Cocoa polyphenols and soluble dietary fiber for use in the treatment or prevention disorders associated with an above-normal number of granulocytes in a tissue

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one cocoa polyphenol and soluble dietary fiber for use in the prevention or treatment of a disorder associated with an above-normal number of granulocytes in a tissue.

1 : A method of prevention or treatment of at least one disorder selected from the group consisting of an allergy, a gastrointestinal syndrome, lung allergic inflammation, and skin atopic dermatitis, the method comprising administering a composition comprising at least one cocoa polyphenol and at least one fermentable dietary fiber to an individual in need thereof. 
     
     
         2 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the allergy is associated with food or an aeroallergen. 
     
     
         3 : The method of  claim 2 , wherein the allergy associated with aeroallergen is at least one of asthma or allergic rhinitis. 
     
     
         4 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a source of protein. 
     
     
         5 : The method of  claim 4 , wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of potato protein, rice protein, legume proteins, millet, quinoa, lupin, canola, tapioca, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cocoa polyphenol comprises a procyanidin selected from the group consisting of (i) procyanidin B1; (ii) procyanidin B2; (iii) a procyanidin not being procyanidin B1 or B2; (iv) one or more multimers of procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2, or a procyanidin not being B1 or B2, the multimer being any of a 2-mer to a 10-mer; and (v) mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) the at least one cocoa polyphenol comprises at least one of procyanidin B1 or a multimer of procyanidin B1, and the at least one of procyanidin B1 or a multimer of procyanidin B1 is 0.01 wt. % to 0.5 wt. % of the composition; or
 (b) the at least one cocoa polyphenol comprises at least one of procyanidin B2 or a multimer of procyanidin B2, and the at least one of procyanidin B2 or a multimer of procyanidin B2 is is 0.01 wt. % to 1.0% wt. % of the composition.   
     
     
         8 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cocoa polyphenol comprises at least one of a procyanidin not being either procyanidin B1 or B2 or a multimer of a procyanidin not being either procyanidin B1 or B2, and the at least one of a procyanidin not being either procyanidin B1 or B2 or a multimer of a procyanidin not being either procyanidin B1 or B2 is 0.5 wt. % to 10 wt. % of the composition. 
     
     
         9 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cocoa polyphenol comprises epicatechin that is 0.01 wt. % to 0.5 wt. % of the composition. 
     
     
         10 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the individual orally, topical-orally, or as a spray. 
     
     
         11 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is a human or pet animal. 
     
     
         12 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a nutritional composition, an oral nutritional supplement provided as sole source of nutrition, an oral nutritional supplement provided as a source of partial nutrition, and a pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         13 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 1 to 20 wt. % of a plant extract or plant concentrate, and the at least one cocoa polyphenol is between 20 and 60 wt. % of the plant extract or plant concentrate. 
     
     
         14 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a caloric density of 0.5-3.0 kcal/ml. 
     
     
         15 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 10-40 en % protein, 10-60 en % carbohydrates, and 20-80 en % fat. 
     
     
         16 : The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fat is selected from the group consisting of fish oil, vegetable oil, medium chain triglycerides which are 8 to 14 carbon atoms long, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises carbohydrates selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, starch, lactose, modified carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fermentable dietary fiber is 25 wt. % to 35 wt. % of the composition. 
     
     
         19 : The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one fermentable dietary fiber is selected from the group consisting of pectin, hydrolyzed pectin, beta-glucan, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, alginic acids, raffinose, xylose, polydextrose, lactulose, Acacia gum, Guar Gum, and milk-derived oligosaccharides; and   the composition comprises 2 to 80% (w/w) of the at least one fermentable dietary fiber.   
     
     
         20 : The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fermentable dietary fiber is pectin.