Method for preventing or treating respiratory infections and acute otitis media in infants using Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12

• US 7,862,808 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Salminen, Seppo, Isolauri, Erika
• Primary Examiner(s): Marx; Irene
• Application Number:
  US11/170,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/93.3
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/135 Bacteria or derivatives thereof, e.g. probiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/40 Complete food formulations for specific consumer groups or specific purposes, e.g. infant formula
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• 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 2200/324 having an effect on the immune system
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/28 Oligosaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5062 Inulin
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2400/175 Rhamnosus
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2400/531 Lactis
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/745 Bifidobacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/747 Lactobacilli, e.g. L. acidophilus or L. brevis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/08 Bronchodilators
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/16 Otologicals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/16 for influenza or rhinoviruses

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a novel method for preventing or treating respiratory infections and acute otitis media in infants. The method comprises the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a Bifidobacteria strain and an adherence-promoting probiotic, such as LGG, to the infant.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the incidence of respiratory infections in an infant between the ages of birth and about one year, the method comprising the steps of:

administering to the infant Bifidobacteria lactis Bb-12 incorporated into an infant formula; and

administering Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with the Bifidobacteria lactis Bb-12, wherein the ratio of Bifidobacteria lactis Bb-12 to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is between about 10;

1 and 1;

10 and wherein the infant formula provides about 10⁵ to about 10¹¹ cfu/day to the infant.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the administration of at least one prebiotic.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the prebiotic is selected from the group consisting of galacto-oligosaccharide, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharide, lactulose, neosugars, and combinations thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is between about 5:

1 and 1;

5.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is about 1:

1.

4. A method for reducing the incidence of acute otitis media in an infant, the method comprising administering to the infant from birth until about one year of age Bifidobacteria lactis Bb-12, together with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, wherein the Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG are administered together in an infant formula in a ratio of between about 10:

1 and 1;

10 and in an amount sufficient to provide between about 10⁵ and 10¹¹ cfu/day.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the amount of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG administered is between about 10⁶ and 10⁸ cfu/day.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is between about 5:

1 and 1;

5.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is about 1:

1.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the administration of at least one prebiotic.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the prebiotic is selected from the group consisting of galacto-oligosaccharide, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharide, lactulose, neosugars, and combinations thereof.