Nutritional Composition for Preterm Infant Liver Maturation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Critically ill patients, especially preterm infants and those with low birth weight, face feeding intolerance due to immature gastrointestinal tracts, leading to slow gastric emptying and suboptimal nutrient absorption, which can result in hepatic dysfunction and the need for parenteral nutrition with associated risks.

Innovation Solution

A synthetic nutritional composition with a high content of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in the form of triglycerides, specifically designed to promote rapid gastric emptying and stimulate gut digestive capacity and hormones, thereby improving nutrient absorption and reducing the risk of liver disease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional enteral feeds are provided to preterm infants, then nutritional support is provided, but gastric emptying is delayed and feeding intolerance develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegastric emptying speedVSAvoidfeeding tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fatty acid composition parameters of the nutritional formula, specifically setting medium-chain fatty acids to 0-15% and long-chain fatty acids to 85-100% of total fatty acids. This parameter modification enables faster gastric emptying while maintaining nutritional support, directly resolving the contradiction between gastric emptying speed and feeding tolerance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If parenteral nutrition is used to provide adequate nutrition, then nutritional requirements are met, but the risk of line infections, sepsis, and hepatic disease increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutritional support efficacyVSAvoidinfection and liver disease risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a specialized enteral feeding formula that can be safely administered through temporary feeding tubes, replacing the need for long-term parenteral nutrition. This disposable-like approach to enteral feeding eliminates the persistent risks of central line infections and chronic hepatic disease associated with prolonged parenteral nutrition, while still providing adequate nutritional support during the critical period of gastrointestinal maturation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Use of energy by moving object

If high medium-chain fatty acid content is used in nutritional composition, then energy absorption is improved, but gastric emptying is slowed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutrient absorption efficiencyVSAvoidgastric emptying speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by minimizing medium-chain fatty acids and maximizing long-chain fatty acids in the nutritional formula. This inversion of the typical MCT/LCT ratio resolves the contradiction by achieving both improved energy absorption and maintained gastric emptying speed, as the high long-chain fatty acid content (85-100%) provides adequate energy while the low medium-chain fatty acid content (0-15%) prevents gastric retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3200618B2Nutritional composition for use in promoting liver maturation

Publication Date: 2024.06.12 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

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AI summary

The present invention relates to synthetic nutritional compositions for use to promote the maturation and/or repair of the liver and/or gut, and/or to treat and/or prevent and/or reduce the risk of liver and/or gut and/or metabolic disease. The compositions according to the invention have low MCT medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) content and low palmitic acid content.