Prebiotic Factors in Human Milk

Before birth, the infant is sterile. During vaginal delivery, the natural colonization of the infant starts with bacteria mainly from the vaginal and intestinal microbiota of the mother. For the further development of the intestinal microbiota of the infant, the diet plays an important role. During breastfeeding, the microbiota change within a short period to a flora dominated by bifidobacteria whereas the intestinal microbiota of infants fed formulas without prebiotics is characterized by a flora of a more adult type (12). 

There is a wide range of molecular size distribution within the HMOS fraction. Since 1980, oligosaccharides are defined as carbohydrates with a degree of 

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