Exploring the Role of HMOs in Goat’s Milk Formula
In recent years, goat’s milk formula has become more widely accepted as a suitable alternative to breast milk for women who can’t breastfeed. In fact, recent research into goat’s milk reveals that it’s more similar to human breast milk in composition than cow’s milk formula.
One of the key differences when comparing goat’s and cow’s milk formula is the amount of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) they have.
In this article, we’ll look at the role that HMOs play in infant health and development, and assess how the naturally occurring HMOs in goat’s milk formula compare to synthetic probiotics added to infant formula.
Important note: Oli6 recognises that breastfeeding is the best option for new babies and mothers. That said, we know that it isn’t available to all. Information we share about goat’s milk and Oli6 Goat Milk Formula is of a general nature only, and shouldn’t replace proper personalised medical advice.
Understanding HMOs
What Are HMOs?
A chemical variation of lactose, HMOs are a type of milk sugar found in breast milk. They’re the fourth most abundant component after water, lactose and fats.
There are over 200 different HMOs in human breast milk, and every mother has a unique combination.
You could think of a woman’s HMO balance as unique like a fingerprint. Genetic background, environment, dietary intake, and many other factors influence what HMOs are present in breast milk. What’s more, the HMO composition also changes throughout the breastfeeding journey, providing a growing baby with the ideal milk profile for its stage of growth and development.
What do HMOs do?
While the role of HMOs in infant nutrition isn’t significant, they do perform vital functions to support immunity and gut health.
Notably, HMOs have been shown to:
- Help fight off infections and viruses
- Support the development of infant immune systems by establishing healthy gut microbiome
- Lower the risk of allergic disorders, and some health conditions like type 1 diabetes.
- Support brain and cognitive development.
Because of the substantial benefits of HMOs, formula companies are keen to add HMOs to their products. Recent developments in biotechnology have made affordable commercial production of these ingredients available, bringing infant formula even closer to human breast milk.
How do HMOs differ from synthetic prebiotics added to infant formula?
Formula manufacturers have been adding prebiotics to infant formula for some time. Most commonly added to infant formula, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are synthetic prebiotics designed to mimic the effects HMOs in a mother’s breast milk.
Studies show that FOS and GOS added to infant formula helps to alter the gastrointestinal microbiota of formula fed infants so that it more closely resembles that of breastfed infants.
Synthetic prebiotics are made by using an enzyme to modify lactose. By contrast, HMOs in infant formula, namely 2’FL and LNnT, are actually found in human breast milk.
Research conducted on Oli6 Goat Milk Formula found 14 naturally-occurring HMOs in the goat’s milk formula product.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides in baby formula
Why add them? The importance of HMOs in infant formula
Human milk oligosaccharides in formula help to make the microflora inside a formula fed infant even closer to that of a breastfed infant.
HMOs aren’t digested in the stomach, but make their way further through the digestive system to be digested by the microflora that lives inside our digestive tract. This allows HMOs to play a vital role in establishing and maintaining healthy gut microflora, immune development, and protection against gastrointestinal infections.
Formula with HMOs may therefore be more proactive when it comes to supporting infant digestion and protecting against sickness.
Comparing HMOs in goat’s and cow’s milk formula
Both cow’s milk and goat’s milk contain naturally occurring oligosaccharides at a lower level than human breast milk. However, goat’s milk contains up to ten times more oligosaccharides than cow’s milk.
Higher levels of oligosaccharides is one of the many benefits of goat’s milk formula when compared to cow’s milk formula. Other benefits include:
- Better digestibility due to smaller protein particles
- Better results for some children with cow’s milk protein intolerance or dairy sensitivity
- Denser nutrient profile
- Different (delicious!) taste preferred by some children.
Goat’s milk formula not only has more oligosaccharides than cow’s milk formula, it also has a greater diversity of structures, again making it more similar in nature to human breast milk.
HMOs in goat’s milk formula: What to know
Health benefits of HMOs in goat’s milk formula
- Goat’s milk formula contains higher levels of HMOs, for immune support in babies.
- HMOs in goat’s milk formula can improve gut health and ease digestion, making it a better alternative for babies with sensitivities.
- Research into goat’s milk indicates seven biological functions of oligosaccharides:
- Prebiotic effect
- Immune modulation
- Pathogen trapping
- Modulation of intestinal cells
- Protective effect against necrotising enterocolitis (a life threatening condition where the intestine becomes inflamed leading to bacterial invasion)
- Improved brain development
- Positive effects on stressor exposure.
What HMOs are in goat’s milk formula?
The most common HMOs you’ll find in goat’s milk formula are:
- 2’ -fucosyllactose (2’-FL)
- Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT)
These are added to Oli6 Goat Milk Formula, and you can look at the ingredients list of any formula tin to find out if these HMOs are included.
HMOs considered, is goat’s milk similar to breast milk?
While there’s still a vast difference between the makeup of goat’s milk and human breast milk, the HMOs in goat’s milk make it a closer match than cow’s milk and other types of plant or animal milk.
That said, when it comes to choosing the best infant formula, healthcare professionals should assess a range of factors including:
- Baby’s nutritional needs
- Baby’s allergies or sensitivities
- Baby’s growth and development
- Affordability to the family
- Product availability for the family.
HMOs in Oli6 Goat Milk Formula
At Oli6, we’re proud of the fact that our formula products feature a scientifically researched blend of prebiotics, probiotics, oligosaccharides and vitamins.
Compared to synthetic GOF/FOS prebiotics added to other formulas, the natural HMOs in goat’s milk make Oli6 Goat Milk Formula easier to digest, and many parents tell us what a difference it makes to their little one’s health and happiness.
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