Editorial: Human milk, nutrition and infant development, volume II

been shown to improve growth metrics reduce complications, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, 34 with individualized fortification methods yielding superior outcomes et al.). 35 HM serves also as a robust immunological shield for the infant, conferring both passive and active 36 immunity. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) act as prebiotic sugars that foster the proliferation 37 of beneficial gut bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, and function as decoy receptors to inhibit pathogen 38 adhesion and modulate immune responses (Slater et al.). HMOs are instrumental in reducing 39 inflammation and promoting immune tolerance, while also protecting against viral infections and 40 allergic asthma by encouraging regulatory immune responses (Rijks et al.