SYNBIOTIC COMBINATION OF PROBIOTIC AND HUMAN MILK
OLIGOSACCHARIDES TO PROMOTE GROWTH OF BENEFICIAL
MICROBIOTA
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/428,869 filed on December 31, 2010, which disclosure is incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) for
improving gastrointestinal function and tolerance in infants, toddlers, and children. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to human milk fortifiers, preterm and term infant
formulas, and pediatric formulas comprising HMOs that can stimulate enteric nerve cells in
the gastrointestinal tract, thereby treating and/or preventing numerous gastrointestinalrelated
conditions and diseases and promoting intestinal barrier integrity.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] During postnatal development, a newborn's intestine experiences a
process of maturation that ends with the production of gastrointestinal epithelium that
functions as a selective barrier (i.e., gut barrier). The gastrointestinal epithelium permits
the absorption of nutrients, electrolytes and water, while preventing exposure to dietary and
microbial antigens, including food allergens. Specifically, this barrier limits the passage of
antigens to the systemic circulation, thereby preventing infection, inflammatory reactions,
and other gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that may occur during infancy and later in
life. For very young infants, and particularly, preterm infants, who have an immature
immune system and intestinal tract, development of suboptimal intestinal flora may result
in infection, diarrhea, allergies, and food intolerance.
[0004] Barrier formation and maintenance has been found to be affected by the
diet. Breast milk contains components that not only act as pathogen receptor analogues,
but also activate immune factors by infant intestinal epithelial cells and/or associated
immune cell populations to enhance development and maturation of the infant's
gastrointestinal and immune systems.
[0005] Not all infants, however, are in a position to receive human breast milk. It
would therefore be desirable to provide nutritional compositions, and synthetic infant
formulas in particular, that can produce nutritional benefits including improved
gastrointestinal growth, development, and maturation. It would additionally be beneficial
if the nutritional compositions could enhance immunity against microbial infections and
other gastrointestinal diseases, conditions, and disorders.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] The present disclosure is directed to nutritional compositions, including
synthetic infant formulas, synthetic pediatric formulas, and synthetic child formulas
including at least one HMO alone or in combination with other components such as
prebiotic oligosaccharides and/or probiotics, for improving gut function and immunity in
an infant, toddler, child, or adult, along with related methods of use. More particularly, the
nutritional compositions can improve growth and maturation of the gut barrier, thereby
treating and/or preventing formula intolerance or other gastrointestinal diseases and/or
disorders resulting from a loss of dysfunction of the gut barrier.
[0007] One embodiment is a synthetic pediatric formula for promoting intestinal
barrier integrity. The synthetic pediatric formula comprises a first oligosaccharide in a
concentration of from about 1mg/mL to about 4 mg/mL and selected from the group
consisting of a galactooligosaccharide, a fructooligosaccharide, and combinations thereof;
and a second oligosaccharide on a concentration of from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 0.5
mg/mL and selected from the group consisting of 2'-fucosyllactose, 3'-fucosyllactose, 3'-
sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, lacto-N-neotetraose, and combinations thereof.
[0008] Another embodiment is directed to a method of promoting the growth of
beneficial microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of an infant or toddler in need thereof.
The method comprises administering to the infant or toddler a synthetic pediatric formula
comprising a probiotic, a first oligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 1mg/mL to
about 4 mg/mL and selected from the group consisting of galactooligosaccharide,
fructooligosaccharide, and combinations thereof; and a second oligosaccharide in a
concentration of from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL and selected from the group
consisting of 2'-fucosyllactose, 3'-fucosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, lacto-Nneotetraose,
and combinations thereof.
[0009] It has been discovered that HMOs that are delivered to the gut tissue
stimulate the gut-brain-immune axis, and improve the immune system and enteric nervous
system. Specifically, it has been found that 2'-fucosyllactose stimulates enteric nerve cells
in the gastrointestinal tract such that gut function may be improved and gastrointestinal
issues minimized.
[00 10] Additionally, it has been found that the digestive tolerance of an infant,
toddler, child, or adult can be significantly increased by administering to the infant, toddler,
child or adult a select blend of carbohydrates including HMOs. Specifically, the
carbohydrate blend includes a combination of fast, medium, and slowly digested
carbohydrates including specific HMOs such as lacto-N-neotetraose, 2'-fucosyllactose, 3'-
fucosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose and/or 6'-sailyllactose.
[001 1] Moreover, it has been found that intestinal barrier integrity of an infant,
toddler, child, or adult can be significantly improved by administering to the infant,
toddler, child, or adult a synbiotic composition including HMOs. Specifically, the
synbiotic combination includes a probiotic, at least one of a galactooligosaccharide and a
fructooligosaccharide (such as a short chain fructooligosaccharide) and at least one HMO.
The synbiotic composition promotes the colonization of beneficial intestinal microbiota in
order to discourage the growth of harmful bacteria.
[0012] Although the nutritional compositions and methods are primarily
discussed herein in relation to preterm infants and infants in general, it should be
understood that many of the benefits discussed herein may be provided to toddlers,
children, and adults administered combinations of the HMOs alone, or with other
components as described herein, such as prebiotic oligosaccharides and/or probiotics, for
example. Particularly, in some embodiments, the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases and
disorders that generally affect adults, such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and
the like, can be reduced with the use of the nutritional compositions of the present
disclosure including HMOs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a graph depicting the effect of 2'FL and 3'FL on gut motility as
measured in Example 35.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a table setting forth the microbiological medium used in the in
vitro experiment of Example 36.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a graph depicting the change in pH over time as affected by the
various oligosaccharide substrates as tested in Example 36.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a graph depicting change in total short chain fatty acid
production over time as affected by the various oligosaccharide substrates as tested in
Example 36.
[0017] FIGS. 5A-5H depict growth curves of various Bifidobacterium spp. as
evaluated in Example 37.
[0018] FIGS. 6A-6H depict growth curves of various Bifidobacterium spp. as
evaluated in Example 37.
[0019] FIGS. 7A-7G depict growth curves of various Bifidobacterium spp. as
evaluated in Example 37.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0020] The nutritional compositions and methods described herein utilize HMOs
alone or in combination with at least one other prebiotic oligosaccharide and/or a probiotic
for controlling and reducing a number of diseases, disorders and conditions related to the
gut-brain-immune system. These and other features of the nutritional compositions and
methods, as well as some of the many optional variations and additions, are described in
detail hereafter.
[0021] The terms "retort packaging" and "retort sterilizing" are used
interchangeably herein, and unless otherwise specified, refer to the common practice of
filling a container, most typically a metal can or other similar package, with a nutritional
liquid and then subjecting the liquid- filled package to the necessary heat sterilization step,
to form a sterilized, retort packaged, nutritional liquid product.
[0022] The term "aseptic packaging" as used herein, unless otherwise specified,
refers to the manufacture of a packaged product without reliance upon the above-described
retort packaging step, wherein the nutritional liquid and package are sterilized separately
prior to filling, and then are combined under sterilized or aseptic processing conditions to
form a sterilized, aseptically packaged, nutritional liquid product.
[0023] The terms "fat" and "oil" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, are
used interchangeably to refer to lipid materials derived or processed from plants or animals.
These terms also include synthetic lipid materials so long as such synthetic materials are
suitable for oral administration to humans.
[0024] The term "human milk oligosaccharide" or "HMO", unless otherwise
specified, refers generally to a number of complex carbohydrates found in human breast
milk that can be in acidic or neutral form, and to precursors thereof. Exemplary nonlimiting
human milk oligosaccharides include 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, 3'-
fucosyllactose, 2'-fucosyllactose, and lacto-N-neo-tetraose. Exemplary human milk
oligosaccharide precursors include sialic acid and/or fucose.
[0025] The term "shelf stable" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to
a nutritional product that remains commercially stable after being packaged and then stored
at 18-24°C for at least 3 months, including from about 6 months to about 24 months, and
also including from about 12 months to about 18 months.
[0026] The terms "nutritional formulation" or "nutritional composition" as used
herein, are used interchangeably and, unless otherwise specified, refer to synthetic formulas
including nutritional liquids, nutritional powders, nutritional semi-liquids, nutritional semi
solids, nutritional supplements, and any other nutritional food product as known in the art.
The nutritional powders may be reconstituted to form a nutritional liquid, all of which
comprise one or more of fat, protein and carbohydrate and are suitable for oral
consumption by a human. The terms "nutritional formulation" and "nutritional
composition" do not include human breast milk.
[0027] The term "nutritional liquid" as used herein, unless otherwise specified,
refers to nutritional compositions in ready-to-drink liquid form, concentrated form, and
nutritional liquids made by reconstituting the nutritional powders described herein prior to
use.
[0028] The term "nutritional powder" as used herein, unless otherwise specified,
refers to nutritional compositions in flowable or scoopable form that can be reconstituted
with water or another aqueous liquid prior to consumption and includes both spraydried
and drymixed/dryblended powders.
[0029] The term "nutritional semi-solid," as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, refers to nutritional products that are intermediate in properties, such as rigidity,
between solids and liquids. Some semi-solids examples include puddings, gelatins, and
doughs.
[0030] The term "nutritional semi-liquid," as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, refers to nutritional products that are intermediate in properties, such as flow
properties, between liquids and solids. Some semi-liquids examples include thick shakes
and liquid gels.
[0031] The term "infant" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to a
person 12 months or younger. The term "preterm infant" as used herein, refers to a person
born prior to 36 weeks of gestation.
[0032] The term "toddler" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to a
person greater than one year of age up to three years of age.
[0033] The term "child" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to a
person greater than three years of age up to twelve years of age.
[0034] The term "newborn" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to a
person from birth up to four weeks of age.
[0035] The terms "infant formula" or "synthetic infant formula" as used herein,
unless otherwise specified, are used interchangeably and refer to liquid, solid, semi-liquid,
and semi-solid human milk replacements or substitutes that are suitable for consumption by
an infant. The synthetic formulas include components that are of semi-purified or purified
origin. As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "semi-purified" or "purified"
refer to a material that has been prepared by purification of a natural material or by
synthesis. The terms "infant formula" or "synthetic infant formula" do not include human
breast milk.
[0036] The term "synthetic pediatric formula" as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, refers to liquid, solid, semi-solid, and semi-liquid human milk replacements or
substitutes that are suitable for consumption by an infant or toddler up to the age of 36
months (3 years). The synthetic formulas include components that are of semi-purified or
purified origin. As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "semi-purified" or
"purified" refer to a material that has been prepared by purification of a natural material or
by synthesis. The term "synthetic pediatric nutritional formula" does not include human
breast milk.
[0037] The term "synthetic child formula" as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, refers to liquid, solid, semi-liquid, and semi-solid human milk replacements or
substitutes that are suitable for consumption by a child up to the age of 12 years. The
synthetic formulas include components that are of semi-purified or purified origin. As used
herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms "semi-purified" or "purified" refer to a
material that has been prepared by purification of a natural material or by synthesis. The
term "synthetic child nutritional formula" does not include human breast milk.
[0038] The term "preterm infant formula" as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, refers to liquid and solid nutritional products suitable for consumption by a
preterm infant.
[0039] The term "human milk fortifier" as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, refers to liquid and solid nutritional products suitable for mixing with breast milk
or preterm infant formula or infant formula for consumption by a preterm or term infant.
[0040] The terms "susceptible" and "at risk" as used herein, unless otherwise
specified, mean having little resistance to a certain condition or disease, including being
genetically predisposed, having a family history of, and/or having symptoms of the
condition or disease.
[0041] The term "cognition" as used herein, unless otherwise specified, refers to
an individual's ability for learning, memory acquisition, and memory recall.
[0042] The terms "growth of a virus" or "growth of bacteria" as used herein,
unless otherwise specified, refer to the production, proliferation, or replication of a virus or
bacteria.
[0043] All percentages, parts and ratios as used herein, are by weight of the total
composition, unless otherwise specified. All such weights, as they pertain to listed
ingredients, are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include solvents or by
products that may be included in commercially available materials, unless otherwise
specified.
[0044] Numerical ranges as used herein are intended to include every number and
subset of numbers within that range, whether specifically disclosed or not. Further, these
numerical ranges should be construed as providing support for a claim directed to any
number or subset of numbers in that range. For example, a disclosure of from 1 to 10
should be construed as supporting a range of from 2 to 8, from 3 to 7, from 5 to 6, from 1
to 9, from 3.6 to 4.6, from 3.5 to 9.9, and so forth.
[0045] All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present
disclosure shall include the corresponding plural characteristic or limitation, and vice versa,
unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the
reference is made.
