Goat milk oligosaccharides: regulating infant immunity by intervention in the gut microbiota

Abstract

The health status of the growing infant is closely related to the development of the gut microbiota during infancy, which is also a major stimulator of the immune system. Goat milk oligosaccharides (gMOs) are a class of bioactive compounds in goat milk, which have attracted extensive research interest in recent years. Recent studies have highlighted that gMOs as prebiotics can regulate the gut microbiota, exhibit multiple health effects, and act as immunomodulators. This article outlines the structure, classification, and functions of gMOs. In addition, we also deeply explored the mechanism of gMO interaction with infant gut microbiota and regulation of infant immunity. Finally, the possibility of gMOs as an effective substitute for natural prebiotics in breast milk is revisited. We concluded that gMOs improve infant immune function by regulating intestinal beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, etc.) and their metabolism. Therefore, gMOs are significant to infant immune health and are expected to become a substitute for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).