Non-caloric probiotic composition and method of preparation

Abstract

A probiotic composition comprising at least one viable probiotic microorganism having a biological or therapeutic activity in the gastrointestinal tract and a carrier suitable for human consumption is disclosed. The probiotic composition may contain drinking water and electrolytes and the probiotic microorganism may be spores of a probiotic microorganism. Also provided are methods of treating acute or chronic diarrhea and of improving immune function, digestive health, and/or intestinal flora by administering the probiotic composition. In addition, a food additive comprising at least one viable probiotic microorganism having a biological or therapeutic activity in the gastrointestinal tract and a carrier suitable for human consumption is provided.

1 . A probiotic drink, comprising at least one viable probiotic microorganism and water, wherein the at least one probiotic microorganism comprises one or more of microencapsulated viable probiotic microorganisms and spores of  Bacillus  sp. 
     
     
         2 . The probiotic drink of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic drink is devoid of flavor masking agents, sugars, calories and artificial sweeteners. 
     
     
         3 . The probiotic drink of  claim 2 , further comprising a carrier suitable for human consumption. 
     
     
         4 . The probiotic drink of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one viable probiotic microorganism comprises microencapsulated viable probiotic organisms selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus  sp.,  Bifidobacterium  sp.,  Lactococcus  sp.,  Propionibacterium  sp.,  Bacillus  sp.,  Enterococcus  sp.,  Escherichia  sp.,  Streptococcus  sp.,  Pediococcus  sp., and  Saccharomyces  sp. 
     
     
         5 . The probiotic drink of  claim 4 , wherein the microencapsulated viable probiotic organisms are microencapsulated through one or more of pan coating, air-suspension coating, centrifugal extrusion, vibrational nozzle, spray-drying, ionotropic gelation, interfacial polycondensation, interfacial cross-linking, in situ polymerization, and matrix polymerization. 
     
     
         6 . The probiotic drink of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one viable probiotic microorganism comprises the spores of  Bacillus  sp. 
     
     
         7 . The probiotic drink of  claim 6 , wherein concentration of the spores of  Bacillus  sp. is between about 3×10 6  CFU/mL and about 7×10 6  CFU/mL of the probiotic drink. 
     
     
         8 . The probiotic drink of  claim 3 , further comprising electrolytes and wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of Gum  Acacia , ascorbyl palmitate, TWEEN® 80 (polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate), Span® 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate), anhydrous glucose, anhydrous dextrose, dextrose monohydrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A probiotic composition for use as a food or drink additive, comprising:
 a therapeutically effective amount of spores of  Bacillus  sp.; and   a carrier suitable for human consumption, the carrier being selected from the group consisting of Gum  Acacia , ascorbyl palmitate, TWEEN® 80 (polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate), Span® 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate), anhydrous glucose, anhydrous dextrose, dextrose monohydrate, and combinations thereof, wherein the probiotic composition is devoid of flavor masking agents, sugars, calories and artificial sweeteners   
     
     
         10 . The probiotic composition of  claim 9 , wherein the carrier is a combination of Gum  Acacia , ascorbyl palmitate, TWEEN® 80 (polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate), and Span® 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate). 
     
     
         11 . The probiotic composition of  claim 9 , wherein the spores of  Bacillus  sp. are selected from the group consisting of  Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans , and  Bacillus licheniformis.   
     
     
         12 . The probiotic composition of  claim 9 , further comprising electrolytes. 
     
     
         13 . A method of supplementing drinking water, comprising:
 mixing at least one viable probiotic microorganism with a carrier suitable for human consumption, the at least one probiotic microorganism comprising one or more of microencapsulated viable probiotic microorganisms and spores of  Bacillus  sp.; and   mixing the at least one viable probiotic microorganism and carrier with drinking water.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein mixing the at least one viable probiotic microorganism and carrier with drinking water comprises:
 mixing the at least one viable probiotic with a first volume of drinking water to form a first dilution;   mixing the first dilution with a second volume of drinking water to form a second dilution, the second volume of drinking water being between about five and about fifteen times greater than the first volume of drinking water; and   mixing the second dilution with a third volume of drinking water to form a third dilution having a concentration of the at least one viable probiotic microorganism substantially equal to a predetermined concentration of the at least one viable probiotic microorganism in the probiotic drink, wherein the third volume of drinking water is between about five and about fifteen times greater than the first volume of drinking water.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one viable probiotic microorganism comprises spores of  Bacillus  sp. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one viable probiotic microorganism comprises microencapsulated viable probiotic microorganisms. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second volume of drinking water is between about eight and about ten times greater than the first volume of drinking water, and wherein the third volume of drinking water is between about eight and about ten times greater than the second volume of drinking water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the concentration of the at least one viable probiotic microorganism in the third dilution is between about 3×10 6  CFU/mL and about 6×10 6  CFU/mL. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising drying the mixture of the at least one viable probiotic microorganism and the carrier to form a desiccated powder that is soluble in water. 
     
     
         20 . A method of improving immune function, digestive health, and intestinal flora in a subject, comprising:
 determining a subject in need of improved immune function, digestive health, and intestinal flora; and   administering to the subject therapeutically effective amount of a probiotic composition comprising at least one viable probiotic microorganism and a carrier suitable for human consumption, the at least one probiotic microorganism comprising one or more of microencapsulated viable probiotic microorganisms and spores of  Bacillus  sp.   
     
     
         21 . The method of claim of  20 , wherein the probiotic composition further comprises drinking water. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one viable probiotic microorganism comprises spores of  Bacillus  sp. and the probiotic composition is devoid of flavor masking agents, sugars, calories and artificial sweeteners. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of Gum  Acacia , ascorbyl palmitate, TWEEN® 80 (polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate), Span® 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate), anhydrous glucose, anhydrous dextrose, dextrose monohydrate, and combinations thereof.