GB2526242A

GB2526242A - Nutritional composition

Info

Publication number: GB2526242A
Application number: GB1400293.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Southey
Original assignee: LEANDER INTERNAT PET FOODS Ltd
Current assignee: LEANDER INTERNAT PET FOODS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-01-08
Filing date: 2014-01-08
Publication date: 2015-11-25
Also published as: GB201400293D0

Abstract

Various nutritional compositions are disclosed that are useful in pet food formulations: a composition comprising a prebiotic and yucca schidigera extract; a composition comprising a prebiotic and a beta glucan; and a composition comprising yucca schidigera extract and a beta glucan. The prebiotic preferably comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides. The blend of fibres and plant extract in the compositions modify the bacterial and chemical composition of faeces in animals to reduce odour and improve consistency. The compositions also modulate the bacterial population to benefit the pets immune system.

Description

Nutritional Composition

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a nutritional composition and a pet food formulation comprising said nutritional composition.

BACKGROUND ART

Companion animals, including dogs, suffer from intestinal disorders which are characterised, for example, by the production of unformed wet faeces and may be accompanied by bad faecal odour. It has been proposed that these intestinal disorders may be related to dietary sensitivity and associated with a reduction in colonic function and may be a sign of of decreased gastrointestinal heath of the animal. These gastrointestinal disorders may be linked to bacterial overgrowth and the production of enterotoxins produced by pathogenic bacteria.

It is known that the addition of supplemental fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) to an animal's diet improves their gut health by altering microbial populations positively.

However, there is still a need to provide nutritional compositions which modulate the bacterial population of the gut, benefit the immune system, modify the bacterial and chemical composition of faeces, or assist with improving the consistency and the odour of animal faeces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a nutritional composition comprising at least one prebiotic and yucca schidigera extract.

Preferably, the prebiotic comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.

More preferably, the prebiotic comprises a mixture of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.

Preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, from about 0.O1% to about 7Q% mannanoligosaccharides. Even more preferably, the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.

Preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to about YO% fructooligosaccharides. Even more preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides.

Preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.Ol% to lO% yucca schidigera extract, more preferably about 3.5% yucca schidigera extract.

Preferably, the nutritional composition of the invention further comprises a beta glucan.

Preferably, the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

Preferably, the nutritional composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.O1% to about O% beta glucan. More preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, about 26.5% beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

Preferably, the beta glucan is purified.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a nutritional composition comprising at least one prebiotic and a beta glucan.

Preferably, the prebiotic comprises a mixture of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.

Preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, from about 0.O1% to about 7Q% mannanoligosaccharides. More preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.

Preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to about YO% fructooligosaccharides. More preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides.

Preferably, the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

Preferably, the nutritional composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.O1% to about 60% beta glucan. More preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, about 26.5% beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

Preferably, the beta glucan is purified.

Preferably, the nutritional composition further comprises yucca schidigera extract.

More preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to lO% yucca schidigera extract. Even more preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, about 3.S/c yucca schidigera extract.

In a third aspect the invention provides a composition comprising yucca schidigera extract and a beta glucan.

Preferably, the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

Preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, from about O.OP/o to about GO% beta glucan. More preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, about 26.5% beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

Preferably, the beta glucan is purified.

Preferably, the composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.O1% to 1O% yucca schidigera extract.

Preferably, the composition further comprises at least one prebiotic.

Preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, from about 0.Ol% to about ?0% mannanoligosaccharides. Even more preferably, the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.

Preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to about JO% fructooligosaccharides. Even more preferably, the mixture comprises, by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides.

In a fourth aspect the invention provides a pet food formulation comprising the nutritional composition according to the invention.

Preferably, the pet food formulation is a dry food formulation.

S

Preferably, the pet food formulation comprises about O.YS% by weight of the nutritional composition.

In a fifth aspect the invention provides a composition according to the invention for use as a medicament.

Preferably the composition is for use in the prevention and treatment of a gastrointestinal disorder or disease.

In a sixth aspect the invetion provides a method for preparing a composition of the invention, comprising the steps of blending the components of the composition.

In a seventh aspect the invention provides a method for preparing a formulation of the invention, comprising the steps of blending the components of the composition to form a composition and adding the composition to a dry food to provide the formulation of the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that aspects, embodiments and preferred features of the invention have been described herein in a way that allows the specification to be written in a clear and concise way. However, unless circumstances clearly dictate otherwise, aspects, embodiments and preferred features can be variously combined or separated in accordance with the invention. Thus, preferably, the invention provides a nutritional composition having features of a combination of two or more, three or more, or four or more of the aspects described herein. In a preferred embodiment, a nutritional composition in accordance with the invention comprises all aspects of the invention.

