[0064] The composition of macromolecules in a องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ ซึ่งประกอบรวมด้วย hydrolyzed protein is limited due to the hydrolysis of the proteins. Moreover, the viscosity of a fluid matrix is related to the internal friction between molecules, with larger molecules causing higher
viscosities. Hence, at equal concentration of solids, the viscosity of a องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ ซึ่งประกอบรวมด้วย hydrolyzed protein(s) is lower than that of a similar formula that contains intact
proteins. Yet administration of a องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ having a low viscosity may lead to GER.
[0065] A simple approach to alter the rheological properties of a composition ซึ่งประกอบรวมด้วย
hydrolyzed protein(s) would be to incorporate components with larger hydration volume.
However, this would create a challenge to feeding a viscous fluid to subjects through a nipple of a bottle, such as a bottle used to feed an infant.
[0066] Accordingly, the การเปิดเผยนี้ provides compositions and methods for increasing the viscosity of compositions ซึ่งประกอบรวมด้วย hydrolyzed protein(s) by utilizing a combination of starch and pectin to confer an increase in the viscosity of in the presence of an acidic
environment, such as in a subject's stomach. Indeed, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the
การเปิดเผยนี้ may treat, prevent, or reduce the occurrence of or the frequency of the occurrence of GER or its symptoms by providing an increase in viscosity of the nutritional
composition once the composition reaches a subject's stomach.
[0067] Moreover, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the การเปิดเผยนี้ ประกอบรวมด้วย at least one starch, source of starch and/or starch component. A starch is a carbohydrate composed of two distinct polymer fractions: amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is the linear fraction mainly
consisting of a-1,4 linked glucose units. Amylopectin has the same structure as amylose, but some of the glucose units are combined in an a-1,6 linkage, giving rise to a branched structure. Starches generally contain 15-25% amylose and from 75-85% amylopectin. Yet special genetic varieties of plants have been developed that produce starch with unusual amylose to
amylopectin ratios. Some plants produce starch that is substantially free of amylose. These
mutants produce starch granules in the endosperm and pollen that stain red with iodine and
that contain nearly 100% amylopectin. Some starches that are predominant amylopectin
sources are, for example, waxy corn, waxy sorghum, waxy potato, waxy tapioca and สตาร์ชข้าวแบบแวกซี่.
[0068] The performance of starches under conditions of heat, shear and acid may be modified or improved by chemical modifications. Modifications are usually attained by introduction of substituent chemical groups. For example, viscosity at high temperatures or high shear can be increased or stabilized by cross-linking with di- or polyfunctional reagents, such as phosphorus oxychloride.
[0069] In some instances, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the การเปิดเผยนี้ ประกอบรวมด้วย at
least one starch that is gelatinized and/or pre-gelatinized. The term "gelatinized starch" as
used herein should be interpreted to include any and all พีพี(es). As is known in the art, gelatinization occurs when polymer molecules interact over a portion of their length to form a network that entraps solvent and/or solute molecules. Moreover, gels form when pectin molecules lose some water of hydration owing to competitive hydration of cosolute molecules. Factors that influence the occurrence of gelation include pH, concentration of cosolutes,
concentration and type of cations, temperature and pectin concentration. Notably, LM pectin will gel only in the presence of divalent cations, such as calcium ions. And among LM pectins, those with the lowest degree of เอสเตอริฟิเคชัน have the highest gelling temperatures and the
greatest need for divalent cations for crossbridging.
[0070] Pre-gelatinization of starch is a process of pre-cooking starch to produce material that hydrates and swells in cold water. The pre-cooked starch is then dried, for example by drum drying or spray drying. Moreover the starch of the การเปิดเผยนี้ can be chemically
modified to further extend the range of its finished properties. The องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the การเปิดเผยนี้ may ประกอบรวมด้วย at least one พีพี.
[0071] Native starch granules are insoluble in water, but, when heated in water, native starch granules begin to swell when sufficient heat energy is present to overcome the bonding forces of the starch molecules. With continued heating, the granule swells to many times its original volume. The friction between these swollen granules is the major factor that contributes to starch paste viscosity.
