Abstract
Objectives
Human milk is rich in oligosaccharides (OS) that impart significant health benefits to the infant. When breast feeding is not possible, infant formula (IF) is used as an alternative. However, little is known about the presence of OS in IF and their potential health effects. This study was aimed at quantifying naturally occurring OS in a commercial goat's milk IF and examining their prebiotic and anti-infection properties.
Methods
OS were isolated from IF using molecular weight cut-off filters and HILIC-LC/MS system. Prebiotic activity of OS was assessed by co-incubating Bifidobacterium (BB12 and BB526) and Lactobacillus (LA4461 and LC2607) strains in growth media with or without OS anaerobically at 37°C for 24 hr and measuring OD600. Anti-adhesion potential of OS was determined by co-incubating E. coli NCTC 10418 and S. typhimurium, pre-incubated with or without OS for 2 hr at 37°C, with Caco-2 cells for 90 min. After PBS washes and cell lysis, supernatants were plated onto agars for measuring bacterial counts and calculating the anti-adhesion %.
Results
Fourteen OS were quantified in goat's milk IF, of which 5 were structurally similar to those reported in human milk. At concentrations similar to those in reconstituted IF, OS fractions were significantly effective in enhancing the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli strains and preventing the adhesion of E. coli NCTC10418 (52.4%) and S. typhimurium (35%) to the Caco-2 cells.
Conclusions
Goat's milk IF contains several naturally occurring human milk-like OS that appear to promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes and protect against gut pathogens.
Funding Sources
No conflicts of interest were involved. Nuchev Pty Ltd. provided goat's milk IF. Research costs were covered by RMIT University.