Within the context of this specification, the word "modulate" means to vary a response eg to increase or decrease a response.

Within the context of this specification, the word "about" means optionally plus or minus 20%, more preferably optionally plus or minus 10%, even more preferably optionally plus or minus 5%, most preferably optionally plus or minus 2%.

Within the context of this specification, the word "comprises" means "includes, among other things" and should not be construed to mean "consists of only".

Within the context of this specification, the word "substantially" means preferably at least 90%, more preferably 95%, even more preferably 98%, most preferably 99%.

The composition of the present invention provides a unique blend of fibres and plant extracts that modify the bacterial and chemical composition of faeces in animals to reduce odour, improve consistency and modulate bacterial population to benefit the immune system.

Prebiotics, which include fructooligosaccharides and mannanoligosaccharides, are nondigestible food ingredients that benefit the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system, thus improving health. Prebiotics have been defined, for example, by Gibson et al, Dietary Modulation of the Human Colonic Microbiota: Introducing the Concept of Prebiotics, 3. Nutr. 1995 125: 1401-1412.

Within the context of this specification, fructooligosaccharides are taken to mean oligosaccharides having 7 units of fructose plus 1 unit of glucose.

Within the context of this specification, mannanoligosaccharides are taken to mean oligosaccharides having alpha-1-3 & alpha-1-6 branched mannose units. Each oligosaccharide has about 3 to about 10 units, preferably about 7 units.

The prebiotics in accordance with the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of oligosaccharides, optionally containing fructose, galactose, mannose; dietary fibre, in particular soluble fibres, soy fibres; inulin; or mixtures thereof. Preferred prebiotics are mannanoligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides, zylooligosaccharides, oligosaccharides of soy, glycosylsucrose, lactosucrose, lactulose, palatinoseoligosaccharides, maltooligosaccharides, gums and/or hydrolysates thereof, pectins and/or hydrolysates thereof.

The composition may comprise from about 0 to about 70 % mannanoligosaccharides. Preferably, the composition may comprise at least O.Ol%, at least about 5%, at least about 1O%, at least about 15%, at least about 2O%, at least about 25%, at least about 30%, at least about 35% mannanoligosaccharides by weight. Preferably, the composition comprises up to about 70%, about 69%, about 65%, about 60%, about 55%, about 50%, about 45%, about 40% mannanoligosaccharides, by weight. More preferably, the composition comprises from about 30 to about 40% mannanoligosaccharides. Even more preferably, the composition comprises about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.

The composition may further comprise from about 0 to about 70% fructooligosaccharides. Preferably, the composition may comprise at least about O.Ol%, at least about 5%, at least about 1O%, at least about 15%, at least about 2O%, at least about 25%, at least about 3O%, at least about 35%, by weight fructooligosaccharides. Preferably, the composition comprises up to about 7O%, about 69%, about 65%, about 60%, about 55%, about 50%, about 45%, about 40% fructooligosaccharides, by weight. More preferably, the composition comprises from about 30 to about 4O% fructooligosaccharides. Even more preferably, the composition comprises about 35% fructooligosaccharides.

Yucca schidigera extract is an extract prepared by cutting yucca shidigera logs to size and the bark is removed. The log itself is then ground into small pieces for extraction. The extraction process involves counter-current elution of the glycocomponents through a modified French press.

Glycocomponents are then concentrated using molecular sieves followed by evaporation to produce an extract containing 60% solids. These extracted components are processed into powder & liquid forms for ease of application.

The composition may comprise of from about 0 to about lO% yucca schidigera extract. Preferably, composition may comprise at least about l%, at least about 1.5%, at least about 2%, at least about 2.5%, at least about 3%, at least about 3.5% yucca schidigera extract, by weight. Preferably, the composition comprises up to about 10%, about 9%, about 8%, about 7%, about 6%, about 5.5%, about 5%, about 4.5%, about 4% yucca schidigera extract, by weight. More preferably, the composition comprises from about 3% to about 4% yucca schidigera extract, by weight. Even more preferably, the composition comprises about 3.5% yucca schidigera extract, by weight.

Beta glucans are polysaccharides formed of D-glucose monomers, linked by -glycosidic bonds. Beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is a glucan comprising D-glucose units with (1,3) links and with side chains of D-glucose attached at the (1,6) position.

The composition may further comprise of from about 0 to GO% beta glucan.

Preferably, the composition may comprise at least about O.U1%, at least about 1%, at least about S%, at least about 1O%, at least at least about lS%, at least about 20%, at least about 25%, at least about 25.5%, at least about 26%, at least about 26.5% beta glucan. Preferably, the composition comprises up to about 60%, about 59%, about 55%, about 5O%, about 45%, about 40%, about 35%, about 30%, about 29%, about 28%, about 27.5%, beta glucan, by weight.

