Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Comparison of milk oligosaccharides pattern in colostrum of different horse breeds.
Abstract: Colostrum oligosaccharides are known to exhibit prebiotic and immunomodulatory properties. Oligosaccharide composition is species-specific, and equine colostrum has been reported to contain unique oligosaccharides. Therefore, equine oligosaccharides (EMOS) from colostrum from different horse breeds were analyzed by CE-LIF, CE-MS(n), HILIC-MS(n), and exoglycosidase degradation. Sixteen EMOS were characterized and quantified, of which half were neutral and half were acidic. EMOS showed about 63% structural overlap with human milk oligosaccharides, known for their bioactivity. Seven EMOS were not reported before in equine oligosaccharides literature: neutral Gal(β1-4)HexNAc, Gal(β1-4)Hex-Hex, β4'-galactosyllactose, and lactose-N-hexaose, as well as acidic 6'-Sialyl-Hex-Ac-HexNAc, sialyllacto-N-tetraose-a, and disialylacto-N-tetraose (isomer not further specified). In all colostrum samples, the average oligosaccharide concentration ranged from 2.12 to 4.63 g/L; with β 6'and 3'- galactosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose, and disialyllactose as the most abundant of all oligosaccharides (27-59, 16-37, 1-8, and 1-6%, respectively). Differences in presence and in abundance of specific EMOS were evident not only between the four breeds but also within the breed.
Publication Date: 2015-05-08 PubMed ID: 25924866DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01127Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study explores the composition of sugar molecules, or oligosaccharides, in horse colostrum (early milk) from different breeds, focusing on their variety and quantities, while comparing them with those found in human milk.
Introduction
Equine colostrum, referred to as ‘first milk’, is the milk produced shortly after the birth of a foal. It’s laden with antibodies and nutrients, and also contains a special class of sugar molecules termed oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides, more specifically termed as equine milk oligosaccharides (EMOS), play significant roles in foals’ health, functioning both as prebiotics to beneficial gut bacteria and factors that influence the immune system.
Study Methodology
- The researchers collected colostrum samples from different horse breeds.
- A series of scientific techniques, including CE-LIF, CE-MS(n), HILIC-MS(n), and exoglycosidase degradation, were utilized to analyze these samples.
- The aim was to identify the structure of the different oligosaccharides, quantify their presence, and make intra and inter-breed comparisons.
Results
- A total of 16 EMOS were identified and quantified, and the identified species were classified as either neutral or acidic.
- About 63% of these oligosaccharides were structurally similar to human milk oligosaccharides, known for their benefits in human gut health and immunity.
- Seven of the identified EMOS were not previously reported in the literature pertaining to equine oligosaccharides.
- The quantity of these oligosaccharides in the colostrum samples ranged from 2.12 to 4.63 g/L, with β 6’and 3′- galactosyllactose, 3′-sialyllactose, and disialyllactose as the most abundant.
- There were marked differences both within and between different horse breeds regarding the presence and abundance of specific EMOS.
Conclusion
The breadth of oligosaccharides found in horse colostrum is not only breed-specific but can also vary within a particular breed. This critical revelation could potentially impact equine nutrition strategies for newborn foals, pertaining particularly to improving gut health and immunity, through understanding the implications of the variation of these beneficial oligosaccharides. Furthermore, the identification of several EMOS not previously reported adds to the existing body of knowledge in veterinary and equine science.
Cite This Article
APA
Difilippo E, Willems HA, Vendrig JC, Fink-Gremmels J, Gruppen H, Schols HA.
(2015).
Comparison of milk oligosaccharides pattern in colostrum of different horse breeds.
J Agric Food Chem, 63(19), 4805-4814.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01127 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- ‡Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Subdivision of Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, and Toxicology, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- ‡Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Subdivision of Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, and Toxicology, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Colostrum / chemistry
- Colostrum / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / classification
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / metabolism
- Humans
- Milk / chemistry
- Milk, Human / chemistry
- Molecular Structure
- Oligosaccharides / chemistry
- Oligosaccharides / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Durham SD, Wei Z, Lemay DG, Lange MC, Barile D. Creation of a milk oligosaccharide database, MilkOligoDB, reveals common structural motifs and extensive diversity across mammals. Sci Rep 2023 Jun 26;13(1):10345.
- Singh P, Hernandez-Rauda R, Peña-Rodas O. Preventative and therapeutic potential of animal milk components against COVID-19: A comprehensive review. Food Sci Nutr 2023 Jun;11(6):2547-2579.
- Pyles MB, Brock K, Schendel RR, Lawrence LM. Improved methods for mare milk analysis: Extraction and quantification of mare milk carbohydrates and assessment of FTIR-based macronutrient quantification. Front Nutr 2023;10:1066463.
- Hobbs M, Jahan M, Ghorashi SA, Wang B. Current Perspective of Sialylated Milk Oligosaccharides in Mammalian Milk: Implications for Brain and Gut Health of Newborns. Foods 2021 Feb 21;10(2).
- Hughes K. Development and Pathology of the Equine Mammary Gland. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021 Jun;26(2):121-134.
- Wrigglesworth DJ, Goonatilleke E, Haydock R, Hughes KR, Lebrilla CB, Swanson KS, Jones P, Watson P. High-throughput glycomic analyses reveal unique oligosaccharide profiles of canine and feline milk samples. PLoS One 2020;15(12):e0243323.
- Trevisi P, Luise D, Won S, Salcedo J, Bertocchi M, Barile D, Bosi P. Variations in porcine colostrum oligosaccharide composition between breeds and in association with sow maternal performance. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2020;11:21.
- Karav S, Salcedo J, Frese SA, Barile D. Thoroughbred mare's milk exhibits a unique and diverse free oligosaccharide profile. FEBS Open Bio 2018 Aug;8(8):1219-1229.
- Takatsu Z, Tsuda M, Yamada A, Matsumoto H, Takai A, Takeda Y, Takase M. Elephant's breast milk contains large amounts of glucosamine. J Vet Med Sci 2017 Mar 18;79(3):524-533.
- Li Y, Xue M, Sheng X, Yu H, Zeng J, Thon V, Chen Y, Muthana MM, Wang PG, Chen X. Donor substrate promiscuity of bacterial β1-3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases and acceptor substrate flexibility of β1-4-galactosyltransferases. Bioorg Med Chem 2016 Apr 15;24(8):1696-705.
- Shokrollahi B, Choi JY, Won M, Kim ET, Lee SE, Ham JS. Koumiss (Fermented Mare's Milk) as a Functional Food: Bioactive Proteins, Peptides, and Future Perspectives. Foods 2025 Nov 18;14(22).
- Asri NAM, Bushra SMR, Asri AAM, Suppian R, Norazmi MN. Immunomodulatory Role of Milk on Gut Microbiota: Implications for Enhancing Oral Vaccine Efficacy. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2025 Oct 8;.
- Rumeau M, Courtin M, Bossy R, Sauvion C, Loux V, Ba M, Knudsen C, Combes S, Nédellec C, Deléger L. MilkOligoCorpus: A semantically annotated resource for knowledge extraction on mammalian milk oligosaccharides. PLoS One 2025;20(8):e0319729.
- Duman H, Bechelany M, Karav S. Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Decoding Their Structural Variability, Health Benefits, and the Evolution of Infant Nutrition. Nutrients 2024 Dec 30;17(1).
- Blanco-Doval A, Barron LJR, Aldai N. Nutritional Quality and Socio-Ecological Benefits of Mare Milk Produced under Grazing Management. Foods 2024 May 4;13(9).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
