HMOs in the spotlight: dsm-firmenich’s latest gut health and early life nutrition innovations

As interest in gut health and its many connections to overall well-being grows, prebiotics are gaining traction as key players in holistic wellness. At the same time, consumer interest in the benefits of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) is on the rise. Once seen mainly as digestive aids, these non-digestible fibers are now linked to immune, metabolic, and cognitive health benefits.

Fueled by scientific advances and a push for clean-label, natural solutions, the prebiotic category is evolving fast. New ingredients and targeted claims are reshaping supplements and functional foods. Among these, Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are increasingly recognized as one of the most powerful tools in nutrition, offering a wide range of health advantages.

Nutrition Insight sits down with Dr. Marta Mikš, the senior market development manager at dsm-firmenich, and Dr. Renaud Mestdagh, the company’s senior scientist and innovation manager, to discuss its latest HMOs and prebiotic research, advancements, and innovations.

“dsm-firmenich’s approach to product development is guided by robust research on HMOs and other next-generation precision prebiotics,” Mikš explains. “For HMOs, we actively participate in the evolving scientific landscape examining how specific HMOs may support infant and adult gut health, immune function, and development.”

“Our cross-functional teams evaluate published literature — including in vitro studies, animal models, and human clinical data — to ensure all our products are backed by a robust body of scientific literature to support their benefits to human development and health.”

Prebiotic proliferation

Innova Market Insights’ data suggests that From 2020 to 2024, supplement launches with prebiotics grew at a 10% CAGR. Leading health claims included digestive, immune, and energy support, while GLP-1-friendly claims surged with a 78% CAGR. Inulin was the most commonly used prebiotic ingredient.Dr. Renaud Mestdagh highlights the efficacy of synbiotics and the need for further research.

At the same time, the consumer insights company’s data suggests that between October 2019 and September 2024, global baby and toddler product launches with HMOs grew by 12% annually. Europe led with 42% of launches. Immune health claims appeared in 64%, with 2’-Fucosyllactose being the most common HMO ingredient.

Mikš and Mestdagh say that dsm-firmenich’s early life nutrition strategy combines published research on HMO structure-function, in-house in vitro studies on individual and blended HMOs, and clinical insights from growing supplementation data. She spotlights that through academic collaborations and the dsm-firmenich HMO donation program, the company ensures its product information reflects the latest science and health priorities.

“Parents are looking forward to giving their babies the best start in life and are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the infant microbiome in early development,” Mestdagh reveals. “Various factors can influence microbiome composition during infancy, including delivery mode, feeding methods, and early antibiotic exposure.”

“This has created interest in nutritional solutions that may support optimal microbiome development, similar to patterns observed in vaginally delivered, exclusively breastfed infants.”

Synbiotic synergies

Mestdagh highlights that, although prebiotics and probiotics have long been used separately in infant nutrition, their combined benefits remain underexplored. He adds that dsm-firmenich partnered with Lallemand Health Solutions in 2021 to study potential complementary or synergistic effects between dsm-firmenich’s Glycare HMO range and Lallemand’s infant probiotic strains.

“Lallemand’s probiotics have been clinically studied in infants, have received regulatory approval in key markets, and are produced under stringent quality standards,” he attests. “Results from thorough in vitro screening have indicated potential interactions between selected combinations of probiotics and HMOs that may be relevant to various aspects of infant development including immune, gut, and brain health.”

He also underscores that there are several studies that show HMOs promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, but their use differs widely across probiotic strains. Metabolic effects, like short-chain fatty acid production, are strain-specific and influenced by unique genetic and phenotypic traits.

“The observations from our in vitro assessments are specific to the Lallemand probiotic strains and relate to their ability to metabolize HMOs,” Mestdagh emphasizes. “We continue to explore these relationships further to better understand how strategic combinations might complement infant nutritional needs.”Dr. Marta Mikš spotlights that dsm-firmenich offers the most extensive HMO portfolio in the industry.

“We are on a mission to set a new standard for synbiotics in early life nutrition. Together, we can ensure that all infants have access to the essential nutrients they need for optimal growth, health, and development and elevate health from the start.”

Honing in on HMOs

Mikš stresses that dsm-firmenich offers the most extensive HMO portfolio in the industry, featuring eight commercially available HMOs across all three structural classes found in human milk. This enables the formulation of more nature-inspired combinations. The company also leads in global regulatory access, with two HMOs approved for use in China.

“Our expertise extends beyond individual ingredients to complete nutrition solutions, from ready-to-dose GlycareHMO blend formulations based on human milk science to tailored applications and innovative combinations with other gut health ingredients designed for all life stages,” Mikš concludes. “We remain committed to advancing HMO science through research programs and collaborations with leading academic institutions.”

“As we continue exploring the potential of HMOs and their synergistic combinations with probiotics, we are not just developing ingredients — our ambition is to translate nature’s design into innovative nutrition solutions that may provide the best start in life for all infants and support health and development throughout life.”