New use of ammonium compounds and/or urea

Abstract

The use of a physiologically innocuous ammonium compound and/or urea as an additive to an infant formula or a pap or for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the prophylaxis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is disclosed as is also, an infant formula or a pap which in addition to conventional ingredients contains a physiologically innocuous ammonium compound an/or urea. Furthermore, a method of preventing SIDS is disclosed, which method comprises administering to the infant an infant formula or a pap as indicated above, and a method for prophylaxis of SIDS, wherein a pharmaceutical composition containing a physiologically innocuous ammonium compound and/or urea is administered to the infant or the appropriately selected or modified non-pathogenic, urease-producing bacteria are supplied to the gastrointestinal tract of the infant. Finally, a method for the diagnosis of the risks for SIDS is disclosed according to which method the faeces of the infant are analyzed with respect to the presence of urea, urease activity and/or ammonium ions, the presence of urea, the absence of abnormally low urease activity and ammonium ion, respectively, indicating risks for SIDS.

In the claims:  
     
         11 . An infant formula comprising an effective amount of ammonium chloride as an additive to said infant formula, wherein said effective amount of ammonium chloride is sufficient to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in infants.  
     
     
         12 . The infant formula of  claim 11 , wherein the ammonium chloride is present at a concentration of 0.2-0.6 mmol/l in an infant formula ready for administration to an infant during the first month of life.  
     
     
         13 . The infant formula of  claim 11 , wherein the ammonium chloride is present at a concentration of 0.1-5 mmol/l in an infant formula ready for administration to an infant during months 2-7 of life.  
     
     
         14 . The infant formula of  claim 11 , which is in the form of a powder.  
     
     
         15 . The infant formula of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of the ammonium chloride is 0.5 mmol/l.  
     
     
         16 . The infant formula of  claim 12 , wherein the concentration of the ammonium chloride is 0.5-2 mmol/l.  
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in infants comprising administering an infant formula or pap composition comprising an effective amount of ammonium chloride, urea or a mixture thereof, wherein said effective amount of ammonium chloride, urea or mixture thereof is sufficient to reduce the risk of SIDS in infants.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during the first month of life, and the concentration of ammonium chloride in the infant formula or pap composition is 0.2-0.6 mmol/l.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during months  2 - 7  of life, and the concentration of ammonium chloride in the infant formula or pap composition is 0.1-5 mmol/l.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during the first month of life, and the concentration of urea in the infant formula or pap composition is 1-5 mmol/l.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during months  2 - 7  of life, and the concentration of urea in the infant formula or pap composition is 1-10 mmol/l.  
     
     
         22 . A method for the prophylaxis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in infants comprising administering an infant formula or pap composition comprising an effective amount of ammonium chloride, urea or mixture thereof wherein said effective amount of ammonium chloride, urea or mixture thereof is sufficient for prophylaxis of SIDS in infants.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during the first month of life, and the concentration of ammonium chloride in the infant formula or pap composition is 0.2-0.6 mmol/l.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during months 2-7 of life, and the concentration of ammonium chloride in the infant formula or pap composition is 0.1-5 mmol/l.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during the first month of life, and the concentration of urea in the infant formula or pap composition is 1-5 mmol/l.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the infant formula or pap composition is administered to an infant during months  2 - 7  of life, and the concentration of urea in the infant formula or pap composition is 1-10 mmol/l.  
     
     
         27 . A pap composition comprising an effective amount of ammonium chloride as an additive to said pap composition, wherein said effective amount of ammonium chloride is sufficient to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in infants.  
     
     
         28 . The pap composition of  claim 27 , wherein the ammonium chloride is present at a concentration of 0.1-5 mmol/l in an infant formula ready for administration to an infant during months  2 - 7  of life.  
     
     
         29 . The pap composition of  claim 27 , which is in the form of a powder.  
     
     
         30 . The pap composition of  claim 28 , wherein the concentration of the ammonium chloride is 0.5 mmol/l.  
     
     
         31 . The pap composition of  claim 28 , wherein the concentration of the ammonium chloride is 0.5-2 mmol/l.