Synthesize bioactive compounds from mother's milk.

In addition to providing energy and nutrients, human milk has other important beneficial health effects for infants. These include promoting a healthy gut environment and protecting against infections. It is not yet known specifically what constituent of the milk provides these benefits.

Among the various components of human milk--cells, immunoglobulins, peptides, nucleotides and diverse glycoconjugates--nonnutritional oligosaccharides are one of the most important candidates for mediating the beneficial effects of human milk in newborn infants.

The aim of European research is to produce bioactive oligosaccharides, similar to those found in human milk, and to use these in functional foods to promote a healthy gut and protect against infection in infancy and into adulthood. Scientists are investigating glycoconjugates, including oligosaccharides, found in human, cow, sheep and goat milks, to find the principal constituents responsible for mediating beneficial effects of human milk for infants. The investigators will develop strategies for synthesizing such bioactive components.

The scientists anticipate that the project should lead to the design of foods that are therapeutic for people with impaired health. Or they could take on a preventative function, compensating for an immature immune system. They also might be administered to infants who are unable to be breast-fed.

Further information. Joachim J. Schmitt, Numico Research Group Germany, Milupa GmbH & Co. KG, Bahnstrasse 14-30, 61381 Friedrichsdorf, Germany; phone: + 49 0 6172 99 14 56; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].