Modified Sweet Whey Protein for Infant Cognitive Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Preterm, small for gestational age, low birth weight, very low, and extremely low birth weight infants face challenges in cognitive development due to disrupted myelination and neuronal maturation, leading to potential long-term cognitive deficits and disorders such as ADHD and autism, for which existing nutritional support is insufficient.
Innovation Solution
Administration of modified sweet whey protein from which caseino-glyco-macropeptide (CGMP) has been substantially removed, promoting healthy neuronal growth, survival, differentiation, and myelination by increasing expression levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), thereby supporting cognitive function and preventing or reducing the severity of cognitive impairments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sweet whey protein is used for infant nutrition, then protein intake is provided, but cognitive development is impaired due to CGMP disruption of myelination and neuronal maturation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes caseino-glyco-macropeptide (CGMP) from sweet whey protein through selective extraction processes, eliminating the harmful component while preserving the beneficial protein structure and amino acid profile. This extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating the myelination-disrupting factor while maintaining nutritional value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters of sweet whey protein by reducing CGMP content to less than 10% (preferably less than 5% or 1%). This parameter change transforms the protein from cognitively harmful to cognitively beneficial, resolving the contradiction between providing protein nutrition and preventing cognitive impairment.
2Reliability
If preterm infants receive standard nutritional support, then basic growth needs are met, but neuronal maturation and myelination remain disrupted leading to long-term cognitive deficits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies modified sweet whey protein during the critical perinatal and early postnatal period when myelination and neuronal maturation are actively occurring. This preliminary action during the sensitive developmental window prevents cognitive deficits before they manifest, resolving the time-related contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses modified sweet whey protein as a nutritional intermediary that facilitates optimal neuronal maturation and myelination processes. This intermediary substance bridges the gap between basic nutritional support and active promotion of cognitive development, addressing the insufficient support problem.
3Quantity of substance
If CGMP-containing sweet whey is administered to promote protein intake, then nutritional requirements are satisfied, but expression of neurotrophic factors and myelination proteins is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes CGMP from sweet whey protein, eliminating the substance that suppresses neurotrophic factor expression. This allows full protein intake to be maintained while the harmful suppression of BDNF, MBP, and other neurotrophic proteins is eliminated, resolving the contradiction between quantity and quality of protein nutrition.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to modified sweet whey protein (MSWP) for promoting the establishment of healthy and normal cognitive function in young mammals. In particular, the invention relates to the use of MSWP for promoting development of the brain structures responsible for cognitive functions (e.g. cortex and its associated neural pathways) and/or to reverse retardation and/or to prevent retardation of the establishment of cognitive functions. Humans or animals and, in particular, a foetus, pre- term or term born infant, toddler or child or a young adult may benefit from the invention.