A safety evaluation of mixed human milk oligosaccharides in rats.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are indigestible carbohydrates representing the third largest fraction of solutes in human breastmilk. They provide valuable prebiotic and anti-pathogenic functions in breastfed infants, but are not yet included in most infant formula products. Recent biotechnological advances now facilitate large-scale production of HMOs, providing infant formula manufacturers with the ability to supplement their products with HMOs to mimic human breastmilk.