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We conducted an online survey via Zigpoll. Consumers were asked a series of 21 questions to determine how they felt about different aspects of their health before and after taking PureHMO products. Participants were asked to rate their symptoms on a score of 1 to 100 with 100 being the most severe (the 21 questions can be found at the end of the article).
Our survey results show that 65% of participants used PureHMO to improve their gut health. That included the following symptoms:
Emerging research shows that human milk oligosaccharides have proven health benefits in adults and can directly impact gut health for the better. Jacobs and Co. (2023) demonstrated how an HMO-concentrate mixture derived from pooled donor breast milk increased the abundance of Bifidobacteria and the levels of acetate and butyrate[viii].
Butyrate is the least produced of SCFA in the gut accounting for around 15% of the total SCFA count compared to 60% for acetate and 25% for propionate[ix], but it is the main energy source for the cells lining the gut. That means it has potent effects on health.
By providing energy to colonocytes, butyrate supports normal gut function, promoting blood flow and gut motility which are important for proper digestion. It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can counteract invading pathogens and even prevent cancer cells from developing[x]. Therefore the increase in probiotics like Bifidobacteria and short-chain fatty acids could be behind the superpower potential of HMOs.
Figure 1. The symptoms survey participants thought PureHMO would help with shown as a percentage.The graph shows that the majority of participants expected Pure HMOs to improve their gut health, followed by 11% of people who thought it could improve the composition of their gut microbiome, and 10% expected it to improve their general health and wellbeing including energy levels. Other symptoms that survey participants wanted PureHMO to improve were skin issues (2%), sleep issues (1%), anxiety (1%), cognitive function (1%), fatigue (1%), Candida infection (2%), and immunity including allergies (6%).
Improving the composition of the gut microbiome was also an important health issue participants hoped PureHMO could solve. In infants, HMOs are known to help shape the gut microbiome with their prebiotic effect promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria including Bifidobacteria and Akkermansia muciniphila, as well as enhancing the growth of other probiotics through the process of cross-feeding such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Furthermore, these benefits are observed in adults with HMO doses that range from 5 to 20 g/day[xi]
As part of the survey, consumers were asked to score their symptoms out of 100 before and after taking PureHMO. The symptoms were: Bloating, Constipation, Diarrhea, Gas, Abdominal pain, Skin Issues, Bad breath, Fatigue, Food intolerance, and Brain fog.
Figure 2. Symptom scores before and after PureHMO supplementation.The graph shows that for each of the symptoms, consumers were asked about, there was a decrease in severity scores following supplementation with PureHMO.
As seen in Figure 2. the average score for bloating before PureHMO products were used was 51, but following the use of PureHMO, this decreased to 29. One participant who expected the PureHMO to improve their gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating, stated that their severity score was 100 before HMO use but this was graded at 0 following PureHMO supplementation. Just six people out of 134 respondents said that their bloating score worsened after taking PureHMO. Research conducted by Palsson et al (2019) demonstrated that supplementation with a 5g mixture of 2’FL and LNnT over 12 weeks improved IBS symptoms, including bloating severity, improving the quality of life of participants[xii].
Human milk oligosaccharides can help improve the symptoms of IBS including constipation, with oligosaccharides being shown to increase the water content of feces, making it easier to pass them out of the body.
Our results revealed a 41% decrease in constipation severity following treatment with PureHMO.
Research shows that HMOs can support normal bowel function and help improve diarrhea in adults with IBS. Over 12 weeks, supplementation with an HMO mix (2’FL and LNnT) improved severity scores of IBS-D (the diarrheal subtype). The results of the study showed that the severity of IBS-D improved from severe IBS to mild IBS[xiii].
The results of our study found a 50% decrease in the severity of diarrhea after using PureHMO products.
HMOs may help improve abdominal pain in people with IBS. Ferrier and colleagues (2022) found that a 6-HMO mix could help alleviate the pain associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders including IBS[xiv].
The average value for abdominal pain in Layer Origin customers was 32 before taking HMOs, but this was almost halved following the consumption of PureHMO products.
Some studies have identified HMOs as a potential candidate for treating allergic diseases including eczema and atopic dermatitis[xv].
On average, severity scores for skin issues reduced by just over 23% following PureHMO use.
Because HMOs can modulate the immune system, there is evidence to suggest that they could be useful for food allergies. Courtade et al (2015) found that treating sensitized mice with a daily oral supplement of 2’FL or 6’-sialyllactose (6’SL) suppressed the immune response to food and relieved the associated symptoms such as diarrhea. Similarly, our survey results showed a reduction in severity scores following PureHMO® treatment[xvi].
Brain fog is a collection of symptoms that can affect memory, cognition, and thinking. It isn’t a medical term, but it is synonymous with:
Emerging research is beginning to highlight the potential of HMOs in modulating the gut microbiota which can directly benefit the gut-brain axis. Therefore, HMOs may have important roles in stimulating the production of neuroactive molecules and regulating behaviour, memory, and learning in animals.
Our recent survey showed the following for brain fog:
Figure 3.The box and whisker plot above shows the distribution of data for brain fog before and after taking PureHMO®. The highest score for brain fog before PureHMO supplementation was 100, the maximum score, while after PureHMO the highest value was 90. The average severity score before PureHMO was 43 but this fell to 29 following the use of PureHMO products, demonstrating that human milk oligosaccharides could be beneficial for alleviating cognitive symptoms.
Research into the effects, function, and benefits of human milk oligosaccharides for human health has rocketed over the last three decades. So far, more than 200 individual HMOs have been identified and much has been learnt about their structure and function, including their potential to alleviate the symptoms of common digestive complaints including irritable bowel syndrome, such as constipation, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. However, more nuanced research is revealing that the potential of HMOs could spread beyond the gut and benefit cognition, mood, skin, and general health and wellbeing.
The results from a recent survey we conducted helped to show how PureHMO could benefit various aspects of health. We surveyed 134 consumers to find out how HMOs impacted specific symptoms. We found that for all 10 symptoms, average severity scores improved following PureHMO use, potentially improving participants' quality of life. Our research found that as well as some of the more ‘traditional’ symptoms, HMOs also had a positive impact on skin health, bad breath, fatigue, and brain fog. Therefore this demonstrates that HMOs could be important for general health and wellbeing.
If you’re looking for a solution for your health or simply want to get your gut microbiome composition back into shape, explore our PureHMO® range.
Written by: Leanne Edermaniger, M.Sc. Leanne is a professional science writer who specializes in human health and enjoys writing about all things related to the gut microbiome.
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