Prebiotic Composition for Targeted Propionate Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intervention strategies for promoting endogenous propionate production in the gastrointestinal tract are not reliable and feasible, leading to inconsistent health benefits for conditions like metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Innovation Solution
A combination of L-rhamnose and omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in the form of fatty acid salts with organic counter ions like lysine, arginine, or ornithine, is formulated for targeted release in the large intestine, enhancing propionate production and modulating the microbiota to increase the propionate-to-acetate ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional prebiotic interventions are used to promote endogenous propionate production, then propionate levels may increase, but the health benefits remain unreliable and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines L-rhamnose with omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in a synergistic formulation that targets the large intestine specifically. This combination creates a multi-component prebiotic intervention that simultaneously promotes propionate production while modulating microbiota composition, leading to more reliable and consistent health benefits compared to single-component interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation is designed for targeted release in the large intestine, where it specifically modulates the microbiota composition to favor propionate-producing bacteria. By localizing the intervention to this specific gastrointestinal region, the patent achieves more consistent propionate production and reliable health effects, avoiding the variability associated with non-targeted interventions.
2Productivity
If L-rhamnose and omega-3 fatty acids are combined for targeted release in the large intestine, then propionate production and propionate-to-acetate ratio increase, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an enteric coating as an intermediary delivery system that protects the L-rhamnose and omega-3 fatty acid combination from premature degradation in the stomach and facilitates their release in the large intestine. This coating mechanism enables the complex multi-component formulation to be delivered intact to its target site, maintaining formulation effectiveness while managing complexity through a well-established delivery technology.
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 formulation effectively increases propionate levels and propionate-to-acetate ratio over time, providing sustained health benefits for conditions such as metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases by synergistic interaction with the gut microbiota.
Implementation Method 1
The gastrointestinal microbiota modulates health and has therefore emerged as a target of interventions to improve the health of humans and animals. Microbiota-targeted strategies include the application of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics to modulate the microbiota's composition and activity. Prebiotics support the growth of beneficial microbes
Implementation Method 2
The gut microbiota exerts beneficial effects on the host by e.g. production of substances like phenolic acids, indole derivatives, diacetyl, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Favorable SCFA are in particular acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which act upon the host locally in the gut mucosa and/or systemically
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention discloses preparations comprising L-rhamnose, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the form of either free fatty acids, fatty acid salts having an organic counter ion selected from lysine, arginine, ornithine, choline and mixtures of the same, or mixtures of free fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acid salts having an organic counter ion selected from lysine, arginine, ornithine, choline and use of a preparation as a feed or food supplement or in pharmaceutical compositions.