Infant formula and methods of improving infant stool patterns

Abstract

The invention is directed to an improved infant formula containing a lipid blend that softens the firmer stools associated with typical infant formula. A specific formula in accordance with the invention comprises carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals and a lipid mixture of high oleic safflower oil, soy oil and coconut oil at specific levels and ratios. The invention also discloses novel mixtures of fatty acids that provides infant stool patterns more closely resembling the breast-fed infant.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An improved fat composition for consumption by humans characterized by a fatty acid profile comprising: 
 a) 9.5-21 weight % lauric acid;    b) up to 10 weight % palmitic acid; and    c) 34-48 weight % oleic acid.    
     
     
         2 . The fat composition of  claim 1  comprising: 
 a) 104-17.1 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.0-8.0 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) 37.0-45.2 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         3 . The fat composition of  claim 2  comprising: 
 a) 10.4-15 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.5-8.0 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) 37.6-43.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         4 . The fat composition of  claim 3  comprising: 
 a) about 14.2 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.7 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) about 40.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         5 . The fat composition of  claim 1  wherein said fat composition comprises, based on the weight of the total fat: 
 a) 35-55 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) 20-40 weight % soy oil; and  
 c) 20-45 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         6 . The fat composition of  claim 5  comprising: 
 a) 38-50 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) 26l-40 weight % soy oil;  
 c) 22-36 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         7 . The fat composition of  claim 6  comprising: 
 a) about 42 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) about 28 weight % soy oil; and  
 c) about 30 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         8 . An enteral formula comprising: 
 a) a source of amino nitrogen;    b) a source of carbohydrate; and    c) a fit composition according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         9 . The formula of  claim 8  wherein said fat comprises: 
 a) 10.4-17.1 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.0-8.0 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) 37.0-45.2 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         10 . The formula of  claim 8  wherein said fat comprises: 
 a) 10.4-15 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.5-8.0 weight % paimitic acid; and  
 c) 37.6-43.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         11 . The formula of  claim 8  wherein said fat comprises: 
 a) about 14.2 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) about 7.7 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) about 40.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         12 . The formula of  claim 3  wherein said fat comprises: 
 a) 35-55 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) 20-40 weight % soy oil; and  
 c) 20-45 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         13 . The formula of  claim 12  wherein said fat comprises: 
 a) 38-50 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) 26-40 weight % soy oil;  
 c) 22-36 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         14 . The formula of  claim 13  wherein said fat comprises: 
 a) about 42 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) about 28 weight % soy oil; and  
 c) about 30 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         15 . The formula of  claim 8  wherein said formula is in the form of a powder intended to be reconstituted, a concentrate intended to be reconstituted or a ready-to-feed liquid.  
     
     
         16 . The formula of  claim 15  which is in ready-to-feed form and which comprises: 
 a) amino nitrogen source being of a concentration of between 10 and 35 grams per liter of formula;  
 b) carbohydrates being of a concentration of between 60 and 100 grams per liter of formula; and  
 c) fat composition being of a concentration of between 20 and 45 grams per liter of formula.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method of improving the stool pattern of a formula-fed infant comprising feeding said infant a formula comprising a fat composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) 10.4-17.1 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.0-8.0 weight % paimitic acid; and  
 c) 37.0-45.2 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) 10.4-15 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.5-8.0 weight % paimitic acid; and  
 c) 37.6-43.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) about 14.2 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) about 7.7 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) about 40.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) 35-55 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) 20-40 weight % soy oil; and  
 c) 20-45 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) 38-50 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) 26-40 weight % soy oil;  
 c) 22-36 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) about 42 weight % high oleic safflower oil;  
 b) about 28 weight % soy oil; and  
 c) about 30 weight % coconut oil.  
 
     
     
         24 . A method for reducing the incidence of constipation associated with ingestion of infant formula, said method comprising feeding said infant a formula comprising a fat composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) 10.4-17.1 weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.0-8.0 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) 37.0-45.2 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a). 10.4-15weight % lauric acid;  
 b) 7.5-8.0 weight % palmitic acid; and  
 c) 37.6-43.0 weight % oleic acid.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method of claim 24 wherein said fat composition comprises: 
 a) about 14.2 weight % lauric acid;    b) about 7.7 weight % palmitic acid; and    c) about 40.0 weight % oleic acid.    
     
     
         28 . An infant formula which comprises a source of amino nitrogen, carbohydrates and fat, the improvement characterized in a fat composition comprising: 
 a) 10.4-15.4 weight % lauric acid;    b) 7.5-8.0 weight % palmitic acid; and    c) 37.6-43.0 weight % oleic acid;    and wherein said fat composition is derived from a mixture of oils selected from the group consisting of high oleic safflower, high oleic sunflower, soy, coconut, safflower, and palm kernel.    
     
     
         29 . A method of improving the stool pattern of a formula-fed infant comprising feeding said infant a nutritionally complete composition containing fatty acids, which, based upon the total weight of fatty acid content comprises: 
 a) 10.4-15.0 % lauric acid    b) up to 10% palmitic acid; and    c) 37.6-43.0 % oleic acid;    and wherein said fatty acids are derived from a mixture of high oleic safflower oil, soy oil and coconut oil.