Prebiotic Formulations and Methods of Use

Abstract

The invention provides methods and compositions for treating symptoms associated with lactose intolerance and for overall improvement in gastrointestinal health. Described herein are methods and compositions for improving overall gastrointestinal health or for decreasing symptoms of lactose intolerance by administering to subject in need thereof a prebiotic composition, optionally in combination with effective amount of a probiotic microbe or microbes.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for preventing or reducing diarrhea, the method comprising orally administering to a mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising a mixture of galactooligosaccharides. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the diarrhea is acute diarrhea. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is a mixture of galactooligosaccharides comprising disaccharides; trisaccharides; tetrasaccharides and pentasaccharide. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is a mixture of galactooligosaccharides comprising disaccharides Gal-Gal, trisaccharides Gal-Gal-Glc, a tetrasaccharide Gal-Gal-Gal-Glc and a pentasaccharide Gal-Gal-Gal-Gal-Glc, where Gal represents a galactose residue and Glc represents a glucose residue. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the mixture of galactooligosaccharides comprises disaccharide Gal (α 1-6)-Gal; trisaccharides Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-4)-Glc; Gal (β 1-3)-Gal (β 1-4)-Glc; tetrasaccharide Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-4)-Glc and pentasaccharide Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-4) Glc. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the effective amount of the composition comprises from about 1 mg to about 10 g of the galactooligosaccharides wherein the galactooligosaccharides comprise 40% or more of the composition. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the effective amount of the composition comprises from about 1 g to about 5 g of the galactooligosaccharides, wherein the galactooligosaccharides comprise 49% or more of the composition. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the effective amount of the composition comprises about 3 g of the galactooligosaccharides, wherein the galactooligosaccharides comprise 49% or more of the composition. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the effective amount of the composition comprises from about 1 mg to about 10 g of the galactooligosaccharides wherein the galactooligosaccharides comprise 49% or more of the composition. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the effective amount of the composition comprises from about 1 g to about 5 g of the galactooligosaccharides, wherein the galactooligosaccharides comprise 49% or more of the composition. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the effective amount of the composition comprises about 3 g of the galactooligosaccharides, wherein the galactooligosaccharides comprise 49% or more of the composition. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the effective amount of the composition is administered daily as a single dose. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the effective amount of the composition is administered in two separate doses at different times. 
     
     
         46 . A method for the reduction in severity of diarrhea comprising orally administering to a mammal an effective amount of a galactooligosaccharide composition. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the diarrhea is acute diarrhea. 
     
     
         48 . Use of a composition comprising a mixture of galactooligosaccharides which comprises disaccharide Gal (α 1-6)-Gal; trisaccharides Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-4)-Glc; Gal (β 1-3)-Gal (β 1-4)-Glc; tetrasaccharide Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-4)-Glc and pentasaccharide Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-6)-Gal (β 1-4) Glc in the preparation of a medicament for preventing or reducing diarrhea. 
     
     
         49 . The use of  claim 48 , wherein the diarrhea is acute diarrhea.