[0046] All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be
performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the
context in which the referenced combination is made.
[0047] The nutritional compositions and methods may comprise, consist of, or
consist essentially of the essential elements of the compositions and methods as described
herein, as well as any additional or optional element described herein or otherwise useful in
nutritional composition applications.
Product Form
[0048] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may be formulated
and administered in any known or otherwise suitable oral product form. Any solid, liquid,
semi-solid, semi-liquid or powder product form, including combinations or variations
thereof, are suitable for use herein, provided that such forms allow for safe and effective
oral delivery to the individual of the essential ingredients and any optional ingredients, as
also defined herein.
[0049] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure are desirably
formulated as dietary product forms, which are defined herein as those embodiments
comprising the ingredients of the present disclosure in a product form that then contains at
least one of fat, protein, and carbohydrate, and preferably also contains vitamins, minerals,
or combinations thereof. The nutritional compositions will comprise at least one HMO,
and many times at least two or more HMOs, desirably in combination with at least one of
protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, to produce a nutritional combination.
[0050] The nutritional composition may be formulated with sufficient kinds and
amounts of nutrients to provide a sole, primary, or supplemental source of nutrition, or to
provide a specialized nutritional composition for use in individuals afflicted with specific
diseases, disorders, or conditions or with a targeted nutritional benefit as described below.
[005 1] Specific non-limiting examples of product forms suitable for use with the
HMO-containing compositions as disclosed herein include, for example, liquid and
powdered dietary supplements, liquid and powdered human milk fortifiers, liquid and
powdered preterm infant formulas, liquid and powdered infant formulas, liquid and
powdered elemental and semi-elemental formulas, liquid and powdered pediatric formulas,
liquid and powdered toddler formulas, liquid and powdered follow-on formulas, liquid,
powdered and solid adult nutritional formulas suitable for use with individuals suffering
from food intolerance, allergies, immune disorders, and other gastrointestinal diseases,
conditions, and/or disorders.
Nutritional Liquids
[0052] Nutritional liquids include both concentrated and ready-to-feed nutritional
liquids. These nutritional liquids are most typically formulated as suspensions or
emulsions, although other liquid forms are within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0053] Nutritional emulsions suitable for use may be aqueous emulsions
comprising proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. These emulsions are generally flowable or
drinkable liquids at from about 1°C to about 25°C and are typically in the form of oil-inwater,
water-in-oil, or complex aqueous emulsions, although such emulsions are most
typically in the form of oil-in-water emulsions having a continuous aqueous phase and a
discontinuous oil phase.
[0054] The nutritional emulsions may be and typically are shelf stable. The
nutritional emulsions typically contain up to about 95% by weight of water, including from
about 50%o to about 95%, also including from about 60% to about 90%, and also including
from about 70% to about 85%, by weight of water. The nutritional emulsions may have a
variety of product densities, but most typically have a density greater than about 1.03
g/mL, including greater than about 1.04 g/mL, including greater than about 1.055 g/mL,
including from about 1.06 g/mL to about 1.12 g/mL, and also including from about 1.085
g/mL to about 1.10 g/mL.
[0055] The nutritional emulsions may have a caloric density tailored to the
nutritional needs of the ultimate user, although in most instances the emulsions comprise
generally at least 19 kcal/fl oz (660 kcal/liter), more typically from about 20 kcal/fl oz
(675-680 kcal/liter) to about 25 kcal/fl oz (820 kcal/liter), even more typically from about
20 kcal/fl oz (675-680 kcal/liter) to about 24 kcal/fl oz (800-810 kcal/liter). Generally, the
22-24 kcal/fl oz formulas are more commonly used in preterm or low birth weight infants,
and the 20-21 kcal/fl oz (675-680 to 700 kcal/liter) formulas are more often used in term
infants. In some embodiments, the emulsion may have a caloric density of from about 50-
100 kcal/liter to about 660 kcal/liter, including from about 150 kcal/liter to about 500
kcal/liter. In some specific embodiments, the emulsion may have a caloric density of 25, or
50, or 75, or 100 kcal/liter.
[0056] The nutritional emulsion may have a pH ranging from about 3.5 to about
8, but are most advantageously in a range of from about 4.5 to about 7.5, including from
about 5.5 to about 7.3, including from about 6.2 to about 7.2.
[0057] Although the serving size for the nutritional emulsion can vary depending
upon a number of variables, a typical serving size is generally at least about 1 mL, or even
at least about 2 mL, or even at least about 5 mL, or even at least about 10 mL, or even at
least about 25 mL, including ranges from about 2 mL to about 300 mL, including from
about 4 mL to about 250 mL, and including from about 10 mL to about 240 mL.
Nutritional Solids
[0058] The nutritional solids may be in any solid form, but are typically in the
form of flowable or substantially flowable particulate compositions, or at least particulate
compositions. Particularly suitable nutritional solid product forms include spray dried,
agglomerated and/or dryblended powder compositions. The compositions can easily be
scooped and measured with a spoon or similar other device, and can easily be reconstituted
by the intended user with a suitable aqueous liquid, typically water, to form a nutritional
composition for immediate oral or enteral use. In this context, "immediate" use generally
means within about 48 hours, most typically within about 24 hours, preferably right after
reconstitution.
[0059] The nutritional powders may be reconstituted with water prior to use to a
caloric density tailored to the nutritional needs of the ultimate user, although in most
instances the powders are reconstituted with water to form compositions comprising at
least 19 kcal/fl oz (660 kcal/liter), more typically from about 20 kcal/fl oz (675-680
kcal/liter) to about 25 kcal/fl oz (820 kcal/liter), even more typically from about 20 kcal/fl
oz (675-680 kcal/liter) to about 24 kcal/fl oz (800-810 kcal/liter). Generally, the 22-24
kcal/fl oz formulas are more commonly used in preterm or low birth weight infants, and the
20-21 kcal/fl oz (675-680 to 700 kcal/liter) formulas are more often used in term infants.
In some embodiments, the reconstituted powder may have a caloric density of from about
50-100 kcal/liter to about 660 kcal/liter, including from about 150 kcal/liter to about 500
kcal/liter. In some specific embodiments, the emulsion may have a caloric density of 25, or
50, or 75, or 100 kcal/liter.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)
[0060] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure include at least one
HMO, and in many embodiments, a combination of two or more HMOs. Oligosaccharides
are one of the main components of human breast milk, which contains, on average, 10
grams per liter of neutral oligosaccharides and 1 gram per liter of acidic oligosaccharides.
The compositional structure of HMOs is very complex and more than 200 different
oligosaccharide-like structures are known.
[0061] The HMO or HMOs may be included in the nutritional compositions
alone, or in some embodiments, in combination with other components (e.g., prebiotic
oligosaccharides, probiotics, etc.) as described herein. In many embodiments, HMOs are
included in the nutritional compositions with multiple additional components. The HMO
or HMOs may be isolated or enriched from milk(s) secreted by mammals including, but not
limited to: human, bovine, ovine, porcine, or caprine species. The HMOs may also be
produced via microbial fermentation, enzymatic processes, chemical synthesis, or
combinations thereof.
[0062] Suitable HMOs for use in the nutritional compositions may include neutral
oligosaccharides, acidic oligosaccharides, n-acetylglucosylated oligosaccharides, and HMO
precursors. Specific non-limiting examples of HMOs that may be included individually or
in combination in the compositions of the present disclosure include: sialic acid (i.e., free
sialic acid, lipid-bound sialic acid, protein-bound sialic acid); D-glucose (Glc); D-galactose
(Gal); N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc); L-fucose (Fuc); fucosyl oligosaccharides (i.e.,
Lacto-N-fucopentaose I; Lacto-N-fucopentaose II; 2'-Fucosyllactose; 3'-Fucosyllactose;
Lacto-N-fucopentaose III; Lacto-N-difucohexaose I; and Lactodifucotetraose); nonfucosylated,
non-sialylated oligosaccharides (i.e., Lacto-N-tetraose and Lacto-Nneotetraose);
sialyl oligosaccharides (i.e., 3'-Sialyl-3-fucosyllactose;
Disialomonofucosyllacto-N-neohexaose; Monofucosylmonosialyllacto-N-octaose (sialyl
Lea); Sialyllacto-N-fucohexaose II; Disialyllacto-N-fucopentaose II;
Monofucosyldisialyllacto-N-tetraose); and sialyl fucosyl oligosaccharides (i.e., 2'-
Sialyllactose; 2-Sialyllactosamine; 3'-Sialyllactose; 3'-Sialyllactosamine; 6'-Sialyllactose;
6'-Sialyllactosamine; Sialyllacto-N-neotetraose c; Monosialyllacto-N-hexaose;
Disialyllacto-N-hexaose I; Monosialyllacto-N-neohexaose I; Monosialyllacto-Nneohexaose
II; Disialyllacto-N-neohexaose; Disialyllacto-N-tetraose; Disialyllacto-Nhexaose
II; Sialyllacto-N-tetraose a; Disialyllacto-N-hexaose I; and Sialyllacto-N-tetraose
b). Also useful are variants in which the glucose (Glc) at the reducing end is replaced by
N-acetylglucosamine (e.g., 2'-fucosyl-N-acetylglucosamine (2'-FLNac) is such a variant to
2'-fucosyllactose). These HMOs are described more fully in U.S. Patent Application No.
2009/0098240, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Other suitable
examples of HMOs that may be included in the compositions of the present disclosure
include lacto-N-fucopentaose V, lacto-N-hexaose, para-lacto-N-hexaose, lacto-Nneohexaose,
para-lacto-N-neohexaose, monofucosyllacto-N-hexaose II, isomeric
fucosylated lacto-N-hexaose (1), isomeric fucosylated lacto-N-hexaose (3), isomeric
fucosylated lacto-N-hexaose (2), difucosyl-para-lacto-N-neohexaose, difucosyl-para-lacto-
N-hexaose, difucosyllacto-N-hexaose, lacto-N-neoocataose, para-lacto-N-octanose, isolacto-
N-octaose, lacto-N-octaose, monofucosyllacto-neoocataose, monofucosyllacto-Nocataose,
difucosyllacto-N-octaose I, difucosyllacto-N-octaose II, difucosyllacto-Nneoocataose
II, difucosyllacto-N-neoocataose I, lacto-N-decaose, trifucosyllacto-Nneooctaose,
trifucosyllacto-N-octaose, trifucosyl-iso-lacto-N-octaose, lacto-N-difucohexaose
II, sialyl-lacto-N-tetraose a, sialyl-lacto-N-tetraose b, sialyl-lacto-N-tetraose c,
sialyl-fucosyl-lacto-N-tetraose I, sialyl-fucosyl-lacto-N-tetraose II, and disialyl-lacto-Ntetraose,
and combinations thereof. Particularly suitable nutritional compositions include at
least one of the following HMOs or HMO precursors: sialic acid (SA); 2'-Sialyllactose
(2'SL); 3'-Sialyllactose (3'SL); 6'-Sialyllactose (6'SL); 2'-Fucosyllactose (2'FL); 3'-
Fucosyllactose (3'FL); and Lacto-N-tetraose and Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), and in
particular, combinations of 2'FL with at least one of 6'SL and 3'SL; and combinations of
LNnT with at least one of 6'SL and 3'FL.
[0063] Other exemplary combinations include: SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, 3'FL, 2'FL, and
LNnT; 3'SL, 6'SL, 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 6'SL, 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL,
3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, 3'FL, and
LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, 3'FL, and 2'FL; SA and 3'SL; SA and 6'SL; SA and 2'FL; SA and
LNnT; SA, 3'SL, and 6'SL; SA, 3'SL and 3'FL; SA, 3'SL and 2'FL; SA, 3'SL and LNnT;
SA, 6'SL and 3'FL; SA, 6'SL, and 2'FL; SA, 6'SL, and LNnT; SA, 3'FL, and 2'FL; SA,
3'FL, and LNnT; SA, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, and 3'FL; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL and
2'FL; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 3'FL, and 2'FL; SA, 3'SL, 3'FL, and LNnT;
SA, 3'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 6'SL, 3'FL, and 2'FL; SA, 6'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA,
6'SL, 3'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 6'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL,
3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 6'SL, 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, 3'FL, and
LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; SA, 3'SL, 6'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT; 3'SL, 6'SL,
3'FL, and 2'FL; 3'SL, 6'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT; 3'SL, 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; 3'SL, 6'SL,
3'FL, and LNnT; 3'SL, 6'SL, and 3'FL; 3'SL, 3'FL, and 2'FL; 3'SL, 2'FL, and LNnT;
3'SL, 6'SL, and 2'FL; 3'SL, 6'SL, and LNnT; 3'SL and 3'FL; 3'SL and 2'FL; 3'SL and
LNnT; 6'SL and 3'FL; 6'SL and 2'FL; 6'SL and LNnT; 6'SL, 3'FL, and LNnT; 6'SL,
3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; 3'FL, 2'FL, and LNnT; 3'FL and LNnT; and 2'FL and LNnT.
