Anti diarrhoea compositions

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for the prevention/curing/treatment of diarrhoea in mammals by administering the mammals an effective daily amount of a composition comprising as active component(s) phytosterols and/or pentacyclotriterpenes as present in or derived from Shea oil as well as a method for the preparation of a food or a feed product comprising carbohydrates and proteins wherein the food or feed product has anti-diarrhoea or anti scouring properties by the incorporation of an effective amount of phytosterols and/or pentacyclotriterpenes as present in or derived from Shea oil as active component.

1 .- 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A method of providing resistance against diarrhea caused by bacterial infection in weaning mammals which comprises administering an effective daily amount of a composition comprising as active component(s) phytosterols and/or pentacyclotriterpenes.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the active component(s) comprise phytosterols and/or pentacyclotriterpenes as present in or derived from Shea oil.  
   
   
       17 . A method of increasing the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon of a mammal, which comprises administering an effective daily amount of a composition comprising as active component(s) at least one member of the group consisting of phytosterols and pentacyclotriterpenes as present in or derived from Shea oil.  
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 17  wherein increased production of SCFAs decreases the pH in the gut, diminishes fluid loss and provides a metabolic substrate for colonocytes.  
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 18  wherein the SCFAs comprise acetate.  
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 16  wherein the weaning mammals are weaning piglets or weaning babies.  
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 16  wherein the phytosterols and pentacyclotriterpenes have a composition corresponding with the shea sterols or shea pentacyclotriterpenes as present in the shea olein.  
   
   
       22 . Method according to  claim 17  wherein the phytosterols and pentacyclotriterpenes have a composition corresponding with the shea sterols or shea pentacyclotriterpenes as present in the shea olein.  
   
   
       23 . Method according to  claim 21  or  claim 22  wherein the shea sterols or pentacyclotriterpenes comprise more than 50 wt % of 4,4-dimethylsterols or 4,4-dimethyl pentacyclotriterpenes selected from the group consisting of alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, butyrospermol and lupeol.  
   
   
       24 . Method according to  claim 16  or  claim 17  wherein the phytosterols are hydroxysterols.  
   
   
       25 . Method according to  claim 15  or  claim 17  wherein the effective amount is 0.005 to 5 grams/kg body weight of mammal per day.  
   
   
       26 . Method according to  claim 15  or  claim 17  wherein the active phytosterols and/or pentacyclotriterpenes are administered as part of a food or fee.  
   
   
       27 . Method according to  claim 26  wherein the food or the feed contains 0.001 to 85 wt % of the active component.  
   
   
       28 . Method according to  claim 27  wherein the active component comprises at least 50 wt % of 4,4-dimethyl derivatives of shea sterols and of shea pentacyclotriterpenes selected from the group consisting of alpha-amyrin, beta--amyrin, butyrospermol and lupeol.  
   
   
       29 . (Method according to  claim 15  or  claim 17  wherein the composition is selected form the group consisting of feed products, medicaments and dietary supplements.