Nutritional compositions containing milk-derived peptides and uses thereof

Abstract

Provided are nutritional compositions having a protein component that includes certain peptides and/or bioactive peptides. Further disclosed are nutritional composition having a protein source that includes intact protein, beta-casein enriched casein hydrolysate, and/or peptides weighing from about 500 Da to about 1,999 Da. The nutritional compositions disclosed are suitable for administration to pediatric subjects, such as infants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A staged feeding regimen for an infant, comprising the steps of:
 A) administering a first nutritional composition comprising from about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt % of a protein source or protein equivalent source having peptides weighing from about 500 Da to about 1,999 Da to a newborn infant:   B) administering a second nutritional composition comprising from about 6 wt % to about 7 wt % of a protein or protein equivalent source having peptides weighing from about 500 Da to about 1,999 Da to a middle stage infant; and   C) administering a third nutritional composition comprising from about 4% to about 6% of a protein or protein equivalent source having peptides weighing from about 500 Da to about 1,999 Da to a later stage infant.   
     
     
         2 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises beta-casein enriched casein hydrolysate. 
     
     
         3 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises intact protein. 
     
     
         4 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises amino acids. 
     
     
         5 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises lactoferrin. 
     
     
         6 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises at least one prebiotic. 
     
     
         7 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises at least one probiotic. 
     
     
         8 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises inositol. 
     
     
         9 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, wherein the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises lactoferrin. 
     
     
         11 . The staged feeding regimen of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first nutritional composition, second nutritional composition, or third nutritional composition further comprises a culture supernatant from a late-exponential growth phase of a probiotic batch-cultivation process. 
     
     
         12 . A nutritional composition comprising:
 a carbohydrate source;   a fat or lipid source; and   a protein source, wherein the protein source comprises from about 4% to about 10% of peptides weighing from about 500 Da to about 1,999 Da, beta-casein enriched casein hydrolysate, and intact protein.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the protein source further comprises amino acids. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises inositol. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises a probiotic. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises a prebiotic. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises one or more long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids comprises docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises β-glucan. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises a culture supernatant from a late-exponential growth phase of a probiotic batch-cultivation process.