[0064] The HMOs are present in the nutritional compositions in total amounts of
HMO in the composition (mg of HMO per mL of composition) of at least about 0.001
mg/mL, including at least about 0.01 mg/mL, including from about 0.001 mg/mL to about
20 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about
0.001 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL,
including from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL
to about 10 mg/mL, including from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL, including from
about 0.01 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL, and including from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 1
mg/mL of total HMO in the nutritional composition, including from about 0.001 mg/mL to
about 0.23 mg/mL, and including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 0.23 mg/mL.
Typically, the amount of HMO in the nutritional composition will depend on the specific
HMO or HMOs present and the amounts of other components in the nutritional
compositions.
[0065] In one specific embodiment when the nutritional composition is a
nutritional powder, the total concentration of HMOs in the nutritional powder is from about
0.0005% to about 5%, including from about 0.01% to about 1% (by weight of the
nutritional powder).
[0066] In another specific embodiment, when the nutritional composition is a
ready-to-feed nutritional liquid, the total concentration of HMOs in the ready-to-feed
nutritional liquid is from about 0.0001% to about 0.50%, including from about 0.001% to
about 0.15%, including from about 0.01% to about 0.10%, and further including from
about O.OP/ o to about 0.03% (by weight of the ready-to-feed nutritional liquid).
[0067] In another specific embodiment, when the nutritional composition is a
concentrated nutritional liquid, the total concentration of HMOs in the concentrated liquid
is from about 0.0002% to about 0.60%, including from about 0.002% to about 0.30%,
including from about 0.02% to about 0.20%, and further including from about 0.02% to
about 0.06% (by weight of the concentrated nutritional liquid).
[0068] In one specific embodiment, the nutritional composition includes a neutral
human milk oligosaccharide in an amount of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL,
including from 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.001 mg/mL to less
than 2 mg/mL, and including from about 0.01 mg/mL to less than 2 mg/mL.
[0069] In one specific embodiment of the present disclosure, a nutritional
composition includes 2 L. The 2'FL may be the only HMO included in the nutritional
composition, or other additional HMOs may also be included in the nutritional composition
(e.g., the 2'FL may be combined with 3'SL and/or 6'SL in some specific embodiments).
In one embodiment, the 2'FL is included in the nutritional composition in an amount of
from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about
20 mg/mL, including from about 0.001 mg/mL to less than 2 mg/mL, and including from
about 0.01 mg/mL to less than 2 mg/mL. In another embodiment, the 2'FL is included in
the nutritional composition in an amount of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL,
including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from greater than 2.5
mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from greater than 2.5 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL,
and including from greater than 2.5 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL.
[0070] In one specific embodiment, the nutritional composition includes 6'SL,
alone or in combination with other HMOs, in an amount of from about 0.001 mg/mL to
about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from
about 0.001 mg/mL to less than 0.25 mg/mL, and including from about 0.01 mg/mL to less
than 0.25 mg/mL. In another embodiment, the nutritional composition includes 6'SL,
alone or in combination with other HMOs, in an amount of from about 0.001 mg/mL to
about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from
greater than 0.4 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from greater than 0.4 mg/mL to
about 15 mg/mL, and including from greater than 0.4 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL.
[0071] In one embodiment, when the nutritional composition includes 6'SL, the
total amount of HMOs in the nutritional composition includes at least about 88% (by total
weight HMOs) 6'SL, including from about 88% (by total weight HMOs) to about 96% (by
total weight HMOs), including from about 88% (by total weight HMOs) to about 100% (by
total weight HMOs), and including about 100% (by total weight HMOs) 6'SL.
[0072] In another embodiment, the nutritional composition includes 3'SL, alone
or in combination with other HMOs, in an amount of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20
mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.001
mg/mL to less than 0.15 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to less than 0.15
mg/mL, including from greater than 0.25 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from
greater than 0.25 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL, and including from greater than 0.25 mg/mL
to about 10 mg/mL.
[0073] In one embodiment, when the nutritional composition includes 3'SL, the
total amount of HMOs in the nutritional composition includes at least about 85% (by total
weight HMOs) 3'SL, including from about 85% (by total weight HMOs) to about 88% (by
total weight HMOs), including from about 88% (by total weight HMOs) to about 100% (by
total weight HMOs), and including about 100% (by total weight HMOs) 3'SL.
[0074] In one specific embodiment, the nutritional composition includes LNnT,
alone or in combination with other HMOs, in an amount of from about 0.001 mg/mL to
about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from
about 0.001 mg/mL to less than 0.2 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL to less than
0.2 mg/mL, including from greater than 0.32 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from
greater than 0.32 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL, and including from greater than 0.32 mg/mL
to about 10 mg/mL.
Additional Prebiotic Oligosaccharides
[0075] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may, in addition to
the HMOs described above, comprise an additional source or sources of prebiotic
oligosaccharides (the total amount of oligosaccharides being referred to herein as an
"oligosaccharide blend" of the nutritional composition). Suitable additional sources of
prebiotic oligosaccharides for use in the nutritional compositions include any prebiotic
oligosaccharide that is suitable for use in an oral nutritional composition and is compatible
with the essential elements and features of such compositions. In some embodiments, the
nutritional composition includes a combination of one or more HMOs and one or more
additional prebiotic oligosaccharides such that the composition provides a synergistic
benefit to the end user, such as a synergistic benefit in improving feeding intolerance in
infants.
[0076] In some embodiments, the combinations of HMO or HMOs with the
additional prebiotic oligosaccharides to provide the synergistic effect include HMOs and
additional prebiotic oligosaccharides that ferment at a rapid rate ("rapidly-fermenting
oligosaccharides"), oligosaccharides that ferment at a moderate rate ("medium-fermenting
oligosaccharides"), and/or oligosaccharides that ferment at a slow rate ("slowly-fermenting
oligosaccharides"). Some preferred embodiments provide a nutritional composition that
includes at least one HMO in combination with a rapidly-fermenting oligosaccharide, a
medium-fermenting oligosaccharide, and/or a slowly-fermenting oligosaccharide.
[0077] Non-limiting examples of suitable additional prebiotic oligosaccharides
for use in the nutritional compositions described herein include prebiotic oligosaccharides
that have a degree of polymerization (DP) of at least 2 monose units, which are not or only
partially digested in the intestine by the action of acids or digestive enzymes present in the
human upper digestive tract (small intestine and stomach), but which are fermentable by
the human intestinal flora. The term "monose units" refers to units having a closed ring
structure, preferably hexose, e.g., the pyranose or furanose forms. Particularly preferred
oligosaccharides for use in combination with the HMO or HMOs in the nutritional
compositions of the present disclosure include galactooligosaccharides (GOS),
fructooligosaccharides (FOS), short chain fructooligosaccharides, inulin, polydextrose
(PDX), pectin hydrolysate, and gum fiber. In one specific embodiment, the gum fiber is
gum arabic.
[0078] The oligosaccharide blend is present in the nutritional compositions in a
total amount of at least about 1 mg/mL, including from about 1mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL,
including from about 1mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL, including from about 1mg/mL to about
10 mg/mL, and including from about 1mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL. In one embodiment, the
oligosaccharide blend is present in the nutritional composition in a total amount of from
about 1 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL.
[0079] Typically, when used as an oligosaccharide blend, the nutritional
compositions, in addition to the HMO or HMOs, include at least one rapidly-fermented
oligosaccharide, at least one medium- fermented oligosaccharide, and, optionally, at least
one slowly-fermented oligosaccharide to provide a nutritional composition that is tolerated
well by preterm and term infants (i.e., reduced gassiness and/or stool frequency). Rapidlyfermented
oligosaccharides generally have a fermentation rate of greater than 4,000 mg/g of
dry matter/hour; medium-fermented oligosaccharides generally have a fermentation rate of
from 1,500 mg/g of dry matter/hour to 4,000 mg/g of dry matter/hour; and slowly-fermented
oligosaccharides generally have a fermentation rate of less than 1,500 mg/g of dry
matter/hour.
[0080] By way of specific example, rapidly-fermented oligosaccharides include
FOS, GOS (about 9,304 mg/g of dry matter/hour), LNnT (about 4,488 mg/g of dry
matter/hour), 2'FL (about 4,872 mg/g of dry matter/hour), and combinations thereof.
Medium-fermented oligosaccharides include 6'SL (about 1,809 mg/g of dry matter/hour),
3'SL, 2'FL, 3'FL, and LNnT, and combinations thereof. Slowly-fermented
oligosaccharides include longer chain carbohydrates such as inulin (about 1,435 mg/g of dry
matter/hour), gum fibers (e.g., gum arabic (about 785 g/g of dry matter/hour)), and
combinations thereof.
[0081] When used in an oligosaccharide blend, the rapidly-fermented
oligosaccharides can be included in the nutritional compositions in amounts of from about
0.05 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.5 mg/mL to about 15 mg/mL,
including from about 0.5 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL, including from about 1 mg/mL to
about 15 mg/mL, including from about 1 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL, including from about
2 mg/mL to about 8 mg/mL, and also including from about 3 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL.
The medium- fermented oligosaccharides can be included in the nutritional compositions in
amounts of from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.05 mg/mL
to about 15 mg/mL, including from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL, including from
about 0.05 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL, including from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 2.5
mg/mL, including from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 1 mg/mL, including from about 0.05
mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL, and including from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 0.25 mg/mL.
The slowly-fermented oligosaccharides can be included in the nutritional compositions in
amounts of from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.05 mg/mL
to about 15 mg/mL, including from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL, including from
about 0.05 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL, and also including from about 0.05 mg/mL to about
2.5 mg/mL.
[0082] In one specific embodiment, the nutritional composition includes an
oligosaccharide blend including LNnT, 6'SL and inulin in a total amount of
oligosaccharide blend of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from
about 0.01 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL.
[0083] In another specific embodiment, the nutritional composition includes an
oligosaccharide blend including 2'FL, 6'SL and inulin in a total amount of oligosaccharide
blend of from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, including from about 0.01 mg/mL
to about 20 mg/mL.
[0084] Other exemplary combinations include: FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3' SL,
and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; FOS,
2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, and
6'SL; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and 6'SL; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and
6'SL; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; FOS, 3'SL, and 6'SL;
GOS, 3'SL, and 6'SL; 2'FL, 3'SL, and 6'SL; LNnT, 3'SL, and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, 2'FL,
LNnT, and 3'SL; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, and 3'SL; FOS, GOS, LNnT, and 3'SL; FOS, 2'FL,
LNnT, and 3'SL; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, and 3'SL; FOS, GOS, and 3'SL; FOS, 2'FL, and
3'SL; FOS, LNnT, and 3'SL; GOS, 2'FL, and 3'SL; GOS, LNnT, and 3'SL; 2'FL, LNnT,
and 3'SL; FOS and 3'SL; GOS and 3'SL; 2'FL and 3'SL; LNnT and 3'SL; FOS, GOS,
2'FL, LNnT, and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, LNnT, and 6'SL; FOS,
2'FL, LNnT, and 6'SL; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, and 6'SL; FOS, GOS, and 6'SL; FOS, 2'FL,
and 6'SL; FOS, LNnT, and 6'SL; GOS, 2'FL, and 6'SL; GOS, LNnT, and 6'SL; 2'FL,
LNnT, and 6'SL; FOS and 6'SL; GOS and 6'SL; 2'FL and 6'SL; and LNnT and 6'SL.
