Probiotic compositions

Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Whole live micro-organism – cell – or virus containing – Intentional mixture of two or more micro-organisms – cells,...

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Details

424 934, 424 9345, A01N 6300

Patent

active

060600500

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to nutritional compositions, particularly compositions for the delivery and maintenance of probiotic microorganisms to and in the gastrointestinal tract, especially the large bowel. As used in this specification, probiotics or probiotic microorganisms is a live microbial feed supplement which beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal microbial balance. This is the definition provided by R. Fuller (AFRC Institute of Food Research, Reading Laboratory, UK) in--Journal of Applied Bacteriology, 1989. 66, pp.365-378. "Probiotics in Man and Animals--A Review"


BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is the contention of many scientists that the health and wellbeing of people can be positively or negatively influenced by the microorganisms which inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, and in particular, the large bowel. These microorganisms through the production of toxins, metabolic by-products, short chain fatty acids, and the like affect the physiological condition of the host. The constitution and quantity of the gut microflora can be influenced by conditions or stress induced by disease, life style, travel, and other factors. If microorganisms which positively affect the health and wellbeing of the individual can be encouraged to populate the large bowel, this should improve the physiological wellbeing of the host.
The introduction of beneficial micro-organisms, or probiotics, is normally accomplished by the ingestion of the organisms in drinks, yoghurts, capsules, and other forms in such a way that the organism arrives in a viable condition in the large bowel.
It has been demonstrated by Englyst H. N. et al (1987) "Polysaccharides breakdown by mixed populations of human faecal bacterial", EMS Microbiology Ecol 95: 163-71, that the bacterial fermentation of resistant starch in the large bowel produces elevated levels of short chain fatty acids, particularly beneficial types such as propionate and butyrate.
The present inventor has realised that it would be desirable to not only deliver probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel but also to provide a medium that would function to promote the growth of the microorganisms when they reach the large bowel.
Surprisingly, it has been found that modified or unmodified resistant starches may function both as a means to transport the probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel and as a growth medium for the microorganism delivered to the target region of the large bowel. As used in this specification, "resistant starch" includes those forms defined as RS1, RS2, RS3 and RS4.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, this invention consists in a probiotic composition comprising one or more probiotic microorganisms and a carrier which will function to transport the one or more probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract, the carrier comprising a modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
In another aspect the present invention further consists in a two part composition comprising a first part which includes one or more probiotic microorganisms and a second part which includes a carrier, the carrier comprising a modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
In one broad aspect, the resistant starch functions as a carrier to transport the probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel. The introduction of those microorganisms into the large bowel is beneficial as previously explained. In addition, the resistant starch when present in the large bowel will function as a nutritional source for microorganisms already present in the large bowel.
In a narrower aspect, some probiotic microorganisms may be selected such that they are able to utilise the resistant starch as

REFERENCES:
Cailxto et al., Grasas Aceites, 42(3): 239-242, 1991.
O'Keefe, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, Supplement, 220:52-59, 1996.
Tomlin et al. British Journal of Nutrition, 64:589-595, 1990.

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