Nutritional composition

Abstract

A nutritional composition is disclosed which comprises synergistic functional carbohydrates for preventing or treating infection by pathogenic bacteria and/or promoting gut flora balance and health. The carbohydrates have a synergistic activity on promoting bifidobacteria in the intestine. Also disclosed are a method of production of the composition; and a method of treatment of infection by pathogenic bacteria and/or promoting gut flora balance and health which comprises administering an effective amount of the composition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A nutritional composition for the prevention or treatment of infection by pathogenic bacteria and/or for the promotion of gut flora balance and health which comprises at least two synergistic functional carbohydrates wherein a first carbohydrate is selected from the group which consists of inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS), and a second carbohydrate is selected from the group which consists of xylooligosaccharide (XOS), acacia gum and resistant starch, in amounts effective to stimulate intestinal bifidobacteria, and thus promote associated health benefits.  
     
     
         2 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 1  wherein the first carbohydrate comprises inulin.  
     
     
         3 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the first carbohydrate comprises fructooligosaccharide as said first carbohydrate and wherein the second carbohydrate is selected from the group which consists of xylooligosaccharide and acacia gum.  
     
     
         4 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the first carbohydrate comprises fructooligosaccharide and the second carbohydrate comprises acacia gum.  
     
     
         5 . The nutritional composition according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the first and the second carbohydrates by weight is 1-20:0.1-20.  
     
     
         6 . An edible composition which is formulated for human or companion animal consumption and/or administration, comprising a food, food-forming, beverage, or beverage-forming component and the nutritional composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . The edible composition of  claim 6  in the form of a powder or liquid concentrate.  
     
     
         8 . The edible composition of  claim 6  wherein the first carbohydrate is present in an amount of about 1 g to about 20 g, and the second carbohydrate is present in an amount of about 0.1 g to about 20 g.  
     
     
         9 . The edible composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and the second carbohydrates are present in a weight ratio of 1-20:0.1-20.  
     
     
         10 . The edible composition of  claim 6  further comprising a fat source that provides about 5% to about 55% of the energy of the nutritional formula.  
     
     
         11 . The edible composition of  claim 9 , wherein the fat source is a vegetable fat or animal fat.  
     
     
         12 . The edible composition of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more of a protein source, a fat source, an additional carbohydrate source, an additional dietary fiber, a vitamin, a mineral or a food grade emulsifier.  
     
     
         13 . The edible composition of  claim 6  which contains milk.  
     
     
         14 . A method of producing the nutritional composition of  claim 1 , which comprises blending the first and second carbohydrates in required amounts to form the composition.  
     
     
         15 . A method of treating an infection by pathogenic bacteria and/or promoting gut flora balance and health, which comprises administering an amount of the nutritional composition of  claim 1  effective to stimulate intestinal bifidobacteria and thus promote associated health benefits.  
     
     
         16 . A method of reducing side effects of consuming fiber, which comprises administering fiber in combination with the nutritional composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . A method of preventing or treating the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which comprises administering an amount of the nutritional composition of  claim 1  effective to stimulate intestinal bifidobacteria and thus prevent or treat the IBS.