New ingredient in baby formula supports immune system

Wednesday, October 26, 2016
A major baby formula maker says it has a new ingredient to make formula more like mother's milk.

Abbott says it has added a nutrient called an HMO, or human milk oligosaccharide, to the formula.
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HMOs are prebiotic compounds found in human milk.

They help healthy bacteria in the gut grow better.

Some are also in the bloodstream, where they also boot the immune system.
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Those good bacteria are vital for keeping the immune system in good shape.

About 70% of the immune system exists in the gut.



Breast milk continues to be the gold standard for babies.
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