3’SL (3-Sialyllactose)

Sialyllactoses are called acidic HMOs due to the presence of sialic acid (N-acetyl neuraminic acid) into their molecular structure. Result is that sialyllactoses behave in many ways quite different to neutral or fucosylated HMOs.

Sialylated HMOs attract a lot of attention as they might be an important source of sialic acid, which is a major component of the brain. Supplementation of formula with 3’SL or 6’SL can enrich ganglioside sialic acid in the brain and modulate gut associated microbiota in neonatal pigs.

A recent study explained that 3’SL is more predictive of future gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis than fasting glucose in early pregnancy.

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