During this symposium, leading experts in paediatric allergy and immunology reviewed new evidence for the role of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) in supporting the development of the infant microbiota and modulating the immune system, thereby improving the clinical management of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). Liam O’Mahony, University College Cork, Ireland, explored the mechanisms by which HMOs can modify the gut microbiome and beneficially influence allergic and infectious responses in both healthy infants and those with CMPA. New data from the CINNAMON study were showcased by Claire Boulangé, Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland, highlighting key mechanisms by which specific HMOs can support the microbiome and modulate metabolome production that may lead to important immune benefits in CMPA. Finally, Anna Nowak-Węgrzyn, Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the Grossman School of Medicine, New York University (NYU) Langone Health, USA, presented results from the Platypus study, in which infants with moderate-to-severe CMPA were fed an amino acid (AA)-based formula containing two HMOs. Symptoms of CMPA decreased significantly in infants fed the HMO-supplemented formula, and these clinical improvements were accompanied by normal growth and positive changes to the faecal microbiome. Collectively, these findings translate to important immune benefits and a key role for HMO-supplemented formula in the clinical management of CMPA.

During this symposium, leading experts in paediatric allergy and immunology examined evidence for the immunomodulatory role of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) in infants with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), and considered the implications for clinical management. Mechanisms underpinning the positive modulatory effect of HMOs on the early microbiome and immune system responses in healthy infants and those with CMPA were explored by Liam O’Mahony, University College Cork, Republic of Ireland. Anna Nowak-Węgrzyn, Professor of Pediatrics at the New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, NYU Langone Health, New York City, USA, then reviewed findings from the CINNAMON and PLATYPUS clinical trials, highlighting the beneficial impact of HMO-supplemented formula on the clinical management of infants with CMPA. In these studies, hypoallergenic formulae containing the two key HMOs, 2′-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), showed a good safety profile, supported normal infant growth, and, importantly, helped to reduce the risk of respiratory infection in children with mild, moderate, or severe CMPA. In the final presentation of the symposium, Ralf Heine, Global Medical Director of Paediatric Care at Nestlé Health Science, Switzerland, showcased new data from the CINNAMON and PLATYPUS studies, shedding further light on the mechanisms by which HMOs can shape the early microbiome and influence the metabolome profile associated with important immune benefits in CMPA.