Compositions and methods for augmenting kidney function

Abstract

A protein-rich nutritional food product composed of a probiotic and an edible isolated protein. The probiotic component may comprise Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Streptococcus Bifidobacteria, Saccharomyces or Leuconostoc . The isolated protein may comprise whey proteins, whey growth factor extract, glutamine peptide, egg albumen, soy proteins, or caseinates. This nutritional composition can be in the form of a food product, dietary supplement, or medical food which, upon ingestion, will promote a healthy intestinal microenvironment, provide a source of protein, and assist in the elimination of nitrogenous waste products that can build up in concentration in the circulating blood. Increased concentrations of the wastes are known to exert a negative impact on an individual's physiology and contribute to a decreased sense of well-being and general malaise. Methods for removing nitrogenous waste products from the blood and ameliorating renal failure using the nutritional product of the invention are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protein-rich nutritional product comprising at least one probiotic component and at least one isolated edible protein. 
     
     
         2 . The nutritional product of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic component comprises a  Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Streptococcus Bifidobacteria, Saccharomyces  or  Leuconostoc.    
     
     
         3 . The nutritional product of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one isolated protein comprises whey proteins or isolates, concentrates or hydrolysates thereof; milk proteins or isolates, concentrates or hydrolysates thereof whey growth factor extract; glutamine peptide; egg albumen; soy proteins or isolates, concentrates or hydrolysates; or caseinates. 
     
     
         4 . A method for removing nitrogenous waste products from the blood comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a nutritional product of  claim 1  thereby removing nitrogenous waste products from the blood of the subject. 
     
     
         5 . A method for ameliorating renal failure comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the nutritional product of  claim 1  thereby ameliorating renal failure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the subject has a protein deficiency.