Green Tea Extract and PHGG Supplement for Traveler's Diarrhea
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for traveler's diarrhea, such as antibiotics, are often ineffective and associated with adverse side effects, highlighting a need for improved therapeutic and preventative compositions and methods.
Innovation Solution
The development of dietary supplements containing green tea extract with at least 90% catechins, partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG), L-theanine, and a non-sugar sweetener, which are administered to prevent or treat traveler's diarrhea.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antibiotics are used to treat traveler's diarrhea, then the treatment can be effective against bacterial infections, but adverse side effects occur and effectiveness is limited in all subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the therapeutic approach from conventional antibiotics to a natural product formulation with specific parameters: green tea extract standardized to contain at least 90% catechins, partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) at 4g, L-theanine at 100mg, and non-sugar sweetener at 5g. This parameter-based standardization ensures consistent anti-microbial and digestive health benefits without antibiotic-related side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple natural ingredients into a composite dietary supplement formulation. The synergistic combination includes green tea extract (for anti-microbial activity), PHGG (for digestive health and gut barrier function), L-theanine (for immune support), and non-sugar sweetener (for palatability without polyol content). This composite approach provides broad-spectrum protection against traveler's diarrhea without the limitations of single-agent antibiotics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional therapeutic compositions are used, then treatment can be provided, but they are not effective for treating TD in all subjects and have adverse side effects
Solution Approach 1:
The dietary supplement formulation is designed with multi-functional ingredients that address various mechanisms of traveler's diarrhea prevention and treatment. Green tea extract provides anti-microbial activity against multiple pathogens, PHGG supports digestive health and gut barrier function, and L-theanine contributes to immune support. This multi-functional composition makes the treatment universally applicable and effective across different subjects and pathogen types.
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 dietary supplements effectively prevent and treat traveler's diarrhea by suppressing microbial growth in the intestines and promoting digestive health, offering a safer alternative to antibiotics.
Implementation Method 1
green tea extract with at least 90% catechins... suppressing microbial growth in the intestines
Implementation Method 2
partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG)... promoting digestive health
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments comprise dietary supplements for treating or preventing traveler's diarrhea comprising: (a) about 1000 mg green tea extract comprising at least 90% (w/w) catechins; (b) about 4 g partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG); (c) about 100 mg L-theanine; and (d) about 5 g non-sugar sweetener, wherein the sweetener does not contain a polyol. Some embodiments comprise dietary supplement for treating or preventing traveler's diarrhea comprising: (a)from about 250 mg to about 1,500 mg green tea extract comprising at least 90% (w/w) catechins; (b) from about 1 g to about 8 g partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG); and (c) from about 15 mg to about 250 mg L-theanine. Some embodiments comprise methods for treating or preventing traveler's diarrhea, the method comprising: administering to a subject in need therefore a dietary supplement comprising (a) from about 250 mg to about 1,500 mg green tea extract comprising at least 90% (w/w) catechins; (b) from about 1 g to about 8 g partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG); and (c) from about 15 mg to about 250 mg L-theanine.