Increasing Probiotic Growth Rate and Activity Using Prebiotic Composition

Abstract

Naturally occurring lecithins and/or oleic acid stimulate the growth and lactic acid producing activity of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species of probiotic bacteria, and replace polysorbate 80 for those products. They can be used in naturally occurring form, or where they are to be combined with probiotics in a carrier, or they can be treated to yield a stable powdered form of these naturally oily compounds. They can be sold as combined prebiotic/probiotic formulations in the same carrier, or sold as separate dietary supplements, e.g., in capsule or tablet form, to be used with the probiotic formulation as desired.

1 . A method of enhancing growth and activity of  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium  species in the absence of polysorbate 80, comprising:
 administering  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium  species with lecithin or oleic acid, or combinations of lecithin and oleic acid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lecithin or oleic acid, or the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are in a capsule or other carrier together with the  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium  species. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lecithin is soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lecithin or oleic acid, or the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are adsorbed to and adsorbent which is one or more of calcium silicate, silicon dioxide, silica, clays and food starches. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the adsorbed lecithin or oleic acid, or the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are also mixed with microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the adsorbed lecithin or oleic acid, or the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are also mixed with silica. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lecithin or oleic acid, or the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are non-aqueous. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the food starches are corn starch or potato starch. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the clays are food grade. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the clays are kaolin or sodium bentonite. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the microcellulose is between 10% to 300% of the weight of the adsorbent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the silica is 0.25 to 2% of the combined weight of the lecithin, oleic acid, adsorbent and microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the combined weight of the lecithin and oleic acid is 5 to 40% of the total weight of the lecithin, oleic acid, adsorbent and microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lecithin and oleic acid are in liquid form and are not in the same capsule as the probiotics. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further including Vitamin E. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein Vitamin E is the D, L or a mixture of the D and L isomers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein Vitamin E is 0.01%-5.0% by weight of the final formulation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the Vitamin E is 0.1% by weight of the final formulation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the weight ratio of the lecithin to oleic acid is from 60:40 to 95:5. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the weight ratio of the lecithin to oleic acid is 90:10. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the strains of  Lactobacillus  include  Lactobacillus acidophilus  NCFM,  Lactobacillus rhamnosus  Lr-32 , Lactobacillus paracasei  Lpc-37, and  Lactobacillus salavarius  Ls-33. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is  Bifidobacterium lactis  Bl-04 (BL-34). 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium  with lecithin or oleic acid, or combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, is administered to a human being or other mammal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium  is administered before or after administration of the lecithin or oleic acid, or before or after administration of the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein carbohydrates are administered with the lecithin or oleic acid, or with the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein 50 g of carbohydrate are administered with the lecithin or oleic acid, or with the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein 10 to 100 mg of the lecithin or oleic acid, or 10 to 100 mg of the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are administered for each dose of the  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16  wherein 20 mg of the lecithin or oleic acid, or 20 mg of the combinations of lecithin and oleic acid, are administered for each dose of the  Lactobacillus  and/or  Bifidobacterium.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  including sunflower lecithin or soy lecithin and oleic acid. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the lecithin is sunflower lecithin and the formulation also includes oleic acid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  or  29  wherein the weight ratio of sunflower lecithin to oleic acid is 90:10.