Human Milk Oligosaccharides for Preterm Enteral Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low birthweight and preterm infants often face challenges with digestive health and gut maturation due to inadequate human milk oligosaccharides in breast milk or infant formulas, leading to delayed full enteral feeding.
Innovation Solution
An aqueous composition comprising human milk oligosaccharides, specifically 2′-FL and LNnT in a ratio of 10:1, is administered as a supplement or fortifier to preterm infants to reduce the time to reach full enteral feeding, with a pH range of 4 to 7, and concentrations ranging from 0.21-0.63 g/day, starting as soon as possible after birth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If preterm infants receive standard infant formula or insufficient human breast milk, then nutritional requirements are met, but digestive health and gut maturation are compromised leading to delayed full enteral feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by administering human milk oligosaccharides to preterm infants before they reach full enteral feeding capability. The oligosaccharides are given in advance during the transitional period to prepare the gut for full feeding, thereby reducing the time to achieve full enteral feeding while ensuring digestive health.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses human milk oligosaccharides as an intermediary substance that mediates between the infant's current digestive capacity and the goal of full enteral feeding. The oligosaccharides act as a bridge, supporting gut maturation and enabling the transition to full feeding without compromising digestive health.
2Reliability
If human milk oligosaccharides are added as a supplement, then gut maturation and oral tolerance are improved, but the complexity of the feeding regimen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges human milk oligosaccharides with existing infant formula or breast milk to create a combined feeding composition. This integration allows the oligosaccharides to be administered conveniently alongside regular feeding without requiring separate complex administration protocols, thus improving oral tolerance while minimizing regimen complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the feeding regimen universal by demonstrating that the oligosaccharide supplement can be used with both breast milk and infant formula. This multi-functionality allows the same supplement approach to benefit all preterm infants regardless of their primary milk source, simplifying the overall feeding strategy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a stable aqueous composition comprising at least one human milk oligosaccharide for use in reducing time to reach full enteral feeding in preterm infants; wherein the composition is administered as soon as possible after birth between day 1 and 7 of life. Aqueous composition for use according to present invention is a milk fortifier or a supplement.