Milk-based protein hydrolysates and infant formulae and nutritional compositions made thereof

Abstract

A composition including protein hydrolysates derived from milk is obtained by the treatment of enzymes derived from microorganisms. A trypsin-like enzyme and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme are used. The composition is in particular intended for inducing tolerance in infants with the effect of modulating the potential occurrence of allergies later in life. The composition can also be used in sick adult patients. Preferably the composition is an infant formula, infant follow-up formula, growing-up milk or baby food or an enteral complete nutritional composition.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising milk-based protein hydrolysate obtained by treatment of a solution of a milk-based proteinaceous material with at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a microorganism and at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a microorganism. 
     
     
         2 . A method for the induction of oral tolerance in an infant or a patient in need thereof, the method comprising administering a composition comprising milk-based protein hydrolysate obtained by treatment of a solution of a milk-based proteinaceous material with: at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a microorganism and at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a microorganism. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from a strain of  Fusarium  and has at least 75% sequence identity to the sequence denoted by SWISSPROT No. P35049. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from a strain of  Kutzneria  and has at least 75% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from a strain of  Nocardiopsis.    
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase has at least 75% sequence identity to a polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of EMBL CDS CAI94179, TREMBL:Q9Y843, and CGMCC 0865. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the trypsin-like endopeptidase to the chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase is between 5:1 to 35:1, wherein the ratio is based on weight of enzyme. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the trypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from the strain Fusarium and the chymotrysin-like endopeptidase is derived from the strain Nocardiopsis, and the ratio of the trypsin-like endopeptidase to the chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase is 9:1 wherein the ratio is based on weight of enzyme. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the milk-based proteinaceous material is selected from the group consisting of whey protein, casein, and a mixture of both. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the milk-based proteinaceous material is sweet whey protein. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the milk-based proteinaceous material is a mixture of modified sweet whey and demineralised whey protein. 
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising milk-based protein hydrolysate obtained by treatment of a solution of a milk-based proteinaceous material with at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a strain of Fusarium and at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a strain of  Nocardiopsis.    
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising milk-based protein hydrolysate obtained by treatment of a solution of a milk-based proteinaceous material with at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a strain of Kutzneria and at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase derived from a microorganism. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from a strain of  Nocardiopsis.    
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of trypsin-like endopeptidase to chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase based on enzyme weight is between 5:1 to 35:1. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the lactose content in the protein hydrolysate is from 0.05 -30% w/w. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of an infant formula, follow-on formula, a baby food formula, an infant cereals formula, a growing-up milk, infant or child's food supplement and adult nutritional composition. 
     
     
         18 . A method for the induction of oral tolerance in an infant or a patient in need thereof, or for reducing the risk of allergies in an infant, the method comprising administering a composition comprising milk-based protein hydrolysate obtained by treatment of a solution of a milk-based proteinaceous material with at least one trypsin-like endopeptidase produced from a microorganism and at least one chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase produced from a microorganism to patients in need thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the trypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from a strain of  Fusarium.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase is derived from a strain of  Nocardiopsis.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the chymotrypsin-like endopeptidase has at least 75% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of EMBL CDS CAI94179, TREMBL:Q9Y843, and CGMCC 0865. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of an infant formula, follow-on formula, a baby food formula, an infant cereal formula, a growing-up milk, an infant, child's food supplement and an adult nutritional composition.