[0085] Further exemplary combinations include: FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL,
LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin,
a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS,
2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum,
and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT,
3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin,
a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; LNnT, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT,
3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 3'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS,
LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; LNnT, 3'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT,
6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 6'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS,
LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 6'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; LNnT, 6'SL,
inulin, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum;
FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin,
and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and
a gum; 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS,
GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum;
FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum;
GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS,
2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL,
inulin, and a gum; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a
gum; FOS, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and
a gum; LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum;
FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum;
FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum;
FOS, GOS, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, LNnT,
6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin,
and a gum; 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; FOS, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; GOS,
6'SL, inulin, and a gum; 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum; LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and a gum;
FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL,
6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose;
FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL,
inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL,
3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose;
GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and
polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin,
and polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin,
and polydextrose; LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT,
3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS,
GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, inulin,
and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin,
and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin,
and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, inulin, and
polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose;
LNnT, 3'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 6'SL,
inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL,
LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS,
2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS,
2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; 2'FL,
LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; FOS, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; GOS, 6'SL,
inulin, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 6'SL, inulin, and polydextrose; LNnT, 6'SL, inulin, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS,
2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT,
3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose;
FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL,
a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL,
6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL,
6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS,
2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL,
a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS,
3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT,
3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT,
3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, a
gum, and polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; LNnT, 3'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, a
gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS,
LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose;
GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 6'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, 6'SL, a gum, and
polydextrose; GOS, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose;
LNnT, 6'SL, a gum, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin;
FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS,
2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS,
GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL,
and inulin; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; 2'FL,
LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin;
2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT,
3'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin;
FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS,
3'SL, and inulin; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and inulin; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin; GOS, 2'FL,
3'SL, and inulin; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin; FOS, 3'SL,
and inulin; GOS, 3'SL, and inulin; 2'FL, 3'SL, and inulin; LNnT, 3'SL, and inulin; FOS,
GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS,
LNnT, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and inulin; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and
inulin; FOS, GOS, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and
inulin; GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and inulin; GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and inulin; 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL,
and inulin; FOS, 6'SL, and inulin; GOS, 6'SL, and inulin; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL,
6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS,
LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose;
GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose;
LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and polydextrose;
FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and polydextrose;
FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and polydextrose;
FOS, GOS, 3'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT,
3'SL, and polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and
polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, 3'SL, and polydextrose; GOS,
3'SL, and polydextrose; 2'FL, 3'SL, and polydextrose; LNnT, 3'SL, and polydextrose;
FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 6'SL, and
polydextrose; FOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and polydextrose;
GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and polydextrose; 2'FL, LNnT,
6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, 6'SL, and polydextrose; GOS, 6'SL, and polydextrose;
2'FL, 6'SL, and polydextrose; LNnT, 6'SL, and polydextrose; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT,
3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, LNnT,
3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT,
3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a
gum; FOS, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; GOS,
LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and
a gum; GOS, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; 2'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and a gum; LNnT, 3'SL, 6'SL,
and a gum; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and a gum;
FOS, GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL,
LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS,
LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, 3'SL, and a gum; GOS, LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum;
2'FL, LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS, 3'SL, and a gum; GOS, 3'SL, and a gum; 2'FL, 3'SL,
and a gum; LNnT, 3'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS,
GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, 2'FL, LNnT,
6'SL, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, GOS, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS,
2'FL, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum; GOS, 2'FL, 6'SL, and a gum; GOS,
LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum; 2'FL, LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum; FOS, 6'SL, and a gum; GOS,
6'SL, and a gum; 2'FL, 6'SL, and a gum; and LNnT, 6'SL, and a gum.
Probiotics
[0086] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may, in addition to
HMOs (and, optionally, other prebiotic oligosaccharides as described above), comprise one
or more probiotics. In some embodiments, the nutritional composition includes a
combination of HMOs and probiotics such that the composition provides a synergistic
benefit to the end user in promoting the growth of microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of
infants.
[0087] Probiotics are live microorganisms thought to be healthy for the host
organism. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bifidobacteria are the most common types of
microbes used as probiotics. Probiotics maintain the microbial ecology of the gut and
show physiological, immuno-modulatory and antimicrobial effects, such that the use of
probiotics has been found to prevent and treat gastrointestinal diseases and/or disorders,
pathogen-induced diarrhea and toxin-producing bacteria, urogenital infections, and atopic
diseases.
[0088] In order for microbes to exhibit beneficial probiotic effects in vivo, the
organisms should survive for extended time periods in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore,
it is important that probiotic strains be selected that possess qualities that prevent their
rapid removal by gut contraction. Effective probiotic strains are able to survive gastric
conditions and colonize the intestine, at least temporarily, by adhering to the intestinal
epithelium.
[0089] Non-limiting examples of probiotic strains for use in the nutritional
compositions herein include the genus Lactobacillus including L. acidophilus, L.
amylovorus, L. brevis, L. bulgaricus, L. casei spp. casei, L. casei spp. rhamnosus, L.
crispatus, L. delbrueckii ssp. lactis, L.fermentum, L. helveticus, L.johnsonii, L. paracasei,
L. pentosus, L. plantarum, L. reuteri, and L. sake; the genus Bifidobacterium including: B.
animalis, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. infantis, and B. longum; the genus Pediococcus
including: P. acidilactici; the genus Propionibacterium including: P. acidipropionici, P.
freudenreichii, P.jensenii, and . theonii; and the genus Streptococcus including: S.
cremoris, S. lactis, and S. thermophilus . Particularly preferred probiotics include probiotics
of human infant origin such as B. infantis M-63, B. infantis ATCC 15697, B. infantis
35624, B. infantis CHCC2228, B. infantis BB-02, B. infantis DSM20088, and 5 . infantis R-
0033.
[0090] The probiotic is present in the nutritional compositions in a total amount of
at least about 103 CFU/g, including from about 103 CFU/g to about 10 12 CFU/g, and
including from about 106 CFU/g to about 107 CFU/g.
[0091] In some embodiments, the nutritional composition includes a probiotic in
combination with a first oligosaccharide including fructooligosaccharide and/or a
galactooligosaccharide further in combination with a second oligosaccharide including at
least one HMO such as 2'FL, 3'FL, 3'SL, 6'SL, and/or LNnT. In these embodiments, the
first oligosaccharide and the second oligosaccharide are present in the compositions in a
weight ratio of first oligosaccharide :second oligosaccharide of about 10:1, or even from
about 11:1to about 8:1.
Macronutrients
[0092] The nutritional compositions including the HMO or HMOs may be
formulated to include at least one of protein, fat, and carbohydrate. In many embodiments,
the nutritional compositions will include the HMO or HMOs with protein, carbohydrate
and fat.
[0093] Although total concentrations or amounts of the fat, protein, and
carbohydrates may vary depending upon the product type (i.e., human milk fortifier,
preterm infant formula, infant formula, toddler formula, pediatric formula, follow-on
formula, adult nutritional, etc.), product form (i.e., nutritional solid, powder, ready-to-feed
liquid, or concentrated liquid), and targeted dietary needs of the intended user, such
concentrations or amounts most typically fall within one of the following embodied ranges,
inclusive of any other essential fat, protein, and/or carbohydrate ingredients as described
herein.
[0094] For the liquid preterm and term infant formulas, carbohydrate
concentrations (including both HMOs and any other carbohydrate/oligosaccfiaride sources)
most typically range from about 5% to about 40%, including from about 7% to about 30%,
including from about 10% to about 25%, by weight of the preterm or term infant formula;
fat concentrations most typically range from about 1% to about 30%, including from about
2% to about 15%, and also including from about 3% to about 10%, by weight of the
preterm or term infant formula; and protein concentrations most typically range from about
0.5% to about 30%, including from about 1% to about 15%, and also including from about
2% to about 10%, by weight of the preterm or term infant formula.
[0095] For the liquid human milk fortifiers, carbohydrate concentrations
(including both HMOs and any other carbohydrate/oligosaccharide sources) most typically
range from about 10% to about 75%, including from about 10% to about 50%, including
from about 20% to about 40%, by weight of the human milk fortifier; fat concentrations
most typically range from about 10% to about 40%, including from about 15% to about
37%, and also including from about 18% to about 30%, by weight of the human milk
fortifier; and protein concentrations most typically range from about 5% to about 40%,
including from about 10% to about 30%, and also including from about 15% to about 25%,
by weight of the human milk fortifier.
[0096] For the adult nutritional liquids, carbohydrate concentrations (including
both HMOs and any other carbohydrate/oligosaccharide sources) most typically range from
about 5% to about 40%, including from about 7% to about 30%, including from about 10%
to about 25%, by weight of the adult nutritional; fat concentrations most typically range
from about 2% to about 30%, including from about 3% to about 15%, and also including
from about 5% to about 10%, by weight of the adult nutritional; and protein concentrations
most typically range from about 0.5% to about 30%>, including from about 1% to about
15%, and also including from about 2% to about 10%, by weight of the adult nutritional.
[0097] The amount of carbohydrates, fats, and/or proteins in any of the liquid
nutritional compositions described herein may also be characterized in addition to, or in the
alternative, as a percentage of total calories in the liquid nutritional composition as set forth
in the following table. These macronutrients for liquid nutritional compositions of the
present disclosure are most typically formulated within any of the caloric ranges
(embodiments A-F) described in the following table (each numerical value is preceded by
the term "about").
[0098] In one specific example, liquid infant formulas (both ready-to-feed and
concentrated liquids) include those embodiments in which the protein component may
comprise from about 7.5% to about 25% of the caloric content of the formula; the
carbohydrate component (including both HMOs and any other
carbohydrate/oligosaccharide sources) may comprise from about 35% to about 50% of the
total caloric content of the infant formula; and the fat component may comprise from about
30% to about 60% of the total caloric content of the infant formula. These ranges are
provided as examples only, and are not intended to be limiting. Additional suitable ranges
are noted in the following table (each numerical value is preceded by the term "about").
[0099] When the nutritional composition is a powdered preterm or term infant
formula, the protein component is present in an amount of from about 5% to about 35%,
including from about 8% to about 12%, and including from about 10% to about 12% by
weight of the preterm or term infant formula; the fat component is present in an amount of
from about 10% to about 35%, including from about 25% to about 30%, and including
from about 26% to about 28% by weight of the preterm or term infant formula; and the
carbohydrate component (including both HMOs and any other
carbohydrate/oligosaccharide sources) is present in an amount of from about 30% to about
85%, including from about 45% to about 60%, including from about 50%> to about 55% by
weight of the preterm or term infant formula.
[0100] For powdered human milk fortifiers, the protein component is present in
an amount of from about 1% to about 55%, including from about 10% to about 50%, and
including from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the human milk fortifier; the fat
component is present in an amount of from about 1% to about 30%, including from about
1% to about 25%, and including from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the human milk
fortifier; and the carbohydrate component (including both HMOs and any other
carbohydrate/oligosaccharide sources) is present in an amount of from about 15% to about
75%, including from about 15% to about 60%, including from about 20% to about 50% by
weight of the human milk fortifier.
[0101] For powdered adult nutritionals, the protein component is present in an
amount of from about 10% to about 90%, including from about 30% to about 80%, and
including from about 40% to about 75% by weight of the adult nutritional; the fat
component is present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 20%, including from about
1% to about 10%, and including from about 2% to about 5% by weight of the adult
nutritional; and the carbohydrate component (including both HMOs and any other
carbohydrate/oligosaccharide sources) is present in an amount of from about 5% to about
40%, including from about 7% to about 30%, including from about 10% to about 25% by
weight of the adult nutritional.
[0 102] The total amount or concentration of fat, carbohydrate, and protein, in the
powdered nutritional compositions of the present disclosure can vary considerably
depending upon the selected composition and dietary or medical needs of the intended user.
Additional suitable examples of macronutrient concentrations are set forth below. In this
context, the total amount or concentration refers to all fat, carbohydrate, and protein sources
in the powdered composition. For powdered nutritional compositions, such total amounts or
concentrations are most typically and preferably formulated within any of the embodied
ranges described in the following table (each numerical value is preceded by the term
"about').
Fat
[0103] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may optionally
comprise any source or sources of fat. Suitable sources of fat for use herein include any fat
or fat source that is suitable for use in an oral nutritional composition and is compatible with
the essential elements and features of such composition. For example, in one specific
embodiment, the fat is derived from long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs).
[0 104] Exemplary LCPUFAs for use in the nutritional compositions include, for
example, w-3 LCPUFAs and w-6 LCPUFAs. Specific LCPUFAs include docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), arachidonic acid
(ARA), linoleic acid, linolenic acid (alpha linolenic acid) and gamma-linolenic acid
derived from oil sources such as plant oils, marine plankton, fungal oils, and fish oils. In
one particular embodiment, the LCPUFAs are derived from fish oils such as menhaden,
salmon, anchovy, cod, halibut, tuna, or herring oil. Particularly preferred LCPUFAs for
use in the nutritional compositions with the HMOs include DHA, ARA, EPA, DPA, and
combinations thereof.
[0105] In order to reduce potential side effects of high dosages of LCPUFAs in
the nutritional compositions, the content of LCPUFAs preferably does not exceed 3% by
weight of the total fat content, including below 2% by weight of the total fat content, and
including below 1% by weight of the total fat content in the nutritional composition.