Preferably, the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.

The composition may be used in the preparation of a pet food formulation. The pet food formulation may be administered to the pet as a supplement to its normal diet or as a component of a nutritionally complete pet food. It may be a pharmaceutical composition.

Preferably, the pet food formulation comprises [insert variation of ranges], and most preferably 0.75% of a composition comprising at least yucca schidigera extract or a glucan.

The pet food formulation according to the invention may be in a powdered form, a treat, or a wet, chilled or shelf stable pet food product. These pet foods may be produced by ways known in the art.

Apart from the claimed composition, these pet foods may include any one or more of a starch source, a protein source and a lipid source. Suitable starch sources are, for example, grains and legumes such as corn, rice, wheat, barley, oats, soy, and mixtures of these. Suitable protein sources may be selected from any suitable animal or vegetable protein source; for example, meat and meal, poultry meal, fish meal, soy protein concentrates, milk proteins, gluten, and the like. For elderly animals, it is preferred that the protein source to contain a high quality protein.

Suitable lipid sources include meats, animal fats and vegetable fats.

The choice of the starch, protein and lipid sources will be largely determined by the nutritional needs of the animal, palatability considerations, and the type of product applied. For elderly pets, the pet food preferably contains proportionally less fat than pet foods for younger pets. Furthermore, the starch sources may include one or more of rice, barley, wheat and corn.

The pet food may optionally also contain a probiotic micro-organism or another active agent, for example a long chain fatty acid. The amount of probiotic in the pet food is preferably less than 1O°Io by weight. For example, the probiotic may comprise about O.l% to about 5% by weight of the pet food. For pet foods which use chicory as the source of the probiotic, the chicory may be included to comprise about O.5% to about lO% by weight of the feed mixture; more preferably about l% to about S% by weight.

If a probiotic micro-organism is used, the pet food preferably contains about io to about 1010 cells of the probiotic micro-organism per gram of the pet food; more preferably about i06 to about 108 cells of the probiotic micro-organism per gram.

The pet food may contain about O.5% to about 2O% by weight of the mixture of the probiotic micro-organism; preferably about 1°Io to about 6% by weight; for example about 3% to about &% by weight.

Suitable long chain fatty acids include linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, eicosapentanoic acid, and docosahexanoic acid. Fish oils are a suitable source of eicosapentanoic acids and decosahexanoic acid. Borage oil, blackcurrent seed oil and evening primrose oil are suitable sources of gamma linoleic acid.

Safflower oils, sunflower oils, corn oils and soybean oils are suitable sources of linoleic acid.

If necessary, the pet food is supplemented with minerals and vitamins so that they are nutritionally complete. Further, various other ingredients, for example, sugar, salt, spices, seasonings, flavouring agents, and the like may also be incorporated into the pet food as desired.

Dried pet food may be produced by a suitable process, for example extrusion cooking, although baking and other suitable processes may be used. If the dried pet food is extrusion cooked, it is provided in the form of a kibble. If a prebiotic is used, the prebiotic may be admixed with the other ingredients of the dried pet food prior to processing. If a probiotic micro-organism is used, the organism is preferably coated onto or filled into the dried pet food.

Gastrointestinal disorders include gastrointestinal diseases or intestinal diseases.

These may include diarrhoea, reduced colonic function, constipation, flatulence, including malodorous flatulence.

Examples

A faecal condition blend composition comprises about 35% mannanoligosaccharides (Alltech Bi0MOS ®) by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides (MicroFOS ®) by weight, about 3.5% yucca schidigera extract (Alltech Deodorase ®) by weight, and purified beta 1,3/1,6 glucans (Orifa MacroGuard ®).

Adult dog and puppy food may comprise O.75% of the faecal condition blend composition into complete dry food.

In one embodiment, the following ingredients (amounts are shown as a percentage by weight of the total weight) are added by manual addition into a stainless steel, ribbon-blend mixer (Winkworth): A source of mannan-oligosaccharides 30 -A source of fructo-olligosaccharides 30 -4O% A source of yucca shidigera extract 2 -5% A source of purified beta 1,3/1,6 glucans 20 -They are blended for a total of 2 minutes in conditions of about 10°C to about 25°C and about 30% to about 75% relative humidity. The material is then weighed into 20kg sacks (3-ply kraft paper) before being stacked on wooden pallets (120 x 100cm) in 500kg quantities (net wt).

The blend is added into recipes for dry, extruded foods at a rate of 0.5% to l.O%.

It is first combined with the other dry ingredients in the recipe (e.g. meat meals, cereals, dried sugar beet pulp, yeasts, dried egg powder, and vitamins & minerals), and mixed for up to 5 minutes. The mixture is then passed through a hammer mill to reduce the particle size to a maximum of 1.5mm, before being transferred to the extrusion line. Liquid ingredients (e.g. fats, fresh emulsified meats, etc) are then added to the dry blend as it is introduced to a pre-conditioner (Wenger DDC).

