The global human milk oligosaccharides market size had a revenue worth USD 177.12 million in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 900 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 19.8% during the forecast period (2023-2031). Infants' health, development, and protection are essential during the first few months of life. The natural and best method of feeding a baby is breastfeeding, which has a good impact on their development and health. Breast milk contains a wide variety of bioactive substances, including immunoglobulins, hormones, oligosaccharides, and others, and offers the newborn the perfect nutritional balance. After lactose and lipids, human milk's third most prevalent solid component, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), is a very significant and intriguing component. They are a collection of complex, indigestible sugars that are both structurally and physiologically varied.
Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), multipurpose glycans that are naturally present in human milk, are a significant component. They are particularly fascinating because of their abundance and variety in structural design. Human milk contains complex carbohydrates called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). They provide no nutritional purpose but are the third largest solid substance in breast milk after fat and lactose. The numerous health advantages of HMOs are what drive the industry. The infant gut microbiome is shaped early in life by HMOs' combined prebiotic, antimicrobial, and antiadhesive effects. This lowers the risk of acute illnesses and non-communicable diseases like asthma and allergies.
The foundation for a child's capacity to learn, grow, and flourish is helped by good nutrition. Breast milk provides the best nutrition for infants because it contains unique prebiotics called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). They are the third-largest solid in breast milk after fat and carbs. By acting as a food supply for the beneficial bacteria in the intestine, human milk oligosaccharide appears to aid in the development of the ideal microbiota in babies, according to several clinical studies. HMOs are a natural component of breast milk and have developed over thousands of years. According to HMO studies, particular HMOs with the right level of supplementation may offer unique health advantages to infants. Mainly Human Milk Oligosaccharide enhances gastrointestinal and immune health and may contribute to cognitive development. This may present chances for future innovation and, as a result, enhance demand for HMOs internationally.
Furthermore, several functional studies in the field suggest that commercially generated HMOs can imitate some of the health-promoting effects of HMOs in human milk. This is likely because of the increased public knowledge of the health benefits of HMOs. Formula-fed babies no longer have to miss out on the advantages of these vital components of breast milk because of the HMO's ability to be produced through fermentation and bring infant nutrition products closer to human milk. Through considerable research on pre- and probiotics as well as infant nutrition, biotech businesses are learning how to apply the health-promoting properties of HMOs to dietary supplements and infant formula, thereby extending the benefits of HMOs globally and projected to boost the market.
The leading competitors in the HMO market have made sizable investments intending to boost their production capacity and geographic reach, propelling the HMO market internationally. Additionally, businesses are investing strategically in creating novel products with improved benefits to adapt to shifting consumer preferences and gain a competitive edge in the market. For instance, Asia's cell-based food industry, Turtle Tree, raised USD 30 million in November 2021 to introduce human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which can be used as blends in infant formula, sports nutrition, and dairy products like cheese and yogurt, as well as to scale up its production in the US and Singapore. Therefore, the increasing health advantages of HMOs in enhancing newborns' congenital growth, gut digestion, and immunity and expanding investments are fueling the market.
Breast milk is the best food for a baby to eat, and newborns who are breastfed typically have better immune systems than those who are fed formula. This is partly because breastmilk contains various immune-boosting substances, including the protective properties of oligosaccharides found in human milk. After fat and carbs, HMOs make up the third most significant portion of breast milk that is solid. According to research, they are crucial to a baby's immune system and digestive wellness. HMOs are well-known for acting as prebiotics, which feeds the beneficial bacteria in a baby's gut. Breast milk contains easily assimilated nutrients, immune-strengthening live antibodies from the mother, antioxidants, enzymes, and immunological properties.
Due to these advantages, nursing is also recommended as the best option for infants by several medical organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Additionally, the growing number of programs promoting breastfeeding that educate and inform women about the benefits of breastfeeding throughout their prenatal and postpartum care, and counseling from medical professionals or specially trained volunteers, and support groups for nursing mothers, is encouraging mothers to choose breastfeeding as their baby's primary source of nutrition rather than choosing supplements or formula. Breast milk naturally contains the necessary quantity of HMOs for a baby's growth; hence the market for artificially synthesized HMOs is being negatively impacted by mothers' shifting behavior as a result of increased support for nursing.
Consumers are looking for clean-label, non-genetically modified foods derived from sustainable, natural sources as they become more conscientious of their diets. To increase their sales, the HMO manufacturers have a promising opportunity to develop a proprietary process for the scalable production of a non-GMO human milk oligosaccharide (HMO). This increased demand for non-GMO products has created this opportunity. To introduce Non-GMO (HMOs), the manufacturers are concentrating and investing in their extensive research and development and various techniques like high-throughput, automated enzyme identification, design, and screening.
