Human milk oligosaccharides to promote growth of beneficial bacteria

Abstract

Disclosed are nutritional compositions including human milk oligosaccharides that can be administered to individuals including preterm infants, infants, toddlers, and children for improving gastrointestinal function and tolerance, as well as the growth of beneficial bacteria. Additional suitable methods of using the nutritional compositions including the human milk oligosaccharides are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for regulating gut motility in an infant in need thereof, the method comprising administering a nutritional composition comprising a human milk oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of 2′-fucosyllactose and 3′-fucosyllactose, to the infant. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human milk oligosaccharide is present in a concentration of from about 0.001 mg/ml to about 20 mg/ml. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein gut motility is regulated by reducing contractions in the infant's gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the human milk oligosaccharide reduces the contractions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the frequency of contractions is reduced. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the amplitude of contractions is reduced. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein both the frequency and amplitude of contractions are reduced. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the frequency and amplitude of contractions are reduced in a dose response fashion to the concentration of the human milk oligosaccharide in the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the infant is in need of regulation of gut motility as a result of susceptibility to one or more gut motility disorders. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein reducing contractions in the infant's gastrointestinal tract includes direct stimulation of enteric nerve cells. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the human milk oligosaccharide directly stimulates the enteric nerve cells. 
     
     
         12 . A method for reducing colic in an infant in need thereof, the method comprising administering a nutritional composition comprising 2′-fucosyllactose to the infant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein 2′-fucosyllactose is present in a concentration of from about 0.001 mg/ml to about 20 mg/ml. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises lacto-N-neotetraose. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the infant in need thereof exhibits symptoms of colic. 
     
     
         16 . A method for improving gastrointestinal tolerance in an infant in need thereof, the method comprising administering a nutritional composition comprising 2′-fucosyllactose to the infant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein 2′-fucosyllactose is present in a concentration of from about 0.001 mg/ml to about 20 mg/ml. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the infant is in need of improved gastrointestinal tolerance as a result of susceptibility to food intolerance. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the infant is in need of improved gastrointestinal tolerance as a result of susceptibility to intolerance to enteral feeding. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the infant is in need of improved gastrointestinal tolerance as a result of a need for increased digestive tolerance. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises a combination of fast, medium, and slowly digested carbohydrates.