Human Milk Oligosaccharides Reduce Detrimental Proteolytic Metabolites

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a means to decrease the concentration of detrimental proteolytic metabolites, such as branched short chain fatty acids, in the digestive tract of infants and young children, as these metabolites can impair health and are not effectively addressed by existing nutritional compositions.

Innovation Solution

A nutritional composition comprising at least two human milk oligosaccharides, specifically fucosylated, N-acetylated, and sialylated oligosaccharides, is used to selectively stimulate saccharolytic bacteria, reducing the production of branched short chain fatty acids and promoting beneficial metabolites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If proteins are fermented by proteolytic bacteria in the large intestine, then energy and nutrients are obtained, but branched short chain fatty acids, ammonia, and other harmful metabolites are produced that impair barrier function and promote pro-inflammatory signaling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy from protein fermentationVSAvoidbranched short chain fatty acids and ammonia

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful proteolytic fermentation pathway into a beneficial saccharolytic fermentation pathway by providing prebiotic carbohydrates as alternative substrates. This transforms the production of harmful branched SCFAs and ammonia into production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) from carbohydrate fermentation, while still providing energy and nutrients to the host and energy to colonocytes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the substrate availability parameter in the colon by introducing prebiotic carbohydrates (human milk oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides). This parameter change shifts the bacterial metabolism from proteolytic to saccharolytic pathways, altering the metabolite profile from harmful to beneficial while maintaining energy production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the concentration of detrimental proteolytic metabolites is high, then pro-inflammatory signaling is promoted and barrier function is impaired, but existing nutritional compositions do not effectively address this issue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepro-inflammatory signaling and barrier functionVSAvoidnutritional composition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses prebiotic carbohydrates as intermediary substances that mediate between the dietary intake and the bacterial metabolism. These prebiotics selectively stimulate saccharolytic bacteria to produce beneficial metabolites, indirectly protecting against pro-inflammatory signaling and barrier dysfunction without directly interfering with the harmful proteolytic pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite nutritional compositions containing multiple types of prebiotic carbohydrates (human milk oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides) combined with proteins and fats. This composite approach provides a synergistic effect where different prebiotics work together to maximize saccharolytic fermentation and minimize proteolytic metabolism, effectively addressing pro-inflammatory signaling through a multi-component strategy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 use of human milk oligosaccharides in the composition effectively decreases the concentration of detrimental proteolytic metabolites, leading to positive health benefits and reducing the risk of associated disorders, with the complexity of the oligosaccharide mix further enhancing this effect.

Implementation Method 1

Non-digestible carbohydrates that reach the large intestine are used by the indigenous saccharolytic bacteria, which results in production of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS11260067B2Methods and compositions for decreasing concentrations of detrimental proteolytic metabolites, treating health disorders, and/or promoting health benefits in infants or young children

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a nutritional composition comprising at least two human milk oligosaccharides, for use to decrease the concentration of detrimental proteolytic metabolites (e.g. branched short chain fatty acids) in the digestive tract in an infant or a young child.