Fig. 4

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) promote the growth of “good bacteria” and inhibit pathogenic colonization

HMOs help establish a healthy gut microbiota (GM) in at least two ways. First, HMOs exhibit a probiotic effect, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of pathogens. Second, HMOs act as decoy receptors and bind pathogens, competing with them through adhesion to their receptors on epithelial cells, suppressing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria