Goran Lab: Human Milk Oligosaccharides

This study focuses on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), complex sugars present in high and variable amounts in breast milk. HMOs are known to significantly contribute to establishing the infant immune system and are thought to play a key role in other aspects of infant development, including gut health and brain development.

HMOs reach the colon intact since they cannot be digested. This means they act as prebiotics, promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the gut and can therefore contribute to development of the infant gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays an important role in establishing long-term predisposition to a wide variety of disease states, including obesity. Our studies are working to examine how different HMOs affect infant development including development of the gut microbiome, appetite regulation and brain development.