[0 106] The LCPUFA may be provided as free fatty acids, in triglyceride form, in
diglyceride form, in monoglyceride form, in phospholipid form, in esterfied form or as a
mixture of one or more of the above, preferably in triglyceride form. In another specific
embodiment, the fat is derived from short chain fatty acids.
[0 107] Additional non-limiting examples of suitable fats or sources thereof for
use in the nutritional compositions described herein include coconut oil, fractionated
coconut oil, soybean oil, corn oil, olive oil, safflower oil, high oleic saffiower oil, oleic
acids (EMEPvSOL 6313 OLEIC ACID, Cognis Oleochemicals, Malaysia), MCT oil
(medium chain triglycerides), sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil, palm and palm kernel
oils, palm olein, canola oil, marine oils, fish oils, fungal oils, algae oils, cottonseed oils,
and combinations thereof.
Protein
[0108] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may optionally
further comprise protein. Any protein source that is suitable for use in oral nutritional
compositions and is compatible with the essential elements and features of such
compositions is suitable for use in the nutritional compositions.
[0 109] Non-limiting examples of suitable proteins or sources thereof for use in
the nutritional compositions include hydrolyzed, partially hydrolyzed or non-hydrolyzed
proteins or protein sources, which may be derived from any known or otherwise suitable
source such as milk (e.g., casein, whey), animal (e.g., meat, fish), cereal (e.g., rice, corn),
vegetable (e.g., soy) or combinations thereof. Non- limiting examples of such proteins
include milk protein isolates, milk protein concentrates as described herein, casein protein
isolates, extensively hydrolyzed casein, whey protein, sodium or calcium casemates, whole
cow milk, partially or completely defatted milk, soy protein isolates, soy protein
concentrates, and so forth. In one specific embodiment, the nutritional compositions
include a protein source derived from milk proteins of human and/or bovine origin.
[01 10] In one embodiment, the protein source is a hydrolyzed protein hydrolysate.
In this context, the terms "hydrolyzed protein" or "protein hydrolysates" are used
interchangeably herein and include extensively hydrolyzed proteins, wherein the degree of
hydrolysis is most often at least about 20%, including from about 20% to about 80%, and
also including from about 30% to about 80% , even more preferably from about 40% to
about 60% . The degree of hydrolysis is the extent to which peptide bonds are broken by a
hydrolysis method. The degree of protein hydrolysis for purposes of characterizing the
extensively hydrolyzed protein component of these embodiments is easily determined by
one of ordinary skill in the formulation arts by quantifying the amino nitrogen to total
nitrogen ratio (AN/TN) of the protein component of the selected liquid formulation. The
amino nitrogen component is quantified by USP titration methods for determining amino
nitrogen content, while the total nitrogen component is determined by the Tecator Kjeldahl
method, all of which are well known methods to one of ordinary skill in the analytical
chemistry art.
[01 11] Suitable hydrolyzed proteins may include soy protein hydrolysate, casein
protein hydrolysate, whey protein hydrolysate, rice protein hydrolysate, potato protein
hydrolysate, fish protein hydrolysate, egg albumen hydrolysate, gelatin protein hydrolysate,
combinations of animal and vegetable protein hydrolysates, and combinations thereof.
Particularly preferred protein hydrolysates include whey protein hydrolysate and
hydrolyzed sodium caseinate.
[01 1 ] When used in the nutritional compositions, the protein source may include
at least about 20% (by weight total protein) protein hydrolysate, including from about 30%
to 100% (by weight total protein) protein hydrolysate, and including from about 40% to
about 80% (by weight total protein) protein hydrolysate, and including about 50% (by
weight total protein) protein hydrolysate. In one particular embodiment, the nutritional
composition includes 100% (by weight total protein) protein hydrolysate.
Carbohydrate
[01 13] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may further
optionally comprise any carbohydrates that are suitable for use in an oral nutritional
composition and are compatible with the essential elements and features of such
compositions.
[01 14] Non-limiting examples of suitable carbohydrates or sources thereof for use
in the nutritional compositions described herein may include maltodextrin, hydrolyzed or
modified starch or cornstarch, glucose polymers, com syrup, corn syrup solids, rice-derived
carbohydrates, pea-derived carbohydrates, potato-derived carbohydrates, tapioca, sucrose,
glucose, fructose, lactose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar alcohols (e.g., maltitol,
erythritol, sorbitol), artificial sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, stevia),
and combinations thereof. A particularly desirable carbohydrate is a low dextrose
equivalent (DE) maltodextrin.
Other Optional Ingredients
[01 15] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may further
comprise other optional components that may modify the physical, chemical, aesthetic or
processing characteristics of the compositions or serve as pharmaceutical or additional
nutritional components when used in the targeted population. Many such optional
ingredients are known or otherwise suitable for use in medical food or other nutritional
products or pharmaceutical dosage forms and may also be used in the compositions herein,
provided that such optional ingredients are safe for oral administration and are compatible
with the essential and other ingredients in the selected product form.
[01 16] Non-limiting examples of such optional ingredients include preservatives,
emulsifying agents, buffers, pharmaceutical actives, anti-inflammatory agents, additional
nutrients as described herein, colorants, flavors, thickening agents and stabilizers,
emulsifying agents, lubricants, and so forth.
[01 17] The nutritional compositions may further comprise a sweetening agent,
preferably including at least one sugar alcohol such as maltitol, erythritol, sorbitol, xylitol,
mannitol, isolmalt, and lactitol, and also preferably including at least one artificial or high
potency sweetener such as acesulfame K, aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, stevia, and
tagatose. These sweetening agents, especially as a combination of a sugar alcohol and an
artificial sweetener, are especially useful in formulating liquid beverage embodiments of
the present disclosure having a desirable favor profile. These sweetener combinations are
especially effective in masking undesirable flavors sometimes associated with the addition
of vegetable proteins to a liquid beverage. Optional sugar alcohol concentrations in the
nutritional composition may range from at least 0.01%, including from 0.1%> to about 10%>,
and also including from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the nutritional composition.
Optional artificial sweetener concentrations may range from about 0.01%, including from
about 0 .05% to about 5%, also including from about 0.1% to about 1.0%, by weight of the
nutritional composition.
[01 18] A flowing agent or anti-caking agent may be included in the nutritional
compositions as described herein to retard clumping or caking of the powder over time and
to make a powder embodiment flow easily from its container. Any known flowing or anticaking
agents that are known or otherwise suitable for use in a nutritional powder or
product form are suitable for use herein, non-limiting examples of which include tricalcium
phosphate, silicates, and combinations thereof. The concentration of the flowing agent or
anti-caking agent in the nutritional composition varies depending upon the product form,
the other selected ingredients, the desired flow properties, and so forth, but most typically
range from about 0.1% to about 4%, including from about 0.5%> to about 2%, by weight of
the nutritional composition.
[01 19] A stabilizer may also be included in the nutritional compositions. Any
stabilizer that is known or otherwise suitable for use in a nutritional composition is also
suitable for use herein, some non-limiting examples of which include gums such as xanthan
gum. The stabilizer may represent from about 0.1% to about 5.0%, including from about
0.5% to about 3%o, including from about 0.7% to about 1.5%, by weight of the nutritional
composition.
[0120] Additionally, the nutritional compositions may comprise one or more
antioxidants to provide nutritional support, as well as to reduce oxidative stress. Any
antioxidants suitable for oral administration may be included for use in the nutritional
compositions of the present disclosure, including, for example, vitamin A, vitamin E,
vitamin C, retinol, tocopherol, and carotenoids.
[0121] In one specific embodiment, the antioxidants for use in the nutritional
compositions include carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene, and
combinations thereof, and particularly, combinations of the carotenoids lutein, lycopene,
and beta-carotene. Nutritional compositions containing these combinations, as selected and
defined herein, can be used to modulate inflammation and/or levels of C-reactive protein in
preterm and term infants.
[0122] The nutritional compositions may further comprise any of a variety of
other vitamins or related nutrients, non-limiting examples of which include vitamin D,
vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, vitamin Bi2, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic
acid, biotin, choline, inositol, salts and derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
[0123] The nutritional compositions may further comprise any of a variety of
other additional minerals, non-limiting examples of which include calcium, phosphorus,
magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, sodium, potassium, molybdenum, chromium,
chloride, and combinations thereof.
[0124] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may additionally
comprise nucleotides and/or nucleotide precursors selected from the group consisting of
nucleoside, purine base, pyrimidine base, ribose and deoxyribose to further improve
intestinal barrier integrity and/or maturation. The nucleotide may be in monophosphate,
diphosphate, or triphosphate form. The nucleotide may be a ribonucleotide or a
deoxyribonucleotide. The nucleotides may be monomelic, dimeric, or polymeric
(including RNA and DNA). The nucleotide may be present in the nutritional composition
as a free acid or in the form of a salt, preferably a monosodium salt.
[0125] Suitable nucleotides and/or nucleosides for use in the nutritional
compositions include one or more of cytidine 5'-monophosphate, uridine 5'-
monophosphate, adenosine '-monophosphate, guanosine 5'- 1-monophosphate, and/or
inosine 5'-monophosphate, more preferably cytidine 5'-monophosphate, uridine 5'-
monophosphate, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, guanosine 5'-monophosphate, and inosine
5'-monophosphate.
Methods of Manufacture
[0126] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may be prepared by
any known or otherwise effective manufacturing technique for preparing the selected
product solid or liquid form. Many such techniques are known for any given product form
such as nutritional liquids or powders and can easily be applied by one of ordinary skill in
the art to the nutritional compositions described herein.
[0127] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure can therefore be
prepared by any of a variety of known or otherwise effective formulation or manufacturing
methods. In one suitable manufacturing process, for example, at least three separate
slurries are prepared, including a protein-in-fat (PIF) slurry, a carbohydrate-mineral (CHOMIN)
slurry, and a protein-in-water (PIW) slurry. The PIF slurry is formed by heating and
mixing the oil (e.g., canola oil, corn oil, etc.) and then adding an emulsifier (e.g., lecithin),
fat soluble vitamins, and a portion of the total protein (e.g., milk protein concentrate, etc.)
with continued heat and agitation. The CHO-MIN slurry is formed by adding with heated
agitation to water: minerals (e.g., potassium citrate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium citrate,
etc.), trace and ultra trace minerals (TM/UTM premix), thickening or suspending agents
(e.g. avicel, gellan, carrageenan). The resulting CHO-MGN slurry is held for 10 minutes
with continued heat and agitation before adding additional minerals (e.g., potassium
chloride, magnesium carbonate, potassium iodide, etc.), and/or carbohydrates (e.g., HMOs,
fructooligosaccharide, sucrose, corn syrup, etc.). The PIW slurry is then formed by
mixing with heat and agitation the remaining protein, if any.
[0128] The resulting slurries are then blended together with heated agitation and
the pH adjusted to 6.6-7.0, after which the composition is subjected to high-temperature
short-time (HTST) processing during which the composition is heat treated, emulsified and
homogenized, and then allowed to cool. Water soluble vitamins and ascorbic acid are
added, the pH is adjusted to the desired range if necessary, flavors are added, and water is
added to achieve the desired total solid level. The composition is then aseptically packaged
to form an aseptically packaged nutritional emulsion. This emulsion can then be further
diluted, heat-treated, and packaged to form a ready-to-feed or concentrated liquid, or it can
be heat-treated and subsequently processed and packaged as a reconstitutable powder, e.g.,
spray dried, drymixed, agglomerated.
[0129] The nutritional solid, such as a spray dried nutritional powder or drymixed
nutritional powder, may be prepared by any collection of known or otherwise effective
techniques, suitable for making and formulating a nutritional powder.
[0130] For example, when the nutritional powder is a spray dried nutritional
powder, the spray drying step may likewise include any spray drying technique that is
known for or otherwise suitable for use in the production of nutritional powders. Many
different spray drying methods and techniques are known for use in the nutrition field, all
of which are suitable for use in the manufacture of the spray dried nutritional powders
herein.
[0131] One method of preparing the spray dried nutritional powder comprises
forming and homogenizing an aqueous slurry or liquid comprising predigested fat, and
optionally protein, carbohydrate, and other sources of fat, and then spray drying the slurry
or liquid to produce a spray dried nutritional powder. The method may further comprise
the step of spray drying, drymixing, or otherwise adding additional nutritional ingredients,
including any one or more of the ingredients described herein, to the spray dried nutritional
powder.
