Use of nutritional compositions with phospholipid, sphingolipid and cholesterol.

Abstract

A nutritional composition comprising phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol for the prevention of obesity and/or diabetes is provided.

1 . A method to prevent obesity and/or type 2 diabetes in a non-obese human infant, comprising feeding a human infant younger than 36 months of age with nutritional composition that comprises a lipid component, a protein component and a digestible carbohydrate component, and:
 (a) 0.5 to 20 weight (wt.) % phospholipids based on weigh of total lipid in the composition;   (b) 0.1 to 20 wt. % sphingolipids based on weight of total lipid in the composition; and   (c) 0.005 to 10 wt. % cholesterol based on weight of total lipid in the composition.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises at least 0.5 wt. % of at least one soluble, non-digestible oligosaccharide based on dry weight of the composition. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipid component comprises
 (a) linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in a weight ratio of LA to ALA of between 2 and 7;   (b) less than 15 wt. % LA based on weight of total fatty acids in the composition; and   (c) at least 1 wt. % ALA based on weight of total fatty acids in the composition.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 (a) the lipid component provides 35 to 55% of the total calories of the composition,   (b) the protein component provides 5 to 15% of the total calories of the composition, and   (c) the digestible carbohydrate component provides 30 to 60% of the total calories of the composition.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feeding of said infant prevents development of obesity at an age above 36 months. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feeding of an infant aged below 12 months. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises at least one soluble, non-digestible oligosaccharides selected from the group consisting of fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, gluco-oligosaccharides, arabino-oligosaccharides, mannan-oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides, fuco-oligosaccharides, arabinogalacto-oligosaccharides, glucomanno-oligosaccharides, galactomanno-oligosaccharides, sialic acid comprising oligosaccharides and uronic acid oligosaccharides. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises galacto-oligosaccharides. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feeding of said infant prevents the development of a disease or disorder that is present after the age of 36 months, which disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of type 2 diabetes, fasting hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, arthrosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, fatty liver, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feeding results in
 (a) prevention, and/or   (b) treatment, and/or   (c) dietary management of type 2 diabetes.