Method for Stimulating the Intestinal Flora

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for feeding and to compositions to be administered to infants delivered via caesarian section and in particular to the use of a) at least two different microorganisms; or b) at least one microorganism and at least one indigestible oligosaccharide; or c) at least two different Bifidobacteria species, subspecies or strains for the manufacture of a composition for enteral administration to an infant delivered via caesarean section. Thereby it is possible to stimulate the healthy development of the intestinal flora of said infants.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method for feeding infants which comprises enterally administering to an infant a composition comprising:
 a) at least two different microorganisms; or   b) at least one microorganism and at least one indigestible oligosaccharide; or   c) at least two different Bifidobacteria species, subspecies or strains for the manufacture of a composition for enteral administration to an infant delivered via caesarean section.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition contains at least one species of Bifidobacteria. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises at least one  Bifidobacterium  selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium gallicum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium angulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum  and  Bifidobacterium longum.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises at least two  Bifidobacterium  species selected from the group as mentioned in  claim 19 . 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises at least one microorganism and at least one indigestible oligosaccharide. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises an indigestible oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of galactooligosaccharides, indigestible dextrins, xylooligosaccharides, arabinooligosaccharides, glucooligosaccharides, mannooligo-saccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharide and fructopolysaccharides. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises between 5 and 25 energy % protein, between 25 and 60 energy % fat and between 30 and 70 energy % carbohydrate. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition is administered to an infant receiving human breast milk. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition is administered to the infant within one week after birth. 
   
   
       26 . Nutritional composition comprising between 5 and 25 energy % protein; between 25 and 60 energy % fat; between 30 and 70 energy % carbohydrate; at least two different species of Bifidobacteria and at least one species of Lactobacillus. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the infant was born via cesarean section. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the composition is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
 a) admixing 1) a nutritionally or pharmaceutically acceptable liquid; and   II) a dry composition, wherein the dry composition 11 comprises at least two different microorganisms; or at least one microorganism and at least one indigestible oligosaccharide; or at least two different Bifidobacteria species, subspecies or strains.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the composition containing microorganisms and indigestible oligosaccharides for the manufacture of a composition for stimulating the intestinal flora is of an infant delivered via caesarean section, by administering said composition to the infant and within 100 hours after birth. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the composition comprising microorganisms and/or indigestible oligosaccharides for the manufacture of a composition for stimulating the intestinal flora of an infant delivered via caesarean section by rectally administering said composition to an infant with the age below 3 year. 
   
   
       31 . Nutritional or pharmaceutical composition comprising at least five species from the genus of Bifidobacteria wherein at least four Bifidobacteria species, subspecies or and/or strains are selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium gallicum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium angulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Bifidobacterium thermacidophilum  and  Bifidobacterium longum.    
   
   
       32 . Container with a liquid volume between 0.5 and 25 ml containing a composition to be administered to an infant comprising at least two different microorganisms; or at least one microorganism and at least one indigestible oligosaccharide; or at least two different Bifidobacteria species, subspecies or strains wherein the composition comprises at least one species selected from the genus Bifidobacteria.