Bifidobacteria for treating diabetes and related conditions

Abstract

This invention relates to new uses of Bifidobacteria (particularly, although not exclusively, probiotic Bifidobacteria), and to food products, feed products, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical formulations containing them. The bacteria are suitable for the treatment of diabetes (particularly Type 2 diabetes), obesity and related conditions, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism and consequences thereof, lowering tissue inflammation, treating hepatitis, myositis and cardiovascular conditions.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method of treating a disease or condition in a mammal, wherein:
 the method comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a combination of (i) a bacterium of the genus  Bifidobacterium  and (ii) an antidiabetic drug selected from a biguanide or a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor; and   the disease or condition is selected from:
 (a) diabetes; 
 (b) metabolic syndrome; 
 (c) impaired glucose tolerance; 
 (d) reduced insulin sensitivity; 
 (e) reduced fed insulin secretion; 
 (f) elevated fasted insulin secretion; 
 (g) obesity; 
 (h) weight gain; 
 (i) elevated body fat mass; and 
 (j) elevated mesenteric fat mass. 
   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the method comprises treating diabetes, and   the diabetes is Type 2 diabetes.   
     
     
         47 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the mammal in need of the treatment ingests a high-fat diet. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is a probiotic  Bifidobacterium.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is selected from the species  Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidium, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis , and  Bifidobacterium angulatum.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is of the species  Bifidobacterium animalis.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is of the species  Bifidobacterium animalis  subsp.  lactis.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  is of the species  Bifidobacterium animalis  subsp.  lactis  strain 420 (B420). 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  and antidiabetic drug are administered in combination with an additional bacterium of the genus  Lactobacillus.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the additional bacterium is of the species  Lactobacillus acidophilus.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the additional bacterium is  Lactobacillus acidophilus  strain NCFM (ATCC PTA-4797). 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  and antidiabetic drug are administered in combination with a prebiotic. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prebiotic is polydextrose. 
     
     
         63 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the antidiabetic drug is a biguanide. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the antidiabetic drug is metformin.