人乳寡糖（HMOS）益处似乎没有限于肠道微生物群。实际上，HMOS存在于母体血清中，可在怀孕期间对母亲和胎儿健康产生全身代谢影响。
目前已知肠道微生物丰富度降低是人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染的标志性变化，但如何在艾滋病毒暴露的未感染婴儿中建立这种困难症是较差的。A recent cross-sectional study, led by Dr. Grace M. Aldrovandi from the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in Los Angeles (USA), suggests that perturbations in the infant gut microbiome may explain the greater risk of morbidity and mortality in uninfected babies born to HIV-positive mothers.