[0132] Other suitable methods for making nutritional compositions are described,
for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,218 (Borschel, et al.), U.S. Patent No. 6,589,576
(Borschel, et al), U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,908 (Carlson, et al), U.S. Patent Application No.
200301 18703 Al (Nguyen, et al.), which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference
to the extent that they are consistent herewith.
Methods of Use
[0133] The nutritional compositions as described herein can be used to address
one or more of the diseases, disorders, or conditions discussed herein, or can be used to
provide one or more of the benefits described herein, to preterm infants, infants, toddlers,
children, and adults, including pregnant women. The preterm infant, infant, toddler, child,
adult and pregnant women utilizing the nutritional compositions described herein may
actually have or be afflicted with the disease or condition described, or may be susceptible
to, or at risk of, getting the disease or condition (that is, may not actually yet have the
disease or condition, but is at elevated risk as compared to the general population for
getting it due to certain conditions, family history, etc.) Whether the preterm infant, infant,
toddler, child, adult, and pregnant women actually have the disease or condition, or is at
risk or susceptible to the disease or condition, the preterm infant, infant, toddler, child,
adult, and pregnant women are classified herein as "in need of assistance in dealing with
and combating the disease or condition. For example, the preterm infant, infant, toddler,
child, adult and pregnant women may actually have respiratory inflammation or may be at
risk of getting respiratory inflammation (susceptible to getting respiratory inflammation)
due to family history or other medical conditions, for example. Whether the preterm
infant, infant, toddler, child, adult, and pregnant women actually has the disease or
condition, or is only at risk or susceptible to getting the disease or condition, it is within the
scope of the present disclosure to assist the preterm infant, infant, toddler, child, adult and
pregnant women with the nutritional compositions described herein.
[0134] Based on the foregoing, because some of the method embodiments of the
present disclosure are directed to specific subsets or subclasses of identified individuals
(that is, the subset or subclass of individuals "in need" of assistance in addressing one or
more specific diseases or specific conditions noted herein), not all preterm infants, infants,
toddlers, children, adults and pregnant women will fall within the subset or subclass of
preterm infants, infants, toddlers, children, adults, and pregnant women as described herein
for certain diseases or conditions.
[0135] The nutritional compositions as described herein comprise HMOs, alone
or in combination with one or more additional components, to provide a nutritional source
for improving at least the intestinal/gut function. Specifically, the nutritional compositions
can stimulate enteric nerve cells in the gastrointestinal tract of an individual to improve
intestinal/gut barrier integrity; improve feeding tolerance (e.g., reduced diarrhea, loose
stools, gas, and bloating); reduce colic in infants; protect against necrotizing enterocolitis
and other disorders of prematurity; address gastrointestinal diseases and disorders
associated with the enteric nervous system; address gastrointestinal diseases and disorders
of gut contractility and inflammation; correct effects of gut dysbiosis; and affect long-term
modulation of allergic tolerance.
[0136] More particularly, in some embodiments, the nutritional compositions may
be administered to an individual having, susceptible to, or at risk of, gastrointestinal
diseases and disorders associated with the enteric nervous system and/or associated with
gut contractility and inflammation, which may include, for example, irritable bowel
syndrome, colitis (e.g., necrotizing enterocolitis, Crohn's disease, ischemic colitis,
Cryptosporidium enterocolitis, pseudomembranous colitis, cytomegalovirus, ulcerative
colitis), food intolerance, and food allergies.
[0137] Along with improved growth and maturation of an individual's immune
system as described above, the use of the nutritional compositions of the present disclosure
may also function to enhance the individual's ability to resist microbial infection and to
promote the growth of beneficial microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract of an infant,
toddler, child, or adult.
[0138] Additionally, the nutritional compositions of the present disclosure may
also be used to improve cognition in individuals, particularly in individuals susceptible to,
or at risk of, neurodegenerative diseases, which may include, for example, Alzheimer's
disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia, or in individuals
suffering from conditions caused by impaired cognitive development or
neurodevelopmental conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.
EXAMPLES
[0139] The following examples illustrate specific embodiments and/or features of
the nutritional compositions and methods of the present disclosure. The examples are
given solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the
present disclosure, as many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure. All exemplified amounts are weight percentages based upon
the total weight of the composition, unless otherwise specified.
[0140] The exemplified compositions are shelf stable nutritional compositions
prepared in accordance with the manufacturing methods described herein, such that each
exemplified composition, unless otherwise specified, includes an aseptically processed
embodiment and a retort packaged embodiment.
[0141] The nutritional liquid embodiments are aqueous oil-in-water emulsions
that are packaged in 240 mL plastic containers and remain physically stable for 12-18
months after composition/packaging at storage temperatures ranging from 1-25°C.
EXAMPLES 1-5
[0142] Examples 1-5 illustrate ready-to-feed nutritional emulsions of the present
disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient amounts
are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise specified.
AN = as needed
EXAMPLES 6-10
[0143] Examples 6-10 illustrate ready-to-feed nutritional emulsions of the present
disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient amounts
are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise specified.
AN = as needed
EXAMPLES 11-15
[0144] Examples 11-15 illustrate concentrated liquid emulsions of the present
disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient amounts
are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise specified.
Ingredient Ex. 11 Ex. 12 Ex. 13 Ex. 14 Ex. 15
Water Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S.
Condensed Skim Milk 166.6 166.6 166.6 166.6 166.6
Lactose 106.1 106.1 106.1 106.1 106.1
High oleic safflower oil 27. 16 27.16 27. 16 27.16 27.16
Soybean oil 20.42 20.42 20.42 20.42 20.42
Coconut oil 19.48 19.48 19.48 19.48 19.48
2' fucosyllactose (2'FL) 0.1896 0.1 188 0.0853 0.2414 0.2560
Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) 16.71 16.71 16.71 16.71 16.71
Whey protein concentrate 12.20 12.20 12.20 12.20 12.20
Potassium citrate 894.5 g 894.5 g 894.5 g 894.5 g 894.5 g
Calcium carbonate 1.072 1.072 1.072 1.072 1.072
Monoglycerides 690.0 g 690.0 g 690.0 g 690.0 g 690.0 g
Soy lecithin 690.0 g 690.0 g 690.0 g 690.0 g 690.0 g
APvA oil 684.2 g 684.2 g 684.2 g 684.2 g 684.2 g
Nucleotide/chloride premix 568.9 g 568.9 g 568.9 g 568.9 g 568.9 g
Potassium chloride 480.8 g 480.8 g 480.8 g 480.8 g 480.8 g
Ascorbic acid 958.6 g 958.6 g 958.6 g 958.6 g 958.6 g
Vitamin mineral premix 276.9 g 276.9 g 276.9 g 276.9 g 276.9 g
DHA oil 256.1 g 256.1 g 256.1 g 256.1 g 256.1 g
Carrageenan 200.0 g 200.0 g 200.0 g 200.0 g 200.0 g
Magnesium chloride 174.7 g 174.7 g 174.7 g 174.7 g 174.7 g
Ferrous sulfate 112.7 112.7 g 112.7 g 112.7 g 112.7 g
Choline chloride 104.8 g 104.8 g 104.8 g 104.8 g 104.8 g
Vitamin A, D , E, K premix 86.90 g 86.90 g 86.90 g 86.90 g 86.90 g
Citric acid 64.55 g 64.55 g 64.55 g 64.55 g 64.55 g
Mixed carotenoid premix 45.63 g 45.63 g 45.63 g 45.63 g 45.63 g
Sodium chloride AN AN AN AN AN
L-carnitine 6.371 g 6.371 g 6.371 g 6.371 g 6.371 g
Riboflavin 2.921 g 2.921 g 2.921 g 2.921 g 2.921 g
Vitamin A Palmitate 1.504 g 1.504 g 1.504 g 1.504 g 1.504 g
Potassium hydroxide 659.8 g 659.8 g 659.8 g 659.8 g 659.8 g
Tricalcium phosphate AN AN AN AN AN
Potassium phosphate monobasic AN AN AN AN AN
AN = as needed
EXAMPLES 16-20
[0145] Examples 16-20 illustrate spray dried nutritional powders of the present
disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient amounts
are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise specified.
Ingredient Ex. 16 Ex. 17 Ex. 18 Ex. 19 Ex. 20
Nonfat dry milk 456.9 456.9 456.9 456.9 456.9
Lactose 259.0 259.0 259.0 259.0 259.0
High oleic sunflower oil 93.9 93.9 93.9 93.9 93.9
Soy oil 70.4 70.4 70.4 70.4 70.4
Coconut oil 67.1 67.1 67.1 67.1 67.1
2' fucosyllactose (2'FL) 0.7584 0.7204 0.6824 0.7964 0.8344
Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) 53.5 53.5 53.5 53.5 53.5
Probiotic 1.0 0.95 0.90 1.05 1.10
Flavoring agent 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2
Calcium carbonate 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8
Potassium citrate 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7
Oligofructose (FOS) 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9
Ascorbic acid 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
Nucleotide/Choline Premix 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
ARA oil 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Vitamin/Trace Mineral Premix 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Sodium chloride 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
Lecithin 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
Sodium citrate 982.2 g 982.2 g 982.2 g 982.2 g 982.2 g
DHA oil 882.1 g 882.1 g 882.1 g 882.1 g 882.1 g
Magnesium chloride 477.4 g 477.4 g 477.4 g 477.4 g 477.4 g
Vitamin A, D3, E, Kl Premix 314.7 g 314.7 g 314.7 g 314.7 g 314.7 g
Ascorbyl Palmitate 278.8 g 278.8 g 278.8 g 278.8 g 278.8 g
Antioxidant 137.3 g 137.3 g 137.3 g 137.3 g 137.3 g
Tocopheryl acetate 32.0 g 32.0 g 32.0 g 32.0 g 32.0 g
Beta-carotene 30% l l .O g l l.O g l l .O g l l.O g l l.O g
Potassium iodide 2.5 g 2.5 g 2.5 g 2.5 g 2.5 g
Riboflavin 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g
Magnesium sulfate 499.5 g 499.5 mg 499.5 mg 499.5 mg 499.5 mg
Potassium phosphate dibasic AN AN AN AN AN
Potassium chloride AN AN AN AN AN
Tricalcium phosphate AN AN AN AN AN
Potassium hydroxide AN AN AN AN AN
Calcium hydroxide AN AN AN AN AN
Sodium hydroxide AN AN AN AN AN
Water Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S.
AN = as needed
EXAMPLES 21-25
[0146] Examples 21-25 illustrate spray dried nutritional powders of the present
disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient amounts
are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise specified.
Ingredient Ex. 21 Ex. 22 Ex. 23 Ex. 24 Ex. 25
Water Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S.
Corn syrup 308.9 308.9 308.9 308.9 308.9
Maltodextrin 297.1 297.1 297.1 297.1 297.1
Sucrose 112.4 112.4 112.4 112.4 112.4
High Oleic sunflower oil 84.9 84.9 84.9 84.9 84.9
Sodium caseinate 73.0 73.0 73.0 73.0 73.0
Calcium caseinate 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2
2' fucosyllactose (2'FL) 0.7584 0.7204 0.6824 0.7964 0.8344
Inulin, oligofructose 47.0 47.0 47.0 47.0 47.0
Soy oil 38.3 38.3 38.3 38.3 38.3
Isolated soy protein 35.9 35.9 35.9 35.9 35.9
Milk protein isolate 16.3 16.3 16.3 16.3 16.3
Canola oil 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.7
Sodium citrate 9.8 9.8 9.8 9.8 9.8
Potassium citrate 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.7
Tricalcium phosphate 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Flavoring agent 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3
Magnesium chloride 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2
Potassium chloride 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5
Choline chloride 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
Vitamin premix 950.0 g 950.0 g 950.0 g 950.0 g 950.0 g
Ascorbic acid 755.0 g 755.0 g 755.0 g 755.0 g 755.0 g
Vitamin/trace mineral premix 465.0 g 465.0 g 465.0 g 465.0 g 465.0 g
Potassium hydroxide 215.9 g 215.9 g 215.9 g 215.9 g 215.9 g
Potassium phosphate dibasic 185.8 g 185.8 g 185.8 g 185.8 g 185.8 g
Ascorbyl palmitate 164.7 g 164.7 g 164.7 g 164.7 g 164.7 g
Antioxidant 82.3 g 82.3 g 82.3 g 82.3 g 82.3 g
Vitamin A, D3, E, Kl premix 82.3 g 82.3 g 82.3 g 82.3 g 82.3 g
Vitamin A palmitate 16.5 g 16.5 g 16.5 g 16.5 g 16.5 g
Ferrous sulfate 12.0 g 12.0 g 12.0 g 12.0 g 12.0 g
Beta carotene 30% 5.5 g 5.5 g 5.5 g 5.5 g 5.5 g
Vitamin D3 oil 1.0 g 1.0 g 1.0 g 1.0 g 1.0 g
Potassium iodide 800.0 mg 800.0 mg 800.0 mg 800.0 mg 800.0 mg
Citric acid AN AN AN AN AN
Potassium hydroxide 40% AN AN AN AN AN
Maltodextrin AN AN AN AN AN
Magnesium sulfate AN AN AN AN AN
Sodium chloride AN AN AN AN AN
Calcium carbonate AN AN AN AN AN
AN = as needed
EXAMPLES 26-30
[0147] Examples 26-30 illustrate ready-to-feed nutritional emulsions of the
present disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient
amounts are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise
specified.
