The Effect of Sialylated Human Milk Oligosaccharides on Cognitive Development

Abstract

Neonatal brain development is a critical period during which the foundation for lifelong cognitive, emotional, and neurological functions is established. During this time, the brain requires specific nutrients to support key processes such as synaptogenesis, neuronal proliferation, neurogenesis, and neural plasticity, as well as the strengthening of neural connections. Human milk, which is rich in human milk oligosaccharides, plays a significant role in supporting these developmental functions. Sialic acid, which is found in gangliosides and cell adhesion molecules, has been shown to exert particularly positive effects on memory and learning processes. In breast milk, sialic acid is predominantly present in the form of sialoglycans and is considered an essential nutrient for supporting cognitive and neurological development in neonates. Therefore, increasing the sialic acid content of formulas to reach the appropriate amount in breast milk is important. The aim of this review is to discuss the effects of sialylated human milk oligosaccharides on cognitive development in the context of the mechanisms involved in the brain development of preterm and term infants.

Keywords

• Breast milk
• memory
• ınfant
• premature
• n-acetylneuraminic acid

Sialillenmiş Anne Sütü Oligosakkaritlerinin Bilişsel Gelişim Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

Yenidoğan dönemi beynin anatomik ve fizyolojik gelişimi, yaşam boyu sürecek bilişsel, duygusal ve nörolojik fonksiyonların temelinin atıldığı son derece kritik bir süreci kapsamaktadır. Bu dönemde beyin, sinir hücreleri arasındaki bağlantıların güçlenmesi, sinaptogenez, hücre proliferasyonu, nöronal plastisite ve nörogenez gibi süreçler için spesifik besin ögelerine ihtiyaç duymaktadır. Anne sütü, bu ihtiyaçları karşılayan yüksek miktarda anne sütü oligosakkaritleri içermektedir ve böylece beyin gelişimi ile fonksiyonlarının gerçekleştirilmesinde önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Gangliozidlerde ve hücre adezyon moleküllerinde bulunan sialik asit, özellikle hafıza ve öğrenme süreçleri üzerinde olumlu etkiler göstermektedir. Anne sütünde sialoglikan formunda bulunan sialik asit yenidoğan dönemi için bilişsel gelişim ve nörolojik fonksiyonların desteklenmesinde elzem bir besin ögesi olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu nedenle yenidoğanlara spesifik formulaların sialik asit içeriğinin artırılarak anne sütündeki miktarlara ulaşılması önem arz etmektedir. Bu derlemenin amacı, anne sütünün içerdiği besin ögelerinden sialillenmiş anne sütü oligosakkaritlerinin bilişsel gelişim süreçlerine etkilerini, preterm ve term bebeklerin beyin gelişiminde rol oynayan mekanizmalar ışığında tartışmaktır.

Keywords

• Anne sütü
• hafıza
• infant
• n-asetilnöraminik asit
• prematüre

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