Can Human Milk Oligosaccharides Modulate the Allergic Response and Improve the Management of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy?

Abstract

During this symposium, leading experts in paediatric allergy and immunology reviewed new evidence for the role of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) in supporting the development of the infant microbiota and modulating the immune system, thereby improving the clinical management of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). Liam O’Mahony, University College Cork, Ireland, explored the mechanisms by which HMOs can modify the gut microbiome and beneficially influence allergic and infectious responses in both healthy infants and those with CMPA. New data from the CINNAMON study were showcased by Claire Boulangé, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland, highlighting key mechanisms by which specific HMOs can support the microbiome and modulate metabolome production that may lead to important immune benefits in CMPA. Finally, Anna Nowak-Węgrzyn, Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the Grossman School of Medicine, New York University (NYU) Langone Health, USA, presented results from the Platypus study, in which infants with moderate-to-severe CMPA were fed an amino acid (AA)-based formula containing two HMOs. Symptoms of CMPA decreased significantly in infants fed the HMO-supplemented formula, and these clinical improvements were accompanied by normal growth and positive changes to the faecal microbiome. Collectively, these findings translate to important immune benefits and a key role for HMO-supplemented formula in the clinical management of CMPA.