Ingredient Ex. 26 Ex. 27 Ex. 28 Ex. 29 Ex. 30
Water Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S.
Condensed Skim Milk 86.64 86.64 86.64 86.64 86.64
Lactose 54.80 54.80 54.80 54.80 54.80
High oleic safflower oil 14.10 14.10 14.10 14.10 14.10
Soybean oil 10.6 10.6 10.6 10.6 10.6
Coconut oil 10. 1 10.1 10.1 10.1 10. 1
2' fucosyllactose (2'FL) 0.0948 0.09005 0.0853 0.0995 0.1043
6'-sialyllactose (6'SL) 0.0948 0.09005 0.0853 0.0995 0.1043
Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) 8.630 8.630 8.630 8.630 8.630
Whey protein concentrate 6.40 6.40 6.40 6.40 6.40
Potassium citrate 478.9 g 478.9 g 478.9 g 478.9 g 478.9 g
Calcium carbonate 448.28 g 448.28 g 448.28 g 448.28 g 448.28 g
Soy lecithin 355.74 g 355.74 g 355.74 g 355.74 g 355.74 g
Stabilizer 355.74 g 355.74 g 355.74 g 355.74 g 355.74 g
ARA oil 368.01 g 368.01 g 368.01 g 368.01 g 368.01 g
Nucleotide/chloride premix 293.26 g 293.26 g 293.26 g 293.26 g 293.26 g
Potassium chloride 226.45 g 226.45 g 226.45 g 226.45 g 226.45 g
Ascorbic acid 445.94 g 445.94 g 445.94 g 445.94 g 445.94 g
Vitamin mineral premix 142.88 g 142.88 g 142.88 g 142.88 g 142.88 g
DHA oil 137.8 g 137.8 g 137.8 g 137.8 g 137.8 g
Carrageenan 180.0 g 180.0 g 180.0 g 180.0 g 180.0 g
Magnesium chloride 55.0 g 55.0 g 55.0 g 55.0 g 55.0 g
Ferrous sulfate 58.0 g 58.0 g 58.0 g 58.0 g 58.0 g
Choline chloride 53.9 g 53.9 g 53.9 g 53.9 g 53.9 g
Vitamin A, D3, E, K premix 47.40 g 47.40 g 47.40 g 47.40 g 47.40 g
Citric acid 29.77 g 29.77 g 29.77 g 29.77 g 29.77 g
Probiotic 1.0 0.95 0.90 1.05 1. 10
Mixed carotenoid premix 26.40 g 26.40 g 26.40 g 26.40 g 26.40 g
Sodium chloride AN AN AN AN AN
L-carnitine 3.3 1 g 3.3 1 g 3.3 1 g 3.3 1 g 3.3 1 g
Tricalcium phosphate 15.65 g 15.65 g 15.65 g 15.65 g 15.65 g
Potassium phosphate monobasic 13.67 g 13.67 g 13.67 g 13.67 g 13.67 g
Riboflavin 2.42 g 2.42 g 2.42 g 2.42 g 2.42 g
Potassium hydroxide AN AN AN AN AN
AN = as needed
EXAMPLES 31-34
[0 148] Examples 31-34 illustrate concentrated liquid human milk fortifiers of the
present disclosure, the ingredients of which are listed in the table below. All ingredient
amounts are listed as kilogram per 1000 kilogram batch of product, unless otherwise
specified.
Sodium Chloride 861 g 861 g 861 g 861 g
L-Carnitine 221 g 221 g 221 g 221 g
Tryptophan 331 g 331 g 33 1 g 331 g
Zinc Sulfate 309 g 309 g 309 g 309 g
Niacinamide 320 g 320 g 320 g 320 g
Tocopheryl Acetate 364 g 364 g 364 g 364 g
Gellan Gum 200 g 300 g 400 g 600 g
Ferrous Sulfate 106 g 106 g 106 g 106 g
Choline Chloride 353 g 353 g 353 g 353 g
Calcium Pantothenate 132 g 132 g 132 g 132 g
Vitamin A Palmitate 77 g 77 g 77 g 77 g
Riboflavin 33 g 33 g 33 g 33 g
Vitamin D3 13 g 13 g 13 g 13 g
Copper Sulfate 18 g 18 g 18 g 18 g
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride 20 g 20 g 20 g 20 g
Thiamin Hydrochloride 24 g 24 g 24 g 24 g
Folic Acid 3.3 g 3.3 g 3.3 g 3.3 g
Biotin 2.5 g 2.5 g 2.5 g 2.5 g
Manganese Sulfate 1.8 g 1.8 g 1.8 g 1.8 g
Phylloquinone 880 mg 880 mg 880 mg 880 mg
Sodium Selenate 90 mg 90 mg 90 mg 90 mg
Cyanocobalamin 88 mg 88 mg 88 mg 88 mg
Potassium Hydroxide Q.S. Q.S. Q.S. Q.S.
EXAMPLE 35
[0149] In this Example, the effect of '-fucosyllactose (2'FL) OR 3'-
fucosyllactose (3'FL) on stimulating enteric nerve cells in the gastrointestinal tract of
rodents is analyzed.
[0150] Specifically, a peristalsis model using luminally perfused mouse colon is
used to test the stimulation effect of 2'FL or 3'FL on enteric nerve cells. Colon muscle is
perfused with 2'FL or 3'FL, at concentrations of 1 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL, and 0.1 mg/mL, for
15 minutes. The frequency and amplitude of contractions of the muscle is analyzed. The
results are shown in FIG. 1.
[0151] As shown in the results, there is a direct stimulation of nerve cells by 2'FL
or 3'FL without involving gut microbiota and/or their metabolites. Specifically, the
frequency and amplitude of contraction are reduced consistently and in a dose response
fashion.
EXAMPLE 36
[0152] In this Example, the fermentation rates of various non-digestible
carbohydrates are measured.
[0153] Inclusion/exclusion criteria for choosing eight infant participants include:
the infant was full term at birth with a gestational age of 38 to 42 weeks; the infant was at
or above the fifth percentile for weight at birth; the infant has no maternal medical history
of diabetes, tuberculosis, or perinatal infection with proven adverse effects on the fetus;
was a vaginal birth; was at least 2 months of age at study entry, but not older than 4 months
of age; has no known cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or other systemic disease such
as urinary tract infection or otitis media; is free of history of blood group incompatibility
serious enough to result in hematological problems; and is not receiving any medications
(except for supplemental vitamins) and has never received antibiotics. The eight infants
are allowed to consume their normal diet of breast milk or infant formula. Four infants are
exclusively breast fed and four infants are exclusively formula fed one of four
commercially available infant formulas.
[0154] On the day of the in vitro experiments, a fecal sample is collected in the
diaper and prepped within 1 minutes of defecation. For prepping, the sample is placed in
a container with tepid water and analyzed. Fecal samples are diluted 1:10 (wt/vol) in
anaerobic dilution solution by blending for 15 seconds in a Waring blender under a stream
of CO2. Blended, diluted feces are filtered through four layers of cheesecloth and sealed in
125-mL serum bottles under C0 2. Inoculum is stored at 37°C until inoculation of in vitro
tubes.
[0155] Oligosaccharide substrates suitable for growing the bacterium include
galactooligosaccharides (GOS) 95 (GOS; Inalco Pharmaceuticals, San Luis, California), a-
(2-6')-N-Acetylneuraminyl-lactose sodium salt (6'SL; Inalco Pharmaceuticals, San Luis,
California); 2'- a-L-Fucopyranosyl-D-Lactose (2'FL; Inalco Pharmaceuticals, San Luis,
California); LNnT; Orafti® HP inulin (HP inulin) (BENEO-Orafti, Belgium); and gum
Arabic (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
In vitrofermentation model
[0156] Approximately 80 mg of each substrate is weighed in triplicate for each
pull time into 16-mL Balch tubes that are used in a model that simulates large bowel
fermentation. An aliquot (7.2 mL) of medium (Table 1; FIG. 2) is aseptically transferred
into the Balch tubes, capped with butyl rubber stoppers, and sealed with aluminum caps.
Tubes containing HP inulin and gum arabic are stored at 4°C for approximately 12 h to
enable hydration of the substrates before initiating fermentation. These tubes are placed in
a 37°C water bath approximately 30 min before inoculation. Due to the cost of the
substrates and difficulty in obtaining samples from infants, tubes containing GOS, 6'SL,
2'FL, and LNnT are hydrated upon obtaining a fecal sample and placed in a 37°C water
bath until inoculation.
[0157] Sample and blank tubes are aseptically inoculated with 0.8 ml of diluted
feces. Tubes are incubated at 37°C with periodic mixing every 2 h for up to 12 h. At 0, 3,
6, and 12 h after inoculation, tubes are removed from the 37°C incubator and processed
immediately for analyses. The pH of tube contents is measured with a standard pH meter.
A 3-ml subsample of fluid is collected and used for short-chain fatty acid analysis.
Short-chainfatty acid (SCFA) analysis
[0158] The 3-mL aliquot of fluid removed from the sample tubes for SCFA
analysis is immediately added to 0.75 mL of 25% metaphosphoric acid. Concentrations of
acetate, propionate, and butyrate are determined using a Hewlett-Packard 5890A series II
gas chromatograph and a glass column (180 cm x 4 mm i.d.) packed with 10% SP-
1200/1% H3PO4 on 80/100+ mesh Chromosorb WAW (Supelco Inc., Bellefonte, PA).
Oven temperature, detector temperature, and injector temperature are 125, 175, and 180°C,
respectively. SCFA concentration values are corrected for blank tube production of SCFA
and 0 h concentrations for each substrate. Total SCFA are calculated as the total amount of
acetate, propionate, and butyrate.
Results and Discussion
[0159] The pH change from baseline decreases (P<0.0001) over time for all
substrates except gum arabic (FIG. 3). At 3, 6, and 12 h after inoculation, pH change from
baseline is smallest (P<0.0001) with the gum arabic substrate, and greatest in the LNnT,
2'FL, and GOS substrates. A decrease in pH is an indicator of fermentation, and these data
are reflective of SCFA production.
[0160] Total SCFA production differs among substrates (FIG. 4) at 3, 6, and 12 h
of fermentation (P<0.0001). Gum arabic produces the least amount of SCFA and does not
change over time. After 3 and 6 h of fermentation, total SCFA production is lower
(P<0.05) with HP inulin compared to all other substrates and is lower (P<0.05) with 6'SL
compared to GOS. By 12 h of fermentation, total SCFA production remains lower
(P<0.05) with HP inulin relative to 2'FL, 6'SL, GOS, and LNnT substrates. Also, after 12
h of fermentation, total SCFA production is greater (P<0.05) for the 6'SL and GOS
substrates compared to 2'FL.
EXAMPLE 37
[0161] In this Example, probiotic fermentation parameters are determined for
purified HMOs, HMO precursors, and other prebiotic oligosaccharides.
Bacterial Cultures
[0162] All bifidobacteria strains are initially inoculated from frozen stocks, grown
in deMan Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth (Difco, Detroit, MI) supplemented with 0.5 g/L Lcysteine
and incubated at 37°C for 24 h in an anaerobic chamber (90% N2, 5% CO and 5%
H2). Subsequently, the cultures are passed twice on a semi-synthetic MRS medium
(sMRS) + 0.5 g/L L-cysteine which is supplemented with 1% (w/v) filter-sterilized glucose
as the sole carbohydrate source. After the 2nd pass, cultures are prepared to use as
inoculums for growth assays described below. For bifidobacteria strains, the same
procedure is followed except all media are supplemented with 0.5 g/1 L-cysteine/HCl. All
bacterial strains for use in this Example are listed in the table below.
