Nutritional composition comprising probiotics and improving sleep patterns

Abstract

This invention relates to the use of a probiotic bacterial strain in the manufacture of a medicament or therapeutic nutritional composition for improving the maturation of sleep patterns in infants, young children or young animals and/or for reducing sleep disturbances and/or improving sleep patterns in humans or animals at any age.

1 : A method for reducing stress-induced sleep disturbances in humans or animals in need of same comprising administering a therapeutically-effective amount of a composition including a probiotic bacterial strain that is  Bifidobacterium longum  NCC3001. 
     
     
         2 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the humans or animals are selected from the group consisting of infants, young animals and young children. 
     
     
         3 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the humans or animals suffer from poor quality sleep and/or insomnia. 
     
     
         4 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition induces a mature sleep pattern or reduces the number of episodes of wakefulness in the humans or animals. 
     
     
         5 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the daily dose of probiotic bacteria is from 10 3  to 10 12  colony forming units (cfu). 
     
     
         6 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 10 3  to 10 12  colony forming units (cfu) of probiotic bacteria per g of composition. 
     
     
         7 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a supplement and the probiotic bacterial strain is present in an amount of from 10 3  to 10 12  cfu per unit dose. 
     
     
         8 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a human milk fortifier, an infant formula, a follow on formula, a growing up milk, an infant cereal, a baby food, a yogurt, a cereal bar, a breakfast cereal, a dessert, a frozen food, a soup, a pet food, a liquid suspension, a powder, a tablet, a gum, a candy, a nutritional composition, and a nutritional supplement. 
     
     
         9 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition induces a more mature sleep pattern. 
     
     
         10 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises carbohydrates, and the carbohydrates comprise rice carbohydrates. 
     
     
         11 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a starter infant formula or a follow-up infant formula. 
     
     
         12 : A method for improving sleep quality or sleep patterns in humans or animals in need of same comprising administering a therapeutically-effective amount of a composition comprising a probiotic bacterial strain that is  Bifidobacterium longum  NCC3001. 
     
     
         13 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the humans or animals are selected from the group consisting of infants, young animals and young children. 
     
     
         14 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the humans or animals suffer from poor quality sleep and/or insomnia. 
     
     
         15 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition induces a mature sleep pattern or reduces the number of episodes of wakefulness in the humans or animals. 
     
     
         16 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the daily dose of probiotic bacteria is from 10 3  to 10 12  colony forming units (cfu). 
     
     
         17 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition comprises from 10 3  to 10 12  colony forming units (cfu) of probiotic bacteria per g of composition. 
     
     
         18 : The method of  claim 14 , wherein the poor quality sleep and/or insomnia is stress-induced. 
     
     
         19 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition is a supplement and the probiotic bacterial strain is present in an amount of from 10 3  to 10 12  cfu per unit dose. 
     
     
         20 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a human milk fortifier, an infant formula, a follow on formula, a growing up milk, an infant cereal, a baby food, a yogurt, a cereal bar, a breakfast cereal, a dessert, a frozen food, a soup, a pet food, a liquid suspension, a powder, a tablet, a gum, a candy, a nutritional composition, and a nutritional supplement. 
     
     
         21 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition induces a more mature sleep pattern. 
     
     
         22 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition comprises carbohydrates, and the carbohydrates comprise rice carbohydrates. 
     
     
         23 : The method of  claim 12 , wherein the composition is a starter infant formula or a follow-up infant formula.