Allergy treatment using acid treated aqueous whey protein extract

Abstract

The invention relates to manufacture of whey protein extracts, to infant formula and to reducing or preventing food allergy. The whey protein extract is produced from a whey protein-containing composition by contacting a whey protein-containing composition with an aqueous solution to form a sample including a soluble protein-containing component and an insoluble component; recovering the soluble protein-containing component from the sample; and acidifying the soluble protein-containing component, thereby producing the whey protein extract. Extracts produced by the method of the invention may be used in infant formula, as a dietary supplement or foodstuff.

1 . A process for the production of a whey protein extract from a whey protein-containing composition including:
 contacting a whey protein-containing composition with an aqueous solution, thereby forming a sample including a soluble protein-containing component and an insoluble component;   recovering the soluble protein-containing component from the sample;   acidifying the soluble protein-containing component;   
       thereby forming the whey protein extract. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the whey protein-containing composition includes one or more of sweet whey, acid whey, reduced lactose whey, demineralised whey, whey protein concentrate (WPC) or whey protein isolate (WPI). 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the amount of protein in the whey protein-containing composition is at least about 10% to about 95% w/w on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the whey protein-containing composition includes at least one of carbohydrate and fat. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the amount of carbohydrate in the whey protein-containing composition is at least about 1% to less than about 80% w/w on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the amount of fat in the whey protein-containing composition is at least about 0.5% to less than about 10% w/w on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the whey protein-containing composition includes about 80 to 82% protein, about 4 to 8% lactose and about 4 to 8% fat w/w on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the whey protein-containing composition is a WPC. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the WPC is WPC 80. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the whey protein-containing composition is provided in the form of a powder for contact with the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous solution is water. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the whey protein-containing composition is provided for contact with the aqueous solution in an amount of at least about 0.5% to 10% whey protein-containing composition w/w. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the soluble protein-containing component is recovered by separating the soluble protein-containing component from the insoluble solid. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the soluble protein-containing component is separated from the insoluble solid by subjecting the sample to one or more of centrifugation, chromatography, ion exchange, electrodialysis, filtration or adsorption. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the soluble protein-containing component is acidified by providing a pH of at least about 2.5 to the soluble protein-containing component. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the soluble protein-containing component is recovered from the sample after the soluble protein-containing component has been acidified. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1  including the further step of:
 neutralizing the acidified soluble protein-containing component. 
 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the soluble protein-containing component is neutralised by providing a pH of about 7 to the soluble protein-containing component. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the soluble protein-containing component is recovered from the sample after the soluble protein-containing component has been neutralised. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1  including the step of drying the soluble protein-containing component to form a powder. 
     
     
         21 . A whey protein extract including an acid treated aqueous soluble whey protein-containing component. 
     
     
         22 . The extract of  claim 21  wherein the extract is produced by a process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . The extract of  claim 21  wherein the protein forming the acid treated aqueous soluble whey protein-containing component is not substantially hydrolysed. 
     
     
         24 . Use of an extract of  claim 21  for the manufacture of an infant formula, dietary supplement or foodstuff. 
     
     
         25 . An infant formula, dietary supplement or foodstuff including an extract of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         26 . Use of an extract of  claim 21  for the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or minimising food allergy. 
     
     
         27 . A method for preventing or minimising food allergy including the step of providing an extract of  claim 21  to an individual. 
     
     
         28 . A method for reducing the release of IL-2 in an individual predisposed to food allergy including the step of providing an extract of  claim 21  to the individual. 
     
     
         29 . A method for increasing the release of TNF or IL-18 in an individual predisposed to food allergy including the step of providing an extract of  claim 21  to the individual. 
     
     
         30 . A method for enhancing the intestinal epithelial cell barrier function in an individual predisposed to food allergy including the step of providing an extract of  claim 21  to the individual. 
     
     
         31 . A method for enhancing a Th1 immune response in an individual predisposed to food allergy including the step of providing an extract of  claim 21  to the individual. 
     
     
         32 . A method for minimising a Th2 immune response in an individual predisposed to food allergy including the step of providing an extract of  claim 21  to the individual.