Clinical nutrition\ Marché - N°64 pour les laits infantiles infant formulas Infant formulas are subject to a high number of regulatory requirements all around the world, which makes breakthrough innovations more rare in this sector. Along with the arrival of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on the market, competition between manufacturers might well be boosted again. the possibility to explore these Similac Pro-Advance and Similac® qualities, the only drawback was Pro-Sensitive, the fi rst infant for-® the high manufacturing cost of mulas with the highest levels of these HMOs. Abbott was the HMOs, namely 2-O-fucosyllac- fi rst to invest, as of the 90s, into tose, supported by nearly twenty means to produce HMOs at a rea- pre-clinical and clinical studies. In sonable cost (transgenic animals, July 2017, Nestlé introduced Nan fermentation processes). For its Optipro Supreme 2’-HMO in Spain. side, Nestlé supported as of 2005 The formula contained two HMOs, the Danish company Glycom 2-O-fucosyllactose and lacto-N- to produce HMOs by chemical neotetraose, supported by four cli- synthesis at the beginning and nical studies and announced that it 023 then by fermentation. aims to expand its presence with Human-specific, HumanMilk Oligosaccharides(HMOs) have a greatSeveral marketing authoriza-tion requests for the Europeanand North American market hadother infant formulas during theupcoming years. A clinical studyon formulas enriched with HMOs potential of exerting important been submitted. In June 2015, for children suffering from cow’s biological activities. They act on EFSA confirmed the safety of milk protein allergy is currently the composition and activity of two synthetic oligosaccharides, underway. Finally, in January 2018, the gastrointestinal fl ora and meet 2-O-fucosyllactose (up to 1.2 g/l) Wyeth launched its infant formula three criteria required for probio- and lacto-N-neotetraose (up to Illuma sn-2 HMO in Hong Kong.® tics: they can survive the acid in 0.6g/l) as novel food ingredients Mead Johnson and Nutricia, the stomach, they can withstand (application submitted by Glycom). which indicated that they were enzymatic hydrolysis and are not In 2015 and 2016, these two HMOs performing research studies on absorbed in the intestine. This obtained the GRAS status in the HMOs since 2014 and 2015 res- allows them to reach the distal U.S.A. Other approvals for use pectively, might also follow this small intestine and colon, where have been obtained in Israel and trend. The current production by they are absorbed by several Singapore. Glycom has submitted fermentation technologies have species of Bifidobacterium an application for their approval in signifi cantly reduced the cost of andLactobacillus. Beyond their Australia and New Zealand. production of HMOs and there- prebiotic properties, they are also It wasn’t long before clinical studiesfore also improved their availabi- able to inhibit bacterial and virus were launched and Abbott was the lity. An increasing number of sup- adhesion to the intestinal wall in fi rst to demonstrate that infants fedpliers such as Glycom, Jennewein babies and thereby promote eli- on the Similac formula supple-® Biotechnology GmbH, Friesland- mination. Finally, they could favou- mented with 2-O-fucosyllactose Campina, Carbosynth et DuPont rably infl uence the maturation of had an immune response (5 spe- Nutrition & Health (in partnership the immune response and nervous cific markers) and growth iden- with Inbiose NV) propose 2-fuco- system. tical to that of breastfed infants. syllactose. Infant formulas rich in The players in the infant nutrition Thus, in October 2016, Abbott HMOs might well become the new sector had long been waiting for was launching in the United States industry standard. ■ News on Functional & Health Ingredients \ N°64 \ July - August - September 2018 \ ■