PREBIOTIC OLIGOSACCHARIDES

• US 20100254949A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSM Food Specialties USA Incorporated (DSM-Firmenich AG), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Mills, David, Lebrilla, Carlito, Freeman, Samara, German, J. Bruce, King, William Robert, Barboza, Mariana
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/93.400
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/30 containing carbohydrate syrups; containing sugars; containing sugar alcohols, e.g. xylitol; containing starch hydrolysates, e.g. dextrin products from apiculture A23L21/20; artificial sweetening agents A23L27/30
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/125 containing carbohydrate syrups; containing sugars; containing sugar alcohols; containing starch hydrolysates indigestible substances A23L33/21
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/135 Bacteria or derivatives thereof, e.g. probiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/21 Addition of substantially indigestible substances, e.g. dietary fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/40 Complete food formulations for specific consumer groups or specific purposes, e.g. infant formula
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/00 Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/00 Cereal-derived products; Malt products; Preparation or treatment thereof preparation of malt for brewing C12C
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/32 having an effect on the health of the digestive tract
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/3202 Prebiotics, ingredients fermented in the gastrointestinal tract by beneficial microflora
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/3204 Probiotics, living bacteria to be ingested for action in the digestive tract
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/28 Oligosaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2035/115 Probiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/702 Oligosaccharides, i.e. having three to five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/745 Bifidobacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/47 acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2), e.g. cellulases, lactases
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0095 Drinks; Beverages; Syrups; Compositions for reconstitution thereof, e.g. powders or tablets to be dispersed in a glass of water; Veterinary drenches A61K9/0007 takes precedence; eatable gels or foams A61K9/0056; oral mucosa adhesive forms A61K9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/04 for ulcers, gastritis or reflux esophagitis, e.g. antacids, inhibitors of acid secretion, mucosal protectants
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/06 Anti-spasmodics, e.g. drugs for colics, esophagic dyskinesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/10 : Laxatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/12 : Antidiarrhoeals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/14 : Prodigestives, e.g. acids, enzymes, appetite stimulants, antidyspeptics, tonics, antiflatulents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 : Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 302/01108 : Lactase (3.2.1.108)

Abstract

The present invention provides galacto-oligosaccharide compositions that preferentially stimulate growth of specific Bifidobacterium species and subspecies.

Claims

1. A composition comprising galacto-oligosaccharides, wherein at least 45% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are tetra or penta galacto-oligosaccharides or wherein at least 25% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are tetra galacto-oligosaccharides.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has less than 20% by weight of dimeric galacto-oligosaccharides, based on weight of the total oligosaccharides.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has less than 10% by weight of dimeric galacto-oligosaccharides, based on weight of the total oligosaccharides.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has less than 5% by weight of monomeric sugars based on total sugar and oligosaccharide solids.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has less than 5% by weight of lactose, based on weight of the total oligosaccharides.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a lactase enzyme.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a food product or dietary supplement product.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of an infant formula, a follow-on formula, and a toddler beverage.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein less than 10% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight have a degree of polymerization of 6 or greater.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein less than 10% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are trimeric galacto-oligosaccharides.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein more than 30% of the galacto-oligosaccharides by weight are trimeric galacto-oligosaccharides.

12. The composition of claim 1, prepared by a method comprising the step of treating a mixed galacto-oligosaccharide solution (GOS) to reduce monomeric, dimeric and/or trimeric sugars.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the monomeric, dimeric and/or trimeric sugars are removed by size exclusion or enzymatically, or by selective microbial consumption of particular sugars or oligosaccharides.

14. The composition of claim 1, further comprising Bifidobacterium breve or Bifidobacterium longum bv. infantis.

15. A method for stimulating beneficial Bifidobacterium microflora in an animal, the method comprising administering a sufficient amount of the composition of claim 1 to the animal to stimulate colonization of the gut of the animal by at least one beneficial Bifidobacterium strain.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the strain is a strain of Bifidobacterium breve or Bifidobacterium longum bv. infantis.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the animal is a human.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the animal is a non-human mammal.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the human is less than 5 years old.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the human is over 50 years old.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the human has a condition selected from the group consisting of inflammatory bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, colitis, Crohn'"'"'s disease, colon cancer, functional bowel disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and excess sulfate reducing bacteria.