GALACTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES FOR PREVENTING INJURY AND/OR PROMOTING HEALING OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

• US 20140294789A1
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: David, Steven R., Chow, Jomay
• Granted Patent: US 11,446,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/93.44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/40 Complete food formulations for specific consumer groups or specific purposes, e.g. infant formula
• 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 35/741 Probiotics probiotic yeast, e.g. saccharomyces A61K36/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/745 Bifidobacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/747 Lactobacilli, e.g. L. acidophilus or L. brevis
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system

Abstract

Disclosed are nutritional compositions including galactooligosaccharides that can be administered to individuals including preterm infants, infants, toddlers, children, and adults for preventing injury and/or improving the healing of the gastrointestinal tract. Additional suitable methods of using the nutritional compositions including the galactooligosaccharides are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing healing of the gastrointestinal tract of an individual, the method comprising:

identifying an individual having an injured gastrointestinal tract; and

administering to the individual a nutritional composition comprising a galacto-oligosaccharide.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gastrointestinal tract is injured as a result of at least one of antibiotic therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, enteric infection, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, bowel obstruction, and chronic stress.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the nutritional composition further comprises at least one probiotic.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the nutritional composition is selected from the group consisting of a human milk fortifier, an infant formula, a pediatric formula, a follow on formula, and an adult nutritional composition.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the nutritional composition comprises the galactooligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 8 kg/1000 kg of the nutritional composition to about 160 kg/1000 kg of the nutritional composition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the nutritional composition comprises the galactooligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 164 kg/18,000 pounds (8165 kg) of the nutritional composition to about 818 kg/18,000 pounds (8165 kg) of the nutritional composition.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the nutritional composition further comprises at least one human milk oligosaccharide.

8. A method of reducing the incidence of intestinal mucosa injury, the method comprising:

identifying an individual susceptible to an intestinal mucosa injury; and

administering to the individual a nutritional composition comprising a galactooligosaccharide.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the nutritional composition further comprises at least one probiotic.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the nutritional composition is selected from the group consisting of a human milk fortifier, an infant formula, a pediatric formula, a follow on formula, and an adult nutritional composition.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the nutritional composition comprises the galactooligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 8 kg/1000 kg of the nutritional composition to about 160 kg/1000 kg of the nutritional composition.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the nutritional composition comprises the galactooligosaccharide in a concentration of from about 164 kg/18,000 pounds (8165 kg) of the nutritional composition to about 818 kg/18,000 pounds (8165 kg) of the nutritional composition.

13. A method of improving the barrier function in the gastrointestinal tract of an individual;

the method comprising;

identifying an individual in need of an increased barrier function of the gastrointestinal tract; and

administering to the individual a nutritional composition comprising a galactooligosaccharide.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the nutritional composition further comprises at least one probiotic.

15. A method of reducing the incidence of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract of an individual, the method comprising:

identifying an individual susceptible to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract; and

administering to the individual a nutritional composition comprising a galactooligosaccharide.