WEBINAR: Analysis of Human Milk Oligosaccharides and Proteins in Infant Formula

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) represent the 3rd most abundant solid component in human breast milk. Approximately 200 different HMOs have been identified to date. A smaller fraction represent over 70% of the profile, with infant formula manufacturers including the most abundant 2’-fucosyllactose (2’FL) in many types of products for the past decade.

As research continues on the benefits for infants, manufacturers are beginning to introduce the other prevalent HMOs into their products to come closer to the composition of breast milk. This expansion has led to the necessity of an analytical method that can quantify a number of HMOs in these products.

Human breast milk expresses a unique protein profile when compared to the other sources of milk commonly used in infant formula production. Where a particular protein is much more highly expressed in human milk, it is likely to be of particular importance for a developing infant. Lactoferrin, alpha lactalbumin and beta lactoglobulin are of particular interest in that they are expressed at very different levels in human milk when compared to bovine milk. Many infant formula manufacturers now incorporate these human milk proteins into products for various stages of growth, and usage has even spread to dietary supplements for all ages and conditions.

The webinar will provide some background on HMOs and cover an analytical method that is capable of quantifying up to six different HMOs within infant formula and adult nutritionals and will focus on the most prevalent human milk proteins targeted for infant formula, and how modern proteomics tools are used to address the challenges of targeted protein analysis in protein rich matrices such as infant formula. This HMO method has recently received AOAC First Action status through the Stakeholder Panel for Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN), demonstrating the method can meet the performance requirements agreed upon by experts and manufacturers across the infant formula community.

Presentation Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Time: 12 PM CST

Length: 45 minutes

Presenters: Dave Ellingson & Jeff Shippar