Nutritional compositions comprising hydrolyzed protein and a modified fat system and uses thereof

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments provide nutritional compositions and methods of enhancing maturation of an infant's brain. The methods include the step of administering to the infant a nutritional composition comprising a protein with a degree of hydrolysis of 10% to 75% in combination with at least one of a monoglyceride, a free fatty acid, a salt of a free fatty acid, a phospholipid, and cholesterol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enhancing maturation of the brain of an infant, the method comprising administering to the infant a nutritional composition comprising a protein with a degree of hydrolysis of 10% to 75% and a predigested fat system,
 wherein the predigested fat system comprises at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride, at least one free fatty acid or a salt thereof, and at least one phospholipid,   wherein the administration is effective in at least one of: improving blood flow to the infant's brain, reducing neuronal tissue inflammation and neuronal cell death, and preventing or delaying the progression of neurodegenerative disorder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride comprises fatty acids having a chain length of from 4 to 22 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride comprises monoglycerol palmitate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride is derived from a vegetable oil selected from olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, palm oil, soybean oil, soy oil, coconut oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one free fatty acid is derived from a vegetable oil selected from olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phospholipid is a lecithin selected from egg lecithin, wheat lecithin, corn lecithin, soy lecithin, modified lecithin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises cholesterol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises the at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride in an amount of at least 10% by weight of the total fat component included in the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises the at least one free fatty acid or a salt thereof in an amount of from about 10% to about 60% by weight of the total fat component included in the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises a mixture of the at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride and the at least one free fatty acid or a salt thereof in an amount of from about 10% to about 65% by weight of the total fat component included in the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises the at least one phospholipid in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of the total fat component included in the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises cholesterol in an amount of at least about 0.05 grams per liter of the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition is an infant formula. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating neuronal tissue inflammation in an infant, the method comprising administering to the infant a nutritional composition comprising a protein with a degree of hydrolysis of 10% to 75% and a predigested fat system,
 wherein the predigested fat system comprises at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride, at least one free fatty acid or a salt thereof, and at least one phospholipid,   wherein the administration is effective in reducing neuronal tissue inflammation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises cholesterol. 
     
     
         16 . A method of enhancing maturation of the brain of an infant, the method comprising administering to the infant a nutritional composition comprising a protein with a degree of hydrolysis of 10% to 75% and a predigested fat system,
 wherein the predigested fat system comprises at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride, at least one free fatty acid or a salt thereof, and at least one phospholipid.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the nutritional composition further comprises cholesterol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises at least 10% by weight of the at least one fatty acid-containing monoglyceride, at least 10% by weight of the at least one free fatty acid or a salt thereof, and at least 5% by weight of the at least one phospholipid, all weight percents based on the total fat component included in the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the nutritional composition comprises cholesterol in an amount of at least about 0.05 grams per liter of the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the nutritional composition is an infant formula.