Effect of 2′-fucosyllactose supplementation on intestinal flora in mice with intestinal inflammatory diseases

The effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and the main component, 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), on intestinal disorders were evaluated. A dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced mice model for colitis was established to investigate the correlation between HMOs and 2′-FL in attenuating colitis and modulating gut microbiota. The results indicated that inflammatory bowel disease was attenuated by consumption of both HMOs and 2′-FL. Moreover, both dietary HMOs and 2′-FL inhibited the overgrowth of Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella. HMOs increased the proportion of Muribaculaceae and Bacteroides, and 2′-FL dramatically increased Lactobacillus abundance. This was positively correlated with short chain fatty acid production, but was negatively correlated with inflammatory biomarkers overall. PICRUSt analysis further showed that both HMO and 2′-FL regulated the bacterial genes related to infectious diseases and carbohydrate metabolism. Our findings suggested that 2′-FL had anti-inflammatory activities similar to those of HMOs; this might be related to regulation of the intestinal flora and metabolites.