Water and steam are added at between 0°k to 30% (combined total) and the ingredients are conditioned/blended for up to 5 minutes before passing into the extruder (Wenger TX144). Further quantities of steam and water are added (0 - 10°k combined total), and starch gelatinisation carried out via heat and pressure exertion through kinetic energy.

Pressure and temperature are controlled to create the following conditions through extrusion: 1. A temperature range of 80°C -110°C 2. A product moisture content of 20% -4O% 3. A product density of 350 g/L -550 g/L 4. A starch gelatinisation figure of 85% -100% (as a percentage of total starch content) The product is then dried in a horizontal, 2-pass drier until the total moisture content of the food is 3% to lO%, and the water activity (Aw) level is 0.4au to 0.7 au. A coating of fat and hydrolysed meat is then applied by spray-addition (1% to 20%), before the food is reduced to ambient temperature via placement in a cooling chamber (for about 15 to about 60 minutes). The food is then packed into feed-grade retail packaging, and closed by thermo-sealing equipment.

It will of course be understood that many variations may be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A composition comprising at least one prebiotic and yucca schidigera extract.
2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the prebiotic comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.
3. The composition according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the prebiotic comprises a mixture of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.
4. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, from about O.01% to about 70% mannanoligosaccharides.
5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.
6. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, from about O.O1% to about 7O% fructooligosaccharides.
7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides.
8. The composition according to any preceding claim, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to lO% yucca schidigera extract.
9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, about 3.5% yucca schidigera extract.
10. The composition according to any preceding claim, further comprising a beta glucan.
11. The composition according to claim 10, wherein the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.
12. The composition according to any of claims 10 or 11, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to about &O% beta glucan.
13. The composition according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, about 26.5% beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.
14. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is purified.
15. A composition comprising at least one prebiotic and a beta glucan.
16. The composition according to claim 15, wherein the prebiotic comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.
17. The composition according to any of claims 15 or 16, wherein the prebiotic comprises a mixture of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.
18. The composition according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, from about O.OP/o to about YO% mannanoligosaccharides.
19. The composition according to claim 18, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.
20. The composition according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, from about 0.01% to about 7O% fructooligosaccharides.
21. The composition according to claim 20, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides.
22. The composition according to any of claims 15 to 21, wherein the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.
23. The composition according to any of claims 15 or 22, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.Ol% to about 6O% beta glucan.
24. The composition according to any of claims 15 to 23, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, about 26.5% beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.
25. The composition according to claim 22, wherein the beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is pu rifled.
26. The composition according to any of claims 15 to 25, further comprising yucca schidigera extract.
27. The composition according to claim 26, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.01% to 10% yucca schidigera extract.
28. The composition according to claim 27, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, about 3.5% yucca schidigera extract.
29. A composition comprising yucca schidigera extract and a beta glucan.
30. The composition according to claim 29, wherein the beta glucan is beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.
31. The composition according to any of claims 29 or 30, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, from about O.Ol% to about 60°k beta glucan.
32. The composition according to claim 30, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, about 26.5% beta 1,3/1,6 glucan.
33. The composition according to any of claims 30 to 32, wherein the beta 1,3/1,6 glucan is purified.
34. The composition according to any of claims 29 to 33, wherein the composition comprises, by weight, from about 0.Ol% to 10% yucca schidigera extract.
35. The composition according to any of claims 29 to 34, further comprising at least one prebiotic.
36. The composition according to claim 35, wherein the prebiotic comprises at least one oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.
37. The composition according to any of claims 35 or 36, wherein the prebiotic comprises a mixture of mannanoligosaccharides and fructooligosaccharides.
38. The composition according to any of claims 35 to 37, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, from about 0.01% to about 70% mannanoligosaccharides.
39. The composition according to claim 38, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% mannanoligosaccharides.
40. The composition according to any of claims 35 to 39, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, from about 0.01% to about 7O% fructooligosaccharides.
41. The composition according to claim 40, wherein the prebiotic comprises, by weight, about 35% fructooligosaccharides.
42. A pet food formulation comprising the composition according to any of the preceding claims.
43. The pet food formulation according to claim 42, wherein the formulation is a dry food formulation.
44. The pet food formulation according to claim 43, wherein the composition comprises 0.75% of the dry food formulation.
45. A composition according to any of claims ito 41, for use as a medicament.
46. A composition according to any of claims 1 to 41, for use in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and diseases.
47. A method of preparing the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 41, comprising the steps of mixing the parts of the composition.
48. A method of preparing the formulation according to any one of claims 42 to 44, comprising the steps of adding the blend of any one of claims ito 41 to a food formulation.