Table: Microorganisms
# Culture Genus Species Strain
Collection
Number
1 MJM29 Bifidobacterium adolescentis ATCC 15703
2 MJM30 Bifidobacterium infantis SI2; ATCC 15697
3 MJM32 Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140
4 MJM33 Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. ATCC 25527
animalis
5 MJM34 Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 29521
6 MJM35 Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700
7 MJM37 Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC 11617
8 MJM88 Bifidobacterium lactis Bf-6 (Cargill)
9 MJM92 Bifidobacterium longum BB536 (Morinaga)
10 MJM93 Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 (Morinaga)
11 MJM94 Bifidobacterium breve M-16V (Morinaga)
12 MJM95 Bifidobacterium lactis Bbl2; (Chr. Hansen)
Bacterial Growth Assays
[0163] After the 2nd pass in sM S + glucose + cysteine, the cultures are washed
once with 10 mL of sterile sMRS + cysteine (no carbohydrate), resuspended in 10 ml of
sterile sMRS + cysteine (no carbohydrate) and then used as a 1% inoculum. Carbohydrates
for use in this Example are shown in the table below. The carbohydrates are sterilized with
a 0.22 micron filter and used at a 1% final concentration. Cell growth is performed in 250
mΐ of sMRS + cysteine covered with 50 of mineral oil in a Bioscreen 100-well
Honeycomb plate. Cell growth is monitored by measuring optical density at 600 nm
(OD600) using a Bioscreen C Automated Microbiology Growth Curve Analysis System.
The plate reader is operated in discontinuous mode, with absorbance readings performed in
30-minute intervals, and preceded by 30-second shaking intervals at maximum speed.
Controls consist of inoculated medium lacking carbohydrate. Due to space limitations on
the microtitre plate, the carbohydrates are divided into three separate groups: plate A
(HMO precursors: glucose, galactose, lactose, NAG, fucose, fructose and sialic acid), plate
B (Prebiotics: glucose, Purimune™ GOS, purified Purimune™ GOS, Vivinal® GOS,
purified Vivinal® GOS, scFOS and PDX), and plate C (HMOs: glucose, 6'-SL, 3'-SL, -
FL, 3'-FL and LNnT). All three plates include a positive control (glucose) and negative
control (no carbohydrate).
Table: Carbohydrates
Carbohydrate Source
Dextrose (D-Glucose) Fisher Scientific
D(+)-Galatose ACROS-ORGANICS
a-Lactose Fisher Scientific
L-(-) Fucose SIGMA
D-Fructose ALDRICH
Sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) CALBIOCHEM
NAG (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) SIGMA
GOS (Purimune™ Galactooligosaccharide) GTC Nutrition
Purified GOS (Purimune™ GTC Nutrition
Galactooligosaccharide)
Vivinal® GOS (Galactooligosaccharide) Friesland Foods
Purified Vivinal® GOS (Galactooligosaccharide) Friesland Foods
scFOS (Short-Chain Fructooligosaccharide) Nutraflora® P-95 (GTC Nutrition)
PDX (Litesse® Polydextrose) DANISCO
6'SL (6'-sialyllactose) V-labs; SL 306 Lot#HGDX 21-163-1
3'SL (3 '-sialyllactose) V-labs; SL 302 Lot#HGDX 76-161-1
2'FL (2'-fucosyllactose) V-labs; Lot# DX103
3'FL (3'-fucosyllactose) V-labs; Lot# DX807
LNnT (Lacto-N-Neotetraose) Abbott Nutrition
Bacterial growth curves
[0 164] The OD600 data for each carbohydrate is corrected by subtracting the
OD600 of the basal media (sMRS) from the sample plate for each probiotic. Maximum
OD is determined by inspection of the corrected growth data. OD is determined by
subtracting the initial corrected OD (time point 0) from the maximum corrected OD.
Samples are grown in biologically independent triplicates and the resulting growth kinetic
data are expressed as the mean of these replicates.
[0165] For the growth curve plots, OD600 vs. time is first plotted for the bacteria
grown on medium lacking carbohydrate (sMRS). For all other carbohydrates, the OD600
data is corrected by subtracting the OD600 of sMRS.
Purification of GOS
[0 166] Purified GOS is obtained by purification of Purimune™ GOS (GTC
Nutrition) and Vivinal® GOS (Friesland Foods Domo). Stock solutions of 1.5 g/100 mL
are applied to a XK column (XK 50/100 column, 5.0 x 100 cm, GE healthcare) packed
with Sephadex G25 medium (Sigma). The column is eluted with pure distilled water at a
rate of 8 ml/min and is collected in 12-mL fractions by a Gilson FC 203B fraction
collector.
[0167] Detection of carbohydrate in every 2-3 fractions is performed using the
phenol-sulfuric acid assay. Briefly, 50 of sample (2 m , of fraction and 48 m of
distilled water in a well) is added to 150 mΐ of concentrated sulfuric acid rapidly in a 96-
well microtitre plate. Immediately thereafter, 30 mΐ of 5% phenol is added and the plate is
kept in a static water bath for 30 minutes at 80°C. After cooling to room temperature for 5
minutes, it is wiped dry and absorbance at 490 nm is measured by a SpectraMax Plus384
Spectrophotometer. Based on carbohydrate analysis, fractions containing minimal di- and
monosaccharides are pooled and freeze dried (Freeze dry system/Freezezone
4.5/LABCONCO) for bacterial fermentation experiments. In addition, freeze dried GOS is
pooled from multiple runs in order to generate enough purified GOS for growth
experiments (5 runs with Purimune™ GOS and 3 runs with Vivinal® GOS).
RESULTS & DISCUSSION:
GOS Purification
[0 168] GOS is produced by the transgalactosylation of lactose and has been used
as a prebiotic supplement in pediatric nutrition. Due to issues with GOS synthesis,
commercial GOS products are a mixture of many different carbohydrates which may
include mono- and disaccharides. In order to test the fermentation parameters of GOS and
not the mono- and disaccharides which would not normally reach the colon, a purified
GOS fraction, essentially free of mono- and disaccharides is obtained. Glucose
(monosaccharide), lactose (disaccharide) and raffinose (trisaccharide) are used as
standards. Consistent with information from the suppliers, Purimune™ GOS has less
mono- and disaccharides than Vivinal® GOS. For example, the Purimune™ GOS peaks
before the raffinose peak suggesting that Purimune™ GOS consists primarily of
trisaccharides or larger. For Vivinal® GOS, the peak is observed at a similar fraction
number as lactose. Since lactose begins to appear in fraction 55, fractions 30 through 55
are used as the purified GOS from both suppliers.
HMO Precursor Fermentation
[0 169] All bifidobacteria tested grow very little in the basal media (sMRS +
cysteine) (FIG. 5A), whereas they all grow well in glucose (FIG. 5B). In general, the
bifidobacteria, which is not able to ferment galactose (FIG. 5C), also has reduced growth
on lactose (FIG. 5D). None of the bifidobacteria are able to ferment L-fucose (FIG. 5E) or
sialic acid (FIG. 5F), two key constituents of HMOs and mucin. Only B. breve ATCC
15700 is able to ferment NAG (FIG. 5G), a key component of HMOs and mucin. Lastly,
the majority of bifidobacteria is able to ferment fructose (FIG. 5H).
Prebiotic Fermentation
[0170] Removal of mono- and disaccharides from Purimune™ GOS results in a
decrease in growth for all bifidobacteria (FIG. 6A). In fact, B. lactis DSM 10140, B.
animalis ATCC 25527, B. bifidum ATCC 29521, B. lactis Bf-6 and B. longum are not able
to ferment the purified Purimune™ GOS (FIG. 6D). A similar pattern is seen with purified
Vivinal® GOS (FIG. 6F), except more growth is seen with Vivinal® GOS (FIG. 6E) than
Purimune™ GOS (FIG. 6C). In order to mimic the colonic situation, the free mono- and
disaccharides present in these products need to be removed. Also, it is clear that
Purimune™ GOS has a higher relative concentration of oligosaccharides. Both B. infantis
strains are among the best growers on purified GOS as determined by AOD, confirming
that GOS is a reasonable prebiotic to add to infant formula if the goal is to increase B.
infantis. All bifidobacteria tested, except for B. animalis ATCC 25527, are able to ferment
scFOS (FIG. 6G), whereas no bifidobacteria are able to ferment polydextrose (PDX) (FIG.
6H).
HMO Fermentation
[0171] Only B. infantis ATCC 15697 and B. infantis M-63 are able to ferment 6'-
SL, 3'-SL, 2'-FL and 3'-FL (FIG. 7). In all cases, B. infantis M-63 grows better than B.
infantis ATCC 1 697. On the more complex LNnT, B. breve ATCC 15700 and the two B.
infantis strains grow well but not B. breve M-16V. In addition, the ability of the two B.
infantis strains to ferment HMOs correlates with the abundance of B. infantis found in
breast fed infants. Curiously, both B. infantis strains are not able to ferment fucose or sialic
acid.
CONCLUSIONS:
[0 172] There are significant differences amongst the tested bifidobacteria strains
regarding their abilities to ferment HMO precursors, prebiotics and HMOs. Of the 12
bifidobacteria strains tested, none are able to ferment sialic acid. Regarding prebiotics,
most of the bifidobacteria are able to ferment GOS and scFOS, but they are not able to
ferment PDX. Amongst the bifidobacteria strains tested, only B. infantis ATCC 15697 and
B. infantis M-63 are able to ferment 6'-SL, 3'-SL, 2'-FL and 3'-FL. B. breve ATCC
15700, B. infantis ATCC 15697 andS. infantis M-63 are able to ferment LNnT.
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A synthetic pediatric formula for promoting intestinal barrier integrity, the
synthetic formula comprising a probiotic, a first oligosaccharide in a concentration of from
about 1mg/mL to about 4 mg/mL and selected from the group consisting of a
galactooligosaccharide, a fructooligosaccharide, and combinations thereof; and a second
oligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL and
selected from the group consisting of 2'-fucosyllactose, 3'-fucosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose,
6'-sialyllactose, lacto-N-neotetraose, and combinations thereof.
2. The synthetic pediatric formula of claim 1, wherein the probiotic is of
human infant origin.
3. The synthetic pediatric formula of claim 2, wherein the probiotic is a
Bifidobacterium.
4. The synthetic pediatric formula of claim 3, wherein the probiotic is
Bifidobacterium infantis.
5. The synthetic pediatric formula of claim 4, wherein the probiotic is selected
from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63, Bifidobacterium infantis
ATCC 1 697, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, Bifidobacterium infantis CHCC2228,
Bifidobacterium infantis BB-02, Bifidobacterium infantis DSM20088, Bifidobacterium
infantis R-0033, and combinations thereof.
6. The synthetic pediatric formula of claim 1, comprising probiotics in a
concentration of from about 103 CFU/g to about 1012 CFU/g.
7. A method of promoting the growth of beneficial microbiota in the
gastrointestinal tract of an infant or toddler, the method comprising administering to the
infant or toddler a synthetic pediatric formula comprising a probiotic, a first
oligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 1 mg/mL to about 4 mg/mL and selected
from the group consisting of galactooligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharide, and
combinations thereof; and a second oligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 0.05
mg/mL to about 0.5 mg/mL and selected from the group consisting of 2'-fucosyllactose,
3'-fucosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, lacto-N-neotetraose, and combinations
thereof.
8 The method of claim 7, wherein the gastrointestinal diseases and/or
disorders are selected from the group consisting of irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, food
intolerance, and food allergies.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the gastrointestinal disease is necrotizing
enterocolitis.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the probiotic is of human infant origin.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the probiotic is a Bifidobacterium.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the probiotic is Bifidobacterium infantis.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the probiotic is selected from the group
consisting of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63, Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC 15697,
Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, Bifidobacterium infantis CHCC2228, Bifidobacterium
infantis BB-02, Bifidobacterium infantis DSM20088, Bifidobacterium infantis R-0033, and
combinations thereof.
14. A method of stimulating enteric nerve cells in the gastrointestinal tract of an
infant or toddler, the method comprising administering to the infant or toddler a synthetic
pediatric formula comprising a probiotic, a first oligosaccharide in a concentration of from
about 1mg/mL to about 4 mg/mL and selected from the group consisting of
galactooligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharide, and combinations thereof; and a second
oligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 0.05 mg/mL to about 0.05 mg/mL and
selected from the group consisting of 2'-fucosyllactose, 3'-fucosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose,
6'-sialyllactose, lacto-N-neotetraose, and combinations thereof.
15. The synthetic pediatric formula of claim 14, wherein the probiotic is of
human infant origin.