GLYCARE® 2FL HMO Supplement

2'FL (2'fucosyllactose) is the most abundant fucosylated Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) in human milk at ~2g/L1 and can have a beneficial effect on the health of infants

GLYCARE® 2 fucosyllactose

Currently, GLYCARE® 2FL is commercially available for use in infant formula, baby and kids nutrition and supplements as well as general digestive health applications in the following products:

GLYCARE® 2FL 9000 - Premium crystallized powder
GLYCARE® 2FL 9000HA - Hypoallergenic, Crystallized powder
GLYCARE® 2FL 9000KfP - Kosher for Passover, Crystallized powder

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Immunity and infection

HMOs help support immunity. Clinical studies have reported a relationship between HMOs and some immune outcomes in infants. Emerging science suggest that specific HMOs at the correct level of supplementation may help to reduce the risk of certain infections in infants consuming infant formula and in infants who are breastfed.

In two separate clinical HMO studies, supplementing infant formula with HMOs; the addition of 2 fucosyllactose plus galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) or 2 fucosyllactose plus LNnT were reported to help support the immune system. The clinical trial, supplementing infant formula with 2’FL + LNnT reported a reduction in the incidence of certain (parent-reported) infections and illnesses. This included significantly fewer reports of lower respiratory tract infections; and a significant reduction in the use of anti-fever medication, and antibiotics during the first 12 months of life².

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Gut health and microbiota

Clinical and preclinical studies report that human milk oligosaccharides may help to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria, which are believed to be important for development of the microbiota and gut health.

A clinical trial of infant formula supplemented with 2’FL and LNnT reported an increase in the population of bifidobacteria and an infant fecal microbiota more closely resembling that of a breast fed infant^2,8. Moreover the 2’FL + LNnT supplemented group was also reported to help bring the intestinal microbiota of those infants born by C-section closer to that observed in infants born vaginally, from the control group⁸. At 2 months of age significantly softer stools were reported in the 2’FL+ LNnT group².

Brain and cognitive development

Emerging science from observational study data in the breastfed infant and preclinical data in rodent models may suggest a potential role for 2’FL in brain and cognitive development. Data from a study of breast fed infants indicated the 2’FL concentration of breast milk at 1 month of age was associated with higher infant cognitive development scores at 24 months of age¹⁴. A number of preclinical studies in rodent models provide potential mechanisms of action for 2’FL in cognitive development and function^15,16,17.

Hypoallergenicity

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is an immune response to proteins found in cow’s milk. It is one of the most common food allergies, impacting up to 3% at 1 year of age in developed countries^9,18. Extensively hydrolyzed protein infant formulas may be recommended by a doctor for use in non-breast fed infants with CMA. A recent clinical study of infants and children 2 months - 4 years of age with CMA reported that an extensively hydrolyzed infant formula, with 2’FL and LNnT10 was safe and well tolerated. The formulation meets the American Academy of Pediatrics criteria for hypoallergenicity.

Allergy development

A clinical study and observational study data from breastfed infants and preclinical data suggest that 2'FL may play a role in beneficially changing the response to allergens.

A clinical trial compared supplementation of an infant formula with galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) with and without the addition of 2’FL. The parent reported data indicated a significantly higher percentage of infants with eczema in the group which did not receive 2’FL supplementation³. Observational study data also indicated that infants born by C-section with a high risk for allergies, when fed breastmilk with 2’FL had a lower risk of eczema at 2 years of age²⁰.

References

1. Erney, R. M., et al., (2000). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr: 30, 181-92.

2. Puccio, G. et al., (2017). Effects of infant formula with human milk oligosaccharides on growth and morbidity: a randomized multicenter trial. JPGN 64: 624-31.

3. Marriage, B., Buck, R. B., Goehring, K.C, Oliver, J.S, and Williams, J.A, (2015). Infants Fed a Lower Calorie Formula With 2’FL Show Growth and 2’FL Uptake Like Breast-Fed Infants. JPGN 61 (6), 649 – 658. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000000889.

4. Reverri, E.J. et al., (2018). Review of the clinical experiences of feeding infants formula containing the human milk oligosaccharide 2’-fucosyllactose. Nutrients, 10: 1346.

