Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a complex mixture of oligosaccharides found in breast milk. They are the third most abundant solid component in breast milk, following lactose and fat. Human milk oligosaccharides help beneficial bacteria colonize the gut, maintaining the balance of the intestinal microbiome. Also, human milk oligosaccharides inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, protecting infants from diseases. Additionally, human milk oligosaccharides enhance infants' immune systems, helping them resist pathogenic microorganisms. Recent studies have also shown that human milk oligosaccharides are essential for language and cognitive development in infants.

Human milk oligosaccharides can improve memory and spatial recognition in the brain and hold further research potential for stabilizing emotions and reducing anxiety-related behaviors.

Research from Japan’s Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine suggests that human milk oligosaccharides may improve brain function in infants by increasing sialic acid concentrations in the brain.

Researchers conducted studies on the correlation between human milk oligosaccharide supplementation and brain tissue development in animals, observing effects like hippocampal enlargement and axial and radial expansion. Supplementing experimental animals with HMO-formulated milk resulted in enlarged areas of the left hippocampus and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. The results showed that human milk oligosaccharides could increase the volume of the cortex and pons in the brain, extend recognition memory duration, and enhance exploration and cognitive abilities.

Experiments confirmed that human milk oligosaccharides can support more complete brain development, enrich neural synapses, and develop the nervous system, thereby significantly improving abilities of learning, memory, and spatial recognition. The studies also revealed that human milk oligosaccharides could reduce anxiety behaviors in experimental animals, broadening research perspectives on .

As a hot topic in research on functional components of breast milk, exploring the benefits and impacts of human milk oligosaccharides can decode the biological "instructions" mothers provide to protect and nourish infants, emphasizing the importance of promoting, supporting, and protecting breastfeeding.