[0072] The องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the การเปิดเผยนี้ may ประกอบรวมด้วย native or modified starches, such as, for example, สตาร์ชข้าวโพดแบบแวกซี่, สตาร์ชข้าวแบบแวกซี่, waxy potato starch, waxy tapioca starch, corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch or any ของผสมของมัน. Generally, common corn starch ประกอบรวมด้วย about 25% amylose, while สตาร์ชข้าวโพดแบบแวกซี่ is almost totally made up of amylopectin. Meanwhile, potato starch generally ประกอบรวมด้วย about 20% amylose. ในบางรุรุ, waxy potato starch could ประกอบรวมด้วย about 99% amylopectin. In certain embodiments, rice starch ประกอบรวมด้วย an
amylose:amylopectin ratio of about 20:80, and ในบางรุรุ, สตาร์ชข้าวแบบแวกซี่
ประกอบรวมด้วย only about 2% amylose. Further, ในบางรุรุ, tapioca starch may
ประกอบรวมด้วย about 15% to about 18% amylose, and in certain embodiments, wheat starch may have an amylose content of around 25%.
[0073] ในบางรุรุ, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ ประกอบรวมด้วย gelatinized and/or pre-
gelatinized สตาร์ชข้าวโพดแบบแวกซี่. In other embodiments, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ ประกอบรวมด้วย
gelatinized and/or pre-gelatinized waxy potato starch. Other gelatinized and/or พีพีes may also be used, such as pre-gelatinized tapioca starch. In certain embodiments,
commercial starches, such as pre-gelatinized สตาร์ชข้าวโพดแบบแวกซี่ from Ingredion Incorporated of Westchester, Illinois USA and/or waxy potato starch from Avebe of Veendam, The Netherlands, may be included in the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ.
[0074] In certain embodiments, pre-gelatinzed starch may be dry-blended into a finished
nutritional product. In these embodiments, the พีพี maintains a certain
granule shape. In other embodiments, gelatinized starch refers to starch that is added during thermal processing of a องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ, โดยที่ the starch is gelatinized during heat-
treatment. Such gelatinized starch may maintain some of its granular shape(s).
[0075] Additionally, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the การเปิดเผยนี้ ประกอบรวมด้วย at least one source of pectin. Indeed, ในบางรุรุ, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ may be a liquid product that contains gelatinized starch and pectin. The source of pectin may ประกอบรวมด้วย any
variety or grade of pectin known in the art. ในบางรุรุ, the pectin has a degree of เอสเตอริฟิเคชัน of less than 50% and is classified as low methylated ("LM") pectin. In some
embodiments, the pectin has a degree of เอสเตอริฟิเคชัน of greater than or equal to 50% and is classified as high-ester or high methylated ("HM") pectin. In still other embodiments, the pectin is very low ("VL") pectin, which has a degree of เอสเตอริฟิเคชัน that is less than approximately 15%. Further, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ of the การเปิดเผยนี้ may ประกอบรวมด้วย LM pectin, HM pectin, VL pectin, or any ของผสมของมัน. The องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ may include pectin that is soluble in water. And, as known in the art, the solubility and viscosity of a pectin solution are related to the molecular weight, degree of เอสเตอริฟิเคชัน, concentration of the pectin
preparation and the pH and presence of counterions. ในบางรุรุ, a nutritional
composition according to the การเปิดเผยนี้ may ประกอบรวมด้วย from about 0.1% to about 5% (w/w) pectin. In certain embodiments, if LM pectin is used, the องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ may
ประกอบรวมด้วย from about 0.9% to about 1.5% (w/w) pectin. In a particular embodiment, the
องค์ประกอบทางโภชนาการ includes pre-gelatinized สตาร์ชข้าวโพดแบบแวกซี่ and from about 0.9% to about
1.5% (w/w) pectin.
[0076] Moreover, pectin has a unique ability to form gels. Generally, under similar conditions, a pectin's degree of gelation, the gelling temperature, and the gel strength are proportional to one another, and each is generally proportional to the molecular weight of the pectin and
inversely proportional to the degree of เอสเตอริฟิเคชัน. For example, as the pH of a pectin
solution is lowered, ionization of the carboxylate groups is repressed, and, as a result of losing
their charge, saccharide molecules do not repel each other over their entire length.
Accordingly, the โพลีแซคคาไรด์