Gut Microbiota Modulation for Infant Bone Density Enhancement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for new approaches to enhance bone development and/or bone strength, particularly in formula-fed infants, as breastfed infants exhibit higher bone mineral density compared to formula-fed infants due to differences in nutritional composition and functional benefits conveyed by human milk.
Innovation Solution
A microbiota-modulating agent is used to modulate the abundance of specific bacterial taxa in the gut, such as Intestinimonas butyriciproducens and Turicibacter sanguinis to increase their presence and decrease Paraprevotella clara and Acidaminococcaceae, which is administered in the form of probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics, along with oligosaccharides like sialylated, fucosylated, and N-acetylated oligosaccharides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If formula is used to feed infants, then it provides nutritional composition, but bone mineral density is lower compared to breastfed infants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the microbiota composition parameters by introducing specific probiotic strains (Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, Turicibacter sanguinis) and prebiotic oligosaccharides to modify the gut microbiome, thereby improving bone mineral density and bone strength parameters in formula-fed infants to approach breastfed infant levels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gut microbiota as an intermediary mechanism between formula nutrition and bone health outcomes. By modulating the microbiota composition through probiotics and prebiotics, the patent creates a mediating pathway that enhances bone development despite the differences in nutritional composition between formula and breast milk
2Strength
If microbiota-modulating agent is administered, then bone development is enhanced, but gut microbiota composition must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specific parameter thresholds for microbiota modulation, defining target abundance ranges for beneficial bacteria (Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, Turicibacter sanguinis) and limitation thresholds for harmful bacteria (Paraprevotella clara, Acidaminococcaceae), thereby achieving bone strength enhancement through controlled microbiota parameter changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different treatment strategies to different bacterial taxa within the gut microbiota, selectively promoting beneficial species while limiting harmful species, rather than applying a uniform approach to all microbiota. This localized quality control enables precise modulation of gut flora to achieve bone health benefits
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of a microbiota-modulating agent for enhancing bone development and/or bone strength. wherein the microbiota-modulating agent modulates the abundance of one or more bacterial taxa selected from Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, Turicibacter sanguinis, Paraprevotella clara, and Acidaminococcaceae in the gut of the subject.