17/10/2025
Breastmilk is not just alive and responsive, it’s also collaborative.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a group of complex sugars, and the third most abundant component of human milk.
Over 100 different HMOs have been identified in breastmilk so far. Which ones are found, and in what concentration, is unique to each mother.
Genetics, how many children the mother has had, the age of the nursling, and even the seasons, have been found to influence this unique HMO set in each woman.
Many HMOs cannot be digested by humans, but instead act as food for bacteria in your baby’s tummy. These bacteria help your baby to resist infection from harmful bacteria, and to develop a normal gut microbiome.
The microbiome plays an enormous role in making sure the gut and immune system develop properly and function well, short and long term.
HMOs can also trick bacteria and viruses into binding to them, instead of your baby’s gut wall, preventing them from infecting your baby. Some HMOs reduce the risk of diarrheal diseases, one of the most common causes of infant mortality under age 5.
One HMO called DSLNT has been linked to a reduction in the risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is a potentially fatal disorder, most often affecting premature babies.
We mothers are all unique, yet also going through a Universal Journey.
We’re with you.
Thank you to Dr Lars Bode and Dr Meghan Azad, for their research into HMOs and for helping to word this post.
