Grey Seal Milk Found to Be More Complex than Human Breast Milk

On 25^th November 2025, a new study, titled ‘Seal milk oligosaccharides rival human milk complexity and exhibit functional dynamics during lactation’ found that grey seal milk contains 33% more sugar molecules than human breast milk, previously considered the most complex, opening possibilities for future medical applications.

Key Points

• Scientists collected milk samples from an Atlantic grey seal colony on a Scottish island where mother seals stay for about 18 days to nurse pups without returning to the sea to hunt.
• Researchers observed that mother seals lose significant body mass while pups rapidly gain weight, highlighting the nutrient-rich and highly specialized nature ....