The Important Role of Human Milk Oligosaccharides^* in Infant Formula

What Are HMOs?

Human milk oligosaccharides^* (HMOs) are unique prebiotics naturally found in breast milk. After fats (lipids) and carbohydrate (lactose), they’re the third most abundant solid component.

Research suggests that in breastfed babies, HMOs help shape a healthy gut where 70% of the immune system is located. They feed the good bacteria, which can positively impact immune and brain development, and digestive health.

Five of the most abundant naturally found in most human milk are:

• 2´-Fucosyllactose (2´-FL) (the most abundant HMO in most breast milk)
• 3-Fucosyllactose (3-FL)
• Lacto-N-Tetraose (LNT)
• 3´-Sialyllactose (3´-SL)
• 6´-Sialyllactose (6´-SL)

A Breakthrough Formula Backed by Research

Because of their beneficial role in infant development, researchers have worked to understand human milk oligosaccharides and how to bring their benefits to infant formula. For decades, Abbott scientists have led HMO research, leading us to become the first company in the world to bring the immune-nourishing benefits of these special prebiotics to formula-fed babies. Today, Abbott continues to lead innovation, offering Similac^® 360 Total Care^® – the first and only U.S. infant formula brand that has a blend of 5 different HMOs that are structurally identical to 5 of those found in breast milk.

In the largest and longest U.S. clinical study on infant formula that has added HMOs, Abbott researchers compared certain parent-reported outcomes in infants fed Similac 360 Total Care formula that has 5 HMOs versus a comparable formula without HMOs over their first 12 months of life. The results showed that babies fed an infant formula that has 5 HMOs performed better in language development, improved digestive health, and had a positive impact on the developing immune system compared to those fed a formula without HMOs.^†

In this clinical study, the babies fed Similac 360 Total Care that has 5 HMOs showed 5 positive benefits during the first 12 months:

1. Brain Development: They showed social and language development like that of breastfed babies.¹ They understood on-average 24% more everyday phrases and 38% more infants fed Similac 360 Total Care imitated words when starting to talk compared to babies fed a formula without HMOs. 
2. Gut Health: Compared to infants fed a formula without HMOs, infants fed a formula with 5 HMOs had a microbiota composition more like breastfed infants and more abundance of beneficial infant gut microbiota compared to infants fed a formula without HMOs.² The growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut can contribute to a healthy microbiome, the community of tiny organisms in the gut that can play a critical role in lifelong health.
3. Immune Support: Their developing immune systems were positively impacted. The first few years of life are a critical window for immune system development.
4. Normal Growth: Their growth in length, weight and head circumference was like breastfed infants. 
5. Tolerance: They tolerated the formula well, including softer stools than babies fed a formula without HMOs through 4 months of age.

Confidence in Every Bottle

With new and promising findings like these, the addition of human milk oligosaccharides is one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in infant formula, and an area for continued research.

Breast milk remains the gold standard for providing essential nutrition for babies. For families who choose infant formula, it’s reassuring to know that Abbott’s Similac 360 Total Care brand offers more advanced options than ever—thoughtfully designed and backed by clinical research to provide certain evidence-based benefits that are similar to breastfed infants.

Choosing how and what to feed your baby is an important and personal decision. Given Abbott’s leadership in HMO research and innovation, today’s parents have even more research-backed options. As research continues to reveal the complexities of human milk, Abbott remains committed to advancing clinically supported innovations—like infant formulas that have HMOs—to help nourish a bright future for formula-fed babies.

1. As measured by 2 parent-reported cognitive assessments.

2. 5 species of infant-specific bifidobacterium.

* Not derived from human milk.

† In a clinical study through 12 months of age that enrolled 607 infants fed a formula with 5 HMOs, a formula without HMOs, or breast milk in the U.S.