Enterococcus Probiotic and Psyllium Composition for Digestive Health
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Probiotics are challenging to store, handle, and administer due to instability and unpalatability, making it difficult to achieve therapeutic amounts and maximize immune system benefits in animals.
Innovation Solution
A pet food composition comprising a probiotic of Enterococcus strain or subspecies combined with psyllium, which is administered to improve microbiome balance and digestive health, enhancing the stability and palatability of probiotics through microencapsulation and blending with other ingredients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If probiotics are administered to restore normal microflora balance, then digestive health is improved, but probiotics are difficult to store and handle due to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms probiotics from live microorganisms to dried bacterial spores, fundamentally changing the physical and biological state. This parameter change enables stable storage at room temperature without refrigeration, while the spores germinate into active probiotics in the animal's gastrointestinal tract, delivering the health benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dried bacterial spores that can be stored indefinitely in stable conditions and only become active when needed in the animal's digestive system. This approach replaces the need for expensive, temperature-sensitive live probiotic cultures with a stable, disposable spore form that activates on demand.
2Reliability
If probiotics are administered to improve microbiome, then beneficial bacteria increase, but probiotics are unpalatable to animals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the form of probiotics from live cultured bacteria to dried spores, which have different sensory properties. The spore form is more palatable to animals, allowing them to consume therapeutic amounts without resistance, while still delivering the same microbiome benefits upon germination in the gastrointestinal tract.
3Reliability
If probiotics are administered to treat diarrhea, then normal microflora balance is restored, but achieving therapeutic amounts is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dried spore technology that allows for high concentrations of probiotic units to be delivered in a stable, measurable form. The spores can be precisely dosed in feed or supplements, ensuring therapeutic amounts reach the animal's gastrointestinal tract without the losses associated with storing and handling live cultures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combination of Enterococcus probiotics with psyllium improves digestive health by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing harmful bacteria, effectively treating diarrhea and enhancing fecal quality, with microencapsulation ensuring probiotic viability and stability during storage and administration.
Implementation Method 1
psyllium in an amount from about 20 weight % to about 80 weight %
Implementation Method 2
the production of fatty acids that fuel the cells that line the gastrointestinal lumen, the synthesis of vitamins, and the synthesis of enzymes that aid in the breakdown and digestion of food
Data Source
AI summary
A method of improving microbiome within an animal can include administering to the animal a composition containing a probiotic and psyllium. The probiotic has at least one of any suitable strain or subspecies of Enterococcus. Compositions containing a probiotic and psyllium are also provided herein.