Functional roles and nutritional potential of human milk oligosaccharides in swine gut health

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a prominent class of bioactive glycans recognized for their pivotal roles as prebiotics, anti-adhesive antimicrobials, and immunomodulators in neonatal development. While traditionally studied in the context of infant nutrition, scalable biotechnological production now allows for their evaluation in swine production to address the relatively lower structural complexity of the porcine milk glycome compared to humans. This review critically evaluates the structural diversity and biosynthesis of HMOs, detailing how specific fucosylated and sialylated structures modulate the porcine gut microbiome and reinforce intestinal barrier integrity. We synthesize current evidence regarding the metabolic fate of these glycans in the piglet and address the translational relevance of using swine as high-fidelity models for human gastrointestinal physiology. Furthermore, the review identifies critical knowledge gaps, specifically the lack of large-scale longitudinal studies and comprehensive cost-benefit analyses required to validate the economic feasibility of HMOs in commercial agriculture. By consolidating these mechanistic insights within the context of global efforts to reduce reliance on antibiotic growth promoters, this work underscores the potential of HMOs as precision nutritional tools to enhance resilience and productivity in sustainable animal production systems.