25 Oct 2018 --- The development of a healthy microbiome hinges on the first two and a half years of life, with Bifidobacterium, abundant in breast milk, shaping a healthy gut. This is among the main findings from research conducted at Newcastle University. Ultimately, the findings highlight the importance of breastfeeding and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) – which promote a healthy gut – in breast milk substitute for infants.