Abstract: Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are important components in human milk. Understanding the differences between non-HMOs and HMOs is fundamental to develop infant formula with improved nutritional functions making it more similar to human milk to satisfy the nutritional health of infants. This paper reviews the types and structural characteristics of HMOs and their roles in regulating the intestinal microflora, improving intestinal health and promoting immune system development. Meanwhile, the differences between the composition of oligosaccharides in mammalian milk and HMOs composition are described, as well as the characteristics and functions of oligosaccharides commonly used in infant formula. The problems associated with the application of oligosaccharides in infant formula are proposed and future prospects are discussed. We expect that this review will provide a theoretical guidance for the development of new infant formulas.

Key words: human milk oligosaccharides, mammalian milk oligosaccharides, non-dairy oligosaccharides, infant formula

摘要： 母乳低聚糖（human milk oligosaccharides，HMOs）是母乳的重要成分，研究非母乳低聚糖与HMOs之间的差异是实现婴儿配方乳粉母乳化、提升婴儿配方乳粉营养功能、满足婴儿营养健康的基础性工作。本文综述近几年关于HMOs种类、结构特征、HMOs对肠道微生物的调节、肠道健康及免疫系统发育影响的研究成果，同时比较常见动物乳中低聚糖的构成与HMOs的差异，阐述目前婴儿配方乳粉中常用低聚糖的特点及其功能，提出低聚糖在婴幼儿配方乳粉中应用存在的问题与展望，为开发新型婴儿配方乳粉提供理论指导。

关键词: 母乳低聚糖, 哺乳动物乳低聚糖, 非乳源低聚糖, 婴儿配方乳粉