In vitro gut-models to elucidate how human milk oligosaccharides shape the gut microbiota

This review explores the important role of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). It highlights remarkable properties of HMOs as they act as decoys for disease-causing microbes and prevent their adhesion to the gut epithelium enabling its expulsion from the intestine. The role of HMOs has been researched by conventional methodologies, such as cellular cultures and animal experimentation, yielding significant understanding; however, they are constrained in their ability to accurately emulate the intricacies of human pathology and evoke ethical concerns. Herein, in vitro gut-models (IVGM) applied in studies to elucidate how HMOs shape microbiota are presented. The majority of studies related to HMOs effect on gut microbiota are performed in bioreactors. This review presents a concise overview of this rapidly advancing technology, a cost analysis, an examination of contemporary applications and potential challenges associated with their implementation, and proposes recommendations for future trajectories over the forthcoming decade. • HMOs boost resilience against infections by microbiota and metabolite composition regulation. • HMOs show potential as a novel strategy to restore gut barrier function in adults. • Realistic in vivo like environment to explore HMOs impact on gut microbiota. • Modeling the complexity of the intestine in in vitro gut-models.