Milk-based nutritional compositions

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to milk-based nutritional compositions for pediatric subjects, such as children's nutritional products and infant formulas, comprising a protein source, a fat source, a carbohydrate source, and a source of β-1,3-glucan.

Description

BACKGROUND TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present disclosure relates to milk-based nutritional compositions for pediatric subjects, such as infant formulas and children's nutritional products. Moreover, the disclosure is further directed to methods for enhancing immune function in a pediatric subject, comprising administering to a pediatric subject an effective amount of β-glucan in a milk-based matrix.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Infants and children are exposed to a variety of pathogens, and consequently, the incidence of infectious diseases peaks in the first 4 years of life. Newborns are generally protected by antibodies received through the placenta before birth and subsequently through breast milk after birth; yet newborns do not have mature immune systems and are often incapable of mounting an effective immune response. Indeed, on a cellular level, infants have a decreased ability to concentrate leukocytes where necessary. (Maternity and Gynecologic Care, Bobak, Jensen, Zalar, Fourth Editio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Briefly, therefore, the present disclosure is directed, in an embodiment, to a milk-based nutritional composition for pediatric subjects, comprising a lipid or fat, a protein source and a source of β-glucan. In certain embodiments, the source of β-glucan is a source of β-1,3-glucan. In other embodiments, the source of β-glucan is a source of β-1,3;1,6-glucan. Moreover in some embodiments, the nutritional composition further includes a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and / or a prebiotic composition which includes a plurality of oligosaccharides such that the overall fermentation rate profile of the prebiotic composition provides an increased population of beneficial bacteria in the human gut over an extended period of time. The prebiotic composition can include a plurality of oligosaccharides, such that at least one of the oligosaccharides has a relatively fast fermentation rate and one of the oligosaccharides has a relatively slow fermentation rate, whereby the combination of the oligosaccharides provides a beneficial overall fermentation rate. In certain embodiments, the prebiotic comprises a combination of galacto-oligosaccharide and polydextrose.

[0015]In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a nutritional composition having improved digestibility, the composition comprising a milk-based matrix, a lipid or fat, a protein source, a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a prebiotic composition which comprises at least 20% of an oligosaccharide mixture comprising polydextrose and galacto-oligosaccharide, and a source of β-1,3-glucan.

[0016]In still another embodiment, the present disclosure teaches a method for enhancing immune system function of a pediatric subject by administering β-glucan in a milk-based matrix to the pediatric subject.

Problems solved by technology

Newborns are generally protected by antibodies received through the placenta before birth and subsequently through breast milk after birth; yet newborns do not have mature immune systems and are often incapable of mounting an effective immune response.

470) Consequently, newborns are not able to limit invading pathogens due to a generalized hypofunction of their inflammatory and immune mechanisms.

Images