Materials and methods for improving gastrointestinal function

Abstract

The subject invention provides therapeutic compositions, and uses thereof for the treatment or amelioration of injury to small intestine mucosa. In preferred embodiments, the composition comprises one or more nutrients and/or electrolytes that acquire or retain considerable absorptive capacity.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition for improving dehydration in a subject, wherein the composition is formulated for enteral administration and comprises, as free amino acids, serine and valine and, optionally, one or more additional free amino acids selected from the group consisting of threonine, lysine, glycine, aspartic acid, isoleucine, tryptophan, and tyrosine; and water; wherein the composition does not comprise alanine or taurine; wherein the composition does not comprise free amino acid glutamine or a glutamine-containing dipeptide, or, if free amino acid glutamine and/or a glutamine-containing dipeptide is present, the total concentration of the free amino acid glutamine and the glutamine-containing dipeptide is less than 50 mg/l; wherein the composition does not comprise glucose or, if glucose is present, the concentration of glucose is less than 1g/l; and wherein the composition does not comprise free amino acid methionine or a methionine-containing dipeptide. 
     
     
         2 . A method for treating dehydration in a subject, wherein the method comprises administering to the subject, via enteral administration, a composition of  claim 1  that is formulated for enteral administration. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the composition does not comprise fructose. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the composition does not comprise glucose, glutamine, and methionine. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the composition further comprises electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and/or flavoring agents. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has at least a 5% reduction in total number of small intestinal epithelial cells in the villous region, when compared to normal. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the subject has at least a 5% loss in villous height in the small intestine, when compared to normal. 
     
     
         9 . The method, according to  claim 2 , wherein the composition is sterile.