Amino acid supplementation for a healthy microbiota ecosystem

Abstract

A nutritional composition is used to reconstitute an optimal healthy microbiota ecosystem in humans or animals. In particular, an ingestible carrier contains specific amino acids designed to favor the growth of bacteria favorable to individuals health or for reducing the risk of developing deleterious events. In another aspect, specific amino acids are used to reconstitute an optimal healthy microbiota ecosystem in humans or animals, in particular in infants, critically ill patients, in the case of chronic diseases or any stresses impacting the gut and in elderly people.

1 : A method of restoring the integrity of gut barrier in a human or animal in need thereof, the method comprising:
 orally administering to the human or animal a composition comprising free amino acids comprising serine, proline and threonine.   
     
     
         2 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human or animal has a chronic disease impacting the gut. 
     
     
         3 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human or animal has a pathologic condition within the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         4 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human or animal has chronic or acute inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         5 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human or animal is an adult. 
     
     
         6 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the human or animal in an amount that provides 0.04 to 0.20 g of the threonine/kg body weight/day, 0.07 to 0.35 g of the serine/kg body weight/day, and 0.07 to 0.3 g of the proline/kg body weight/day. 
     
     
         7 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a food product. 
     
     
         8 : The method of  claim 7 , wherein the food product is in a form selected from the group consisting of a powder, a liquid concentrate, a ready-to-drink beverage, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of a source of protein, a source of fat, a source of carbohydrate, a vitamin, a mineral, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one protein source selected from the group consisting of milk proteins, meat proteins, egg proteins, soy proteins, wheat proteins, rice proteins, and pea proteins. 
     
     
         11 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a fat source that provides about 5% to about 55% of the energy of the composition. 
     
     
         12 : The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fat source is selected from the group consisting of soy oil, palm oil, coconut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, canola oil, lecithins, milk fat, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a carbohydrate source that provides about 40% to about 80% of the energy of the composition. 
     
     
         14 : The method of  claim 13 , wherein the carbohydrate source is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, lactose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup solids, maltodextrins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-digestible dietary fiber in an amount up to about 5% of the energy of the composition.