title: FUT2-dependent breast milk oligosaccharides and allergy at 2 and 5 years of age in infants with high hereditary allergy risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Manifestation of allergic disease depends on genetic predisposition, diet and commensal microbiota. Genetic polymorphism of mothers determines their breast milk glycan composition. One major determinant is the fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2, secretor gene) that was shown to be linked to commensal microbiota establishment. We studied whether FUT2-dependent breast milk oligosaccharides are associated with allergic disease in breast-fed infants later in life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed FUT2-dependent oligosaccharides in breast milk samples of mothers (n = 266) from the placebo group of a randomized placebo-controlled trial of prebiotics and probiotics as preventive against allergic disease in infants with high allergy risk (trial registry number: NCT00298337). Using logistic regression models, we studied associations between FUT2-dependent breast milk oligosaccharides and incidence of allergic disease at 2 and 5 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 2 years, but not at 5 years of age, we observed a presumed lower incidence (p < 0.1) for IgE-associated eczema manifestation in C-section-born infants who were fed breast milk containing FUT2-dependent oligosaccharides. By logistic regression, we observed a similar relation (p < 0.1) between presence of FUT2-dependent breast milk oligosaccharides and IgE-associated disease and IgE-associated eczema in C-section-born infants only. When testing with the levels of breast milk oligosaccharide 2'-fucosyllactose as proxy for FUT2 activity, we observed significant (p < 0.05) associations in the C-section-born infants with 'any allergic disease,' IgE-associated disease, eczema and IgE-associated eczema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that infants born by C-section and having a high hereditary risk for allergies might have a lower risk to manifest IgE-associated eczema at 2 years, but not 5 years of age, when fed breast milk with FUT2-dependent milk oligosaccharides. Further studies with larger cohorts and especially randomized controlled intervention trials are required to build on these preliminary observations.
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Research Center, Nestec S.A., Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland. Norbert.Sprenger@rdls.nestle.com.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sprenger
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Research Center, Nestec S.A., Vers-Chez-Les-Blanc, 1000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland.|Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Giessen, Wilhelmstr. 20, 35392, Giessen, Germany.|Nestle Health Sciences, Biopole, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Odenwald
authors.affiliation: Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna Kaarina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kukkonen
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuitunen
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, 00029, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savilahti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutritional Sciences, University of Giessen, Wilhelmstr. 20, 35392, Giessen, Germany. Clemens.Kunz@uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunz
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase
chemical_list: D005647:Fucosyltransferases; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; D014312:Trisaccharides; D000097631:Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase; C031420:2'-fucosyllactose
keywords: Allergy; Breast-feeding; Human milk oligosaccharides; Mode of delivery