Methods of using human milk oligosaccharides for improving airway respiratory health
Inventors
Buck, Rachael • Duska-McEwen, Geralyn O. • Davis, Steven R.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12280069-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed are nutritional compositions including human milk oligosaccharides that can be administered to preterm infants, term infants, toddlers, and children for improving airway defense mechanisms.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to nutritional compositions for infant, toddler, and child use that include human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) to improve airway respiratory health and airway defense mechanisms. The compositions are described as dampening inflammation and oxidative stress and modulating immune cytokines and chemokines, with functional outcomes including reduced virus-induced inflammation and reduced viral replication.
The HMOs include 3′-sialyllactose, 6′-sialyllactose, 2′-fucosyllactose, 3′-fucosyllactose, and lacto-N-neotetraose, and they are optionally combined with carotenoids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and nucleotides. The document describes mechanistic and biological findings in which HMO-mediated decreases in IP-10 and increases in IL-10 are observed, including IL-10 increases even without virus exposure.
The background problem addressed is virus-associated airway inflammation and airway defense impairment, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related effects. The disclosed nutritional compositions are described as targeting these airway inflammation and oxidative stress pathways, including evidence of oxidative stress reduction and glutathione-related maintenance in a preterm piglet model, and antiviral effects against RSV, HPIV3, and influenza in vitro.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes one independent claim directed to treating or preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with dependent claims that refine subject outcomes, concentration thresholds, and administration parameters. The claim set is centered on administering a nutritional composition containing specific carotenoids at a low total amount together with human milk oligosaccharides, particularly 2′-fucosyllactose, within defined concentration ranges.
Treating or preventing RSV with carotenoids at 1 mcg/mL or less and 2′-fucosyllactose between 0.001 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL
A method of treating or preventing RSV in a human subject by administering a nutritional composition comprising one or more carotenoids including at least one of lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, where the total amount of the one or more carotenoids is 1 mcg/mL or less, and from about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL of human milk oligosaccharides comprising 2′-fucosyllactose.
Increasing the speed of recovery from RSV
The method further includes increasing the speed of recovery from RSV.
Lacto-N-neotetraose and 2′-fucosyllactose with added minimum concentration thresholds
The nutritional composition includes at least about 1 mg/mL of lacto-N-neotetraose and at least about 2 mg/mL of 2′-fucosyllactose, or both.
2′-fucosyllactose with acidic human milk oligosaccharides minimum amounts
The nutritional composition includes at least about 1 mg/mL of 2′-fucosyllactose and at least about 0.2 mg/mL of acidic human milk oligosaccharides.
Including nucleotides at an amount of at least about 42 mg/L
The nutritional composition includes nucleotides at an amount of at least about 42 mg/L.
Serving-size administration of about 4 mL to about 250 mL
The nutritional composition is administered in a serving size of about 4 mL to about 250 mL.
Across the provided claim set, the main inventive coverage is the RSV treatment or prevention method that administers a nutritional composition containing carotenoids at a total amount of 1 mcg/mL or less together with 2′-fucosyllactose at about 0.001 mg/mL to about 20 mg/mL, with dependent features further specifying speed of recovery, additional oligosaccharide and acidic-HMO thresholds, optional nucleotide inclusion, and a defined serving-size range.
Stated Advantages
Dampens inflammation and oxidative stress.
Modulates immune cytokines and chemokines.
Reduces virus-induced inflammation.
Reduces viral replication.
Increases IL-10 and decreases IP-10.
Reduces oxidative stress and supports glutathione-related maintenance in a preterm piglet model.
Provides antiviral effects against RSV, HPIV3, and influenza in vitro.
Increases speed of recovery from RSV.
Documented Applications
Treating or preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a human subject using the disclosed nutritional composition.
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