Nestlé has today announced its latest science-based innovation for early-life nutrition. The company has developed Sinergity, a proprietary blend that combines a specific probiotic with six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) to support age-adapted infant development by unlocking specific health benefits.
Probiotics play a key role in supporting the gut microbiome and immunity during infant development. Similarly, HMOs, a crucial component of breastmilk, support intestinal microbiota development and nurture the immune system during early life.
Over the years, Nestlé has been at the forefront of understanding the composition of various nutrients and bioactives that are present in breastmilk such as proteins and HMOs. Nestlé also has extensive expertise in probiotics and their role in nutrition and health.
Nestlé experts have now further explored the interaction of these different nutrients and bioactives. They have unveiled how a specific strain (B. infantis LMG11588) has the ability to efficiently absorb and metabolize HMOs, thereby producing key beneficial compounds, in addition to the direct benefits already provided by the HMOs and the probiotic individually. The combination of these elements creates a synergistic effect, resulting in a dominance of bifidobacteria which through their metabolic activity can lead to a more favorable gut environment and stronger immunity in the infant.
Laurent Alsteens, Global Head of Early Childhood Nutrition at Nestlé, said: "We are absolutely committed to engaging in groundbreaking research and are working with healthcare professionals to contribute to optimal nutrition in early childhood through clinically tested solutions that provide the essential nutrients for babies that cannot be exclusively or who are only partially breastfed. In this way, we can help advance breakthrough nutritional solutions for infants with ingredient blends to support age-appropriate growth, digestive health, bone, muscle and cognitive development and the immune system."
Building on their deep expertise, Nestlé teams developed the new Sinergity proprietary blend containing an infant-specific probiotic strain along with a blend of HMOs. Research shows that the composition of HMOs in breastmilk changes during the lactation period. Therefore, to meet the specific needs of infants according to age, products containing the new blend have varying levels of six different HMOs.
Isabelle Bureau-Franz, Head of Nestlé's R&D for Nutrition, said: "Nestlé is a pioneer in the research and development of early-life science-based solutions. Thanks to our continuous scientific advancements, we have discovered the important benefits of combining our proprietary B. infantis probiotic with a blend of six HMOs. Leveraging our innovation expertise, we developed this breakthrough solution by successfully translating the new scientific findings, scaling-up the production of the probiotic and carefully adapting the levels of six HMOs according to age."
The new blend has just been launched in Hong Kong. Its rollout will commence in Latin America towards the end of this year and in Europe early next year under the NAN Supreme pro brand.
This launch builds on Nestlé's commitment to develop science-based solutions for early-life nutrition. Nestlé was also the first company to introduce infant formula containing a complex of 5 HMOs globally, and the company currently has various products containing HMOs in more than 50 countries.
Read more: Phylogenetic, Functional and Safety Features of 1950s B. infantis Strains
