Oligosaccharide Mixture for Infant Formula Prebiotic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current infant formulas supplemented with prebiotics like fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides only roughly approximate the oligosaccharide mixture found in human milk, lacking the structural complexity and effectiveness of human breast milk oligosaccharides in promoting beneficial gut bacteria.
Innovation Solution
An oligosaccharide mixture comprising 5-20 wt% N-acetylated oligosaccharides, 60-90 wt% neutral oligosaccharides, and 5-30 wt% sialylated oligosaccharides, structurally closer to human breast milk, which is effective as a prebiotic to promote beneficial bacteria growth in the human gut, derived from animal milk such as cow, goat, or buffalo milk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commercially available prebiotics (FOS and GOS) are added to infant formula, then beneficial bacteria growth is stimulated, but the oligosaccharide composition only roughly approximates human milk and lacks structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by creating a complex oligosaccharide mixture containing multiple types (neutral, sialylated, fucosylated, N-acetylated) and structures (monomers, dimers, trimers, tetramers) that collectively replicate the compositional complexity of human breast milk, thereby achieving superior prebiotic effectiveness compared to single-type commercial prebiotics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the compositional parameters of the oligosaccharide mixture, including specific weight percentages of different oligosaccharide types, degree of polymerization distribution, and structural characteristics, to match the complex profile of human milk oligosaccharides and optimize bacterial growth stimulation
2Ease of manufacture
If oligosaccharides are extracted from animal milk, then production is feasible, but the proportion of neutral to acidic oligosaccharides differs from human milk composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the proportion of neutral and acidic oligosaccharides in the final mixture to match human milk composition (70-90% neutral and 10-30% acidic), transforming the natural animal milk ratio into the desired human milk-like profile through controlled blending and processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies extraction by isolating specific oligosaccharide fractions from animal milk through chromatographic and filtration techniques, then selectively combining these extracted components to achieve the target human milk composition profile
3Reliability
If human milk oligosaccharide composition is replicated, then prebiotic effectiveness is improved, but production from animal milk requires complex processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex oligosaccharide mixture into separable fractions (neutral, sialylated, fucosylated, N-acetylated) that can be independently extracted and characterized from animal milk, then recombined to achieve the target composition, thereby managing production complexity through systematic fractionation
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 oligosaccharide mixture selectively stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, improving gut health by promoting the increase of Bifidobacterium and reducing harmful bacteria like Clostridium perfringens, demonstrating superior effectiveness compared to commercially available prebiotics.
Implementation Method 1
They are non-digestible in the sense that they are not broken down and absorbed in the stomach or small intestine and thus pass intact to the colon where they are selectively fermented by the beneficial bacteria
Data Source
Figure 1A~1F
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AI summary
An oligosaccharide mixture comprising 5-70 wt % of at least one N-acetylated oligosaccharide selected from the group comprising GalN Acα1,3Gal&bgr;1,4Glc and Gal&bgr;1,6GalN Acα1,3Gal&bgr;1,4Glc, 20-90 wt % of at least one neutral oligosaccharide selected from the group comprising Gal&bgr;1,6Gal, Gal&bgr;1,6Gl&bgr;1,4Glc Gal&bgr;1,6Gal&bgr;1,6Glc, Gal&bgr;1,Gal&bgr;1,3Glc, Gal&bgr;1,3Gal&bgr;1,4Glc, Gal&bgr;1,6Gal&bgr;1,6Gal&bgr;1,4Glc, Gal&bgr;1,6Gal&bgr;1,3Gal&bgr;1,4Glc, Gal&bgr;1,3Gal&bgr;1,6Gal&bgr;1,4Glc and Gal&bgr;1,3Gal&bgr;1,3Gal&bgr;1,4Glc and 5-50 wt % of at least one sialylated oligosaccharide selected from the group comprising NeuAcα2,3Gal&bgr;1,4Glc and NeuAcα2,6Gal&bgr;1,4Glc; food products comprising said oligosaccharide mixture.