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 of improving a subject's gastrointestinal health comprising treating flatulence, heartburn, stomach upset, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, or vomiting by administering a composition to a subject, wherein the composition comprises a prebiotic composition and an excipient, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 50% or more galactooligosaccharides (GOS) by weight and less than 9% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or more GOS by weight. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises less than 8%, 7%, 6%, or 5% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the digestible saccharides comprise lactose, galactose, or glucose. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.001 to about 1% glucose by weight. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.01 to about 0.1% glucose by weight. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.1% galactose to about 2% galactose by weight. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises less than 2% lactose by weight. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is a non-human animal. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is an infant up to one year of age. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is a young child from 1 yr to 12 yrs old. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is a teenager from 13-19 yrs old. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is an adult from 20-64 yrs old. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is a pregnant woman. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject is an elderly adult from 65 yrs or older. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is administered once or twice a day. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition does not comprise a probiotic. 
     
     
         50 . A method of improving a subject's gastrointestinal health comprising treating flatulence, heartburn, stomach upset, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, or vomiting by administering a powder composition to a subject, wherein the composition comprises a prebiotic composition and an excipient, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 95% or more GOS by weight and less than 5% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         51 . A method of promoting the growth of Bifidobacteria or  Lactobacillus  in order to improve a subject's gastrointestinal health comprising administering a composition to a subject, wherein the composition comprises a prebiotic composition and an excipient, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 50% or more GOS by weight and less than 9% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or more GOS by weight. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises less than 8%, 7%, 6%, or 5% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the digestible saccharides comprise lactose, galactose, or glucose. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.001 to about 1% glucose by weight. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.01 to about 0.1% glucose by weight. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.1% galactose to about 2% galactose by weight. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises less than 2% lactose by weight. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition does not promote the growth of  E. coli.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition does not comprise a probiotic. 
     
     
         61 . A method of promoting the growth of lactose fermenting commensal microbes in the human gastrointestinal tract in order to improve a subject's gastrointestinal health, the method comprising administering a composition to a subject, wherein the composition comprises a prebiotic composition and an excipient, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 50% or more GOS by weight and less than 9% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or more GOS by weight. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises less than 8%, 7%, 6%, or 5% digestible saccharides by weight. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the digestible saccharides comprise lactose, galactose, or glucose. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.001 to about 1% glucose by weight. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.01 to about 0.1% glucose by weight. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises from about 0.1% galactose to about 2% galactose by weight. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic composition comprises less than 2% lactose by weight. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the composition does not promote the growth of  E. coli.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the composition does not comprise a probiotic. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein administering comprises oral administration. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is administered for 3 days or more. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is administered for 7 days or more. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is administered from 5-35 days. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is administered on a continuous daily basis. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the composition does not increase the growth of harmful bacteria or undesirable microbes. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the composition does not increase the growth of harmful bacteria or undesirable microbes. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the subject has diabetes.