Use of Isomaltooligosaccharides to Decrease Abdominal Fat

Abstract

Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides ATCC 13146 fermentation with a sucrose:maltose ratio of 2:1 have been discovered to be effective prebiotics in mixed cultures of microbial populations, including cultures from chicken ceca. Surprisingly in mixed microbial cultures this IMO composition proved as effective as FOS. Thus, these IMOs can be used as effective prebiotics for both birds and mammals. Moreover, the IMOs were discovered to be effective non-competitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase. These IMOs also will be useful, as an α-glucosidase inhibitor, in a therapeutic application for several diseases, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetes, gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, caries, cancer, viral disease such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, and AIDS. A diet with 5-20% IMOs was also shown to reduce the abdominal fat tissue in mammals.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method for decreasing the amount of abdominal fat in a mammal, said method comprising orally administering to the mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising one or more maltsoyl-isomaltooligosaccharides with only α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages and with having a degree of polymerization less than or equal to 7, such that the amount of abdominal fat decreases substantially.  
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 13 , additionally comprising the step of producing the composition by fermentation of sucrose in the presence of maltose, in a sucrose:maltose ratio of about 2:1, by  Leuconostoc mesenteroides  ATCC 13146.  
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 13 , wherein the amount of the composition administered is from about 5 percent to about 20 percent (wt/wt) of food intake.