Yili Celebrates Breakthrough Breast Milk Research at ESPGHAN 2025 Conference in Helsinki

Yili Celebrates Breakthrough Breast Milk Research at ESPGHAN 2025

From May 14 to 17, 2025, the bustling city of Helsinki, Finland, played host to the 57th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). This esteemed conference gathered experts in the field, and amidst nearly 1,500 submitted abstracts, Yili Group stood out with groundbreaking presentations on the health benefits of breast milk.

Yili showcased an impressive twelve key research findings that covered essential topics such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), lactoferrin, and the dietary balance of fatty acids critical for both mothers and infants. One of the highlights of the meeting was a collaborative study between Yili, a renowned team from Tsinghua University, and the National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy in China. This groundbreaking study was the first to implement machine learning techniques to unravel the nutritional complexities present in breast milk. The findings revealed that a strategic combination of DHA, EPA, and DSLNT could effectively modulate the gut microbiota of both mothers and their infants, paving the way for innovative nutritional interventions that could enhance maternal and infant health.

At the conference, Yili also hosted a focused seminar entitled "Promoting Healthy Infant Development: Insights from Breast Milk, Gut Microbiota, and Nutritional Research." Dr. Ignatius Szeto, Assistant President of Yili Group, presented the latest research on HMOs, emphasizing their role in fostering infants' gut health, bolstering immune functions, improving nutrient absorption, and promoting cognitive development. During a roundtable discussion, Professor Zhang Yumei from Peking University shared her insights on the synergistic benefits of key breast milk components like HMOs, lactoferrin, and nucleotides, crucially supporting infants' immune, intestinal, nervous, and metabolic systems.

Yili's commitment to advancing research in this area was duly noted, with Professor Marc Benning of Amsterdam University Medical Centre highlighting the importance of including gut health biomarkers in infant nutrition studies. The collective insights and innovative approaches shared at the conference garnered substantial recognition, underscoring Yili's pivotal role in shaping the future of maternal and infant nutrition.

In addition to the exciting research findings, Yili's Pro-Kido infant formula brand has already introduced a diverse range of specialized nutritional products for infants across the globe. These include various formulations like ZhenHu, Aronurish, Seine Mouiller, and UITSTEKEND GEITENMELK.

Looking ahead, Yili plans to leverage its 15 global innovation centers to drive comprehensive value chain innovation and enhance international collaboration in dairy research. This initiative aims to deliver superior nutritional solutions for consumers worldwide, ensuring that the innovative spirit of the company continues to translate into improved health outcomes for infants.

The recognition of Yili's advancements at ESPGHAN 2025 not only highlights their research capabilities but also reinforces their dedication to enhancing infant nutrition, a crucial part of fostering healthy development during formative years. With a powerful focus on precision nutrition, Yili is poised to continue influencing and shaping the landscape of breastfeeding and infant nutrition globally.