1. Characterising glycosaminoglycans in human breastmilk and their potential role in infant health.
- Author
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Greenwood M, Murciano-Martínez P, Berrington J, Flitsch SL, Austin S, and Stewart C
- Abstract
Human breastmilk is composed of many well researched bioactive components crucial for infant nutrition and priming of the neonatal microbiome and immune system. Understanding these components gives us crucial insight to the health and wellbeing of infants. Research surrounding glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) previously focused on those produced endogenously; however, recent efforts have shifted to understanding GAGs in human breastmilk. The structural complexity of GAGs makes detection and analysis complicated therefore, research is time consuming and limited to highly specialised teams experienced in carbohydrate analysis. In breastmilk, GAGs are present in varying quantities in four forms; chondroitin sulphate, heparin/heparan sulphate, dermatan sulphate and hyaluronic acid, and are hypothesised to behave similar to other bioactive components with suspected roles in pathogen defense and proliferation of beneficial gut bacteria. Chondroitin sulphate and heparin, being the most abundant, are expected to have the most impact on infant health. Their decreasing concentration over lactation further indicates their role and potential importance during early life., Competing Interests: CJS declares performing consultancy for Astarte Medical and receiving lecture honoraria from Nestle Nutrition Institute. He also supervises a BBSRC collaborative training partnership PhD student for which Nestlé are involved (no salary or other personal payment is provided by Nestlé). He has no share options or other conflicts. SA & PMM are employees of Socitee des Produits Nestlé S.A.
- Published
- 2024
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