacteroides, but little is known about their potential utilization
by Enterobacteriaceae, the relative numbers of which have been linked
to the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. In this
study, the in vitro growth of purified HMOs and other related carbohydrates
was evaluated using individual strains of Enterobacteriaceae and an
Enterobacteriaceae consortia enriched from piglet feces. None of the
Enterobacteriaceae strains grew on 2′-fucosyllactose, 6′-sialyllactose,
or lacto-<i>N</i>-neotetraose (LNnT); however, several strains
were capable of utilizing galactooligosaccharides, maltodextrin, and
the mono- and disaccharide components of HMOs for growth. The enriched
fecal consortia also did not grow on 2′-fucosyllactose or 6′-sialyllactose,
but there was limited growth on LNnT. It was concluded that 2′-fucosyllactose
and 6′-sialyllactose supplementation of preterm infant formula
should not lead to an increase in Enterobacteriaceae; however, supplementation
with LNnT may require further study