5. Goehring et al., (2016). Similar to those who are breastfed, infants fed a formula containing 2’-fucosyllactose have lower inflammatory cytokines in a randomized controlled trial. J. Nutr. 146: 2559-66.

6. Morrow et al., (2004). Human milk oligosaccharides are associated with protection against diarrhea in breast-fed infants. J Pediatrics, 145: 297-303.

7. Newburg et al., (2004). Human milk a1,2-linked fucosylated oligosaccharides decrease risk of diarrhea due to stable toxin of E. coli in breastfed infants. Adv Exp Med Biol, 554: 457-461.

8. Berger, B et al., (2020). Linking human milk oligosaccharides, infant fecal community types, and later risk to require antibiotics. mBio 11: e03196-19.

9. Yu, Z. T., Chen, C., Kling, D. E., Liu, B., McCoy, J. M., Merighi, M., … Newburg, D. S. (2013). The principal fucosylated oligosaccharides of human milk exhibit prebiotic properties on cultured infant microbiota. Glycobiology, 23(2), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1093/glycob/cws138

10. Krista Salli, Heli Anglenius, Johanna Hirvonen, Ashley A. Hibberd, Ilmari Ahonen, Markku T. Saarinen, Kirsti Tiihonen, Johanna Maukonen, A. C. O. (2019). The effect of 2′-fucosyllactose on simulated infant gut microbiome and metabolites; a pilot study in comparison to GOS and lactose. Scientific Reports. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49497-z

11. Azagra-Boronat, I., Massot-Cladera, M., Knipping, K., van‘t Land, B., Tims, S., Stahl, B., … Rodríguez-Lagunas, M. J. (2019). Oligosaccharides Modulate Rotavirus-Associated Dysbiosis and TLR Gene Expression in Neonatal Rats. Cells, 8(8), 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8080876

12. Kong, C., Elderman, M., Cheng, L., de Haan, B. J., Nauta, A., & de Vos, P. (2019). Modulation of Intestinal Epithelial Glycocalyx Development by Human Milk Oligosaccharides and Non-Digestible Carbohydrates. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 63(17). https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201900303

13. Holscher, H. D., Bode, L., & Tappenden, K. A. (2017). Human Milk Oligosaccharides Influence Intestinal Epithelial Cell Maturation in Vitro. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 64(2), 296–301. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000001274

14. Berger PK, Plows JF, Jones RB, et al. Human milk oligosaccharide 2'-fucosyllactose links feedings at 1 month to cognitive development at 24 months in infants of normal and overweight mothers. PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0228323. Published 2020 Feb 12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228323

15. Vázquez, E., Barranco, A., Ramírez, M., Gruart, A., Delgado-García, J. M., Martínez-Lara, E., … Rueda, R. (2015). Effects of a human milk oligosaccharide, 2′-fucosyllactose, on hippocampal long-term potentiation and learning capabilities in rodents. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 26(5), 455–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2014.11.016

16. Oliveros, E., Ramirez, M., Vazquez, E., Barranco, A., Gruart, A., Delgado-Garcia, J. M., … Martin, M. J. (2016). Oral supplementation of 2’-fucosyllactose during lactation improves memory and learning in rats. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 31, 20–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.12.014

17. Vazquez, E., Barranco, A., Ramirez, M., Gruart, A., Delgado-Garcia, J. M., Jimenez, M. L., … Rueda, R. (2016). Dietary 2′-fucosyllactose enhances operant conditioning and long-term potentiation via gut-brain communication through the vagus nerve in rodents. PLoS ONE, 11(11), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0166070

18. Flom JD, Sicherer SH. (2019). Epidemiology of Cow's Milk Allergy. Nutrients. 10;11(5):1051.

19. Nowak-Wegrzyn et al., (2019). Confirmed hypoallergenicity of a novel whey-based extensively hydrolyzed infant formula containing two human milk oligosaccharides. Nutrients 11: 1447.

20. Sprenger et al., (2017). FUT2-dependent breast milk oligosaccharides and allergy at 2 and 5 years of age in infants with high hereditary allergy risk. Eur J Nutr., 56: 1293-1301.

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Human milk oligosaccharides may support a number of health benefits such as immunity and gut health in early life.

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