The new method relies on simple enzymes rather than recombinant organisms to function and utilizes bioconversion technology to get around genetically engineered bacteria. In addition, consumers are increasingly seeking products that will boost their immunity and improve their gut health. According to numerous clinical studies, HMO has been reported to be quite successful in treating irritable bowel syndrome within weeks. This has opened the door for the producers of dietary supplements to launch HMO-fortified products for improved gut health.
| Study Period | 2019-2031 | CAGR | 19.8% |
| Historical Period | 2019-2021 | Forecast Period | 2023-2031 |
| Base Year | 2022 | Base Year Market Size | USD 177.12 Million |
| Forecast Year | 2031 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 900 Million |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific | Fastest Growing Market | Europe |
The region-wise segmentation of the global milk oligosaccharides market includes Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and the rest of the world.
The Asia Pacific is likely to command the milk oligosaccharides regional market while growing at a CAGR of 20.6%. Scientific research has shown that the HMOs found in human breast milk are difficult to digest, which gave rise to HMOs that are now manufactured commercially. Among the significant factors influencing the market is the rising consumer knowledge of the advantages of HMO in baby nutrition in the nation. Key market participants are concentrating on increasing their footprint to attain significant economies of scale in response to the growing demand. To create a cutting-edge infant formula specifically for the Chinese market, Jennewein Biotechnologie teamed up with Yili Group, one of Asia's leading dairy producers. To create a product specifically suited for Chinese infants, the firms intend to combine Jennewein Biotechnologie's expertise in human milk oligosaccharides and Yili's expertise in the composition of Chinese breast milk.
Europe will likely have a shareholding of USD 240 million, advancing at a CAGR of 18.72%. The United Kingdom is a prime revenue generator of the region. The industry's investments are bridging the gap between infant formula and human breast milk by producing oligosaccharides from human milk. According to the Public Health England data from 2017, one in three HIV-positive adults are women, and these women cannot nurse their children. For such moms, HMO products are beneficial in ensuring that their infants receive the proper nutrients. The first infant milk to incorporate HMOs was introduced by SMA Nutrition, one of the leading food and nutrition research networks with research and development facilities in the United Kingdom. With the addition of 2'FL and LNnT, this formula contains gut flora almost identical to that of a breastfed infant.
The demand for HMO products has increased due to increased awareness of and research into its benefits. According to studies, a formula containing these HMOs promotes healthy development and helps a newborn's gut flora become more comparable to that of breastfed newborns. Consumers' perspectives on health and well-being have radically shifted in the UK. The demand for foods with functional properties, such as those that boost immunity and reduce stress, has increased. HMOs and associated functional foods are essential to give the necessary nutrients and immunity. HMOs, serve a crucial role in protecting immunity and sustaining nourishment. The regional milk oligosaccharides market is predicted to develop due to this tendency.
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The global human milk oligosaccharides market is bifurcated based on the application and region.
Per the application, the sections are Infant Formula, Dietary Supplements, and Functional Food and Beverage.
The infant formula section will most likely expand at a CAGR of 19.30% and hold the most significant revenue during the forecast period. Due to the linked health advantages of ingesting HMOs, the market saw a substantial demand for the use of HMOs in infant formula. HMOs, improve immunity by reducing the risk of infection through interactions with bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. This has led to a rise in the usage of HMOs in infant formula on a commercial scale. The critical factors in the infant formula market, which are increasingly global player investments in research & development activities for high product innovation on a large scale for the commercial production of HMOs, may contribute to some health benefits for infants by assisting them in developing a healthy microbiota linked to human breast milk.
In particular, for infant formulas, the FDA and EU ingredient regulatory bodies have established regulations for product approval of HMOs that ensure the safety of the ingredients and encourage manufacturers to use them. The market's major players are implementing strategic measures to increase their presence and capture significant market shares to meet the demand that is only expected to grow. During the forecast period, these factors are anticipated to fuel market expansion.
The dietary supplements section will hold the second-largest share while growing at the highest CAGR. The functional advantages of these products have increased demand for the biosynthetic synthesis of HMOs, which are used as additions in infant formula and dietary supplements. The availability of new technologies, such as enzymatic trans-glycosylation, which is used to artificially synthesize HMOs, is one of the key reasons and market trends that propel the human milk oligosaccharides' growth (HMO) market.
Due to their scarcity, HMOs were just recently used in dietary supplements, making it challenging to conduct biological effects studies. They are now available in quantities and at affordable costs for commercial purposes, including nutritional supplements, due to the switch from chemical synthesis to biotechnological manufacture. HMOs are used in dietary supplements for advantages like immune support, defense against bacterial and viral infections, comfort for the digestive system, and support for cognitive function.
