The composition according to the การประดิษฐ์ can also contain a protein source. The type of protein is not believed to be critical to the present การประดิษฐ์ provided that the minimum requirements for essential amino แอซิด content are met and satisfactory growth is ensured. Thus, protein sources based on whey, casein and ของผสม thereof may be used as well as protein sources based on soy. As far as whey proteins are concerned, the protein source may be based on แอซิด whey or sweet whey or ของผสม thereof and may include alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin in any desired proportions. The proteins can be at least partially hydrolyzed in order to enhancement of oral tolerance to allergens, especially food allergens. In that case the composition is a hypoallergenic composition.
In a preferred embodiment, the composition may be cow's milk whey based infant formula. The formula may also be a hypoallergenic (HA) formula in which the cow milk proteins are (partially or extensively) hydrolysed. The formula may also be based on soy milk or a non-allergenic formula, for example one based on free amino แอซิดs.
The composition of the การประดิษฐ์ can also contain all vitamins and minerals, and other micronutrients, understood to be essential in the daily diet and in nutritionally significant ปริมาณs. Minimum requirements have been established for certain vitamins and minerals. Examples of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients optionally present in the composition of the การประดิษฐ์ include vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin D, folic แอซิด, inositol, niacin, biotin, pantothenic แอซิด, choline, calcium, phosphorous, iodine, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc,
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manganese, chlorine, potassium, sodium, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, taurine, and L-carnitine. Minerals are usually added in salt form. The presence and ปริมาณs of specific minerals and other vitamins will vary depending on the intended population.
If necessary, the composition of the การประดิษฐ์ may contain emulsifiers and stabilisers such as soy, lecithin, citric แอซิด esters of mono- and di-glycerides, and the like.
The composition of the การประดิษฐ์ may also contain other substances which may have a beneficial effect such as lactoferrin, nucleotides, nucleosides, gangliosides, polyamines, and the like.
The preparation of the composition according to the การประดิษฐ์ will now be described by way of example.
The formula may be prepared in any suitable manner. For example, it may be prepared by blending together a protein source, a carbohydrate source, and a fat source ที่รวมถึง the MCFAs in appropriate proportions and the PUFAs. If used, the emulsifiers may be included at this point. The vitamins and minerals may be added at this point but are usually added later to avoid thermal degradation. Any lipophilic vitamins, emulsifiers and the like may be dissolved into the fat source prior to blending. Water, ทททคือ water which has been subjected to reverse osmosis, may then be mixed in to form a liquid ของผสม. The temperature of the water is conveniently in the range ระหว่างประมาณ 50°C and about 80°C to aid dispersal of the ingredients. Commercially available liquefiers may be used to form the liquid ของผสม. The liquid ของผสม is then homogenized, for example in two stages.
The liquid ของผสม may then be thermally treated to reduce bacterial loads, by rapidly heating the liquid ของผสม to a temperature in the range ระหว่างประมาณ 80°C and about 150°C for duration ระหว่างประมาณ 5 seconds and about 5 minutes, for example. This
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may be carried out by means of steam injection, an autoclave or a heat exchanger, for example a plate heat exchanger.
Then, the liquid ของผสม may be cooled to ระหว่างประมาณ 60°C and about 85°C for example by flash cooling. The liquid ของผสม may then be again homogenized, for example in two stages ระหว่างประมาณ 10 MPa and about 30 MPa in the first stage and ระหว่างประมาณ 2 MPa and about 10 MPa in the second stage. The homogenized ของผสม may then be further cooled to add any heat sensitive components, such as vitamins and minerals. The pH and solids content of the homogenized ของผสม are conveniently adjusted at this point.
The homogenized ของผสม is transferred to a suitable drying apparatus such as a spray dryer or freeze dryer and converted to powder. The powder should have a moisture content of less than about 5% by weight. Some of the carbohydrate may be added at this stage by dry-mixing along with optional probiotic bacterial strain(s), or by blending them in a syrup form of crystals, along with optional probiotic bacterial strain(s), and spray-dry (or freeze —dry).
If a liquid composition is preferred, the homogenized ของผสม may be sterilized then aseptically filled into suitable containers or may be first filled into the containers and then retorted.
In another embodiment, the composition of the การประดิษฐ์ may be a supplement in an ปริมาณ sufficient to achieve the desired effect in an infant. This form of administration is usually more suited to preterm infants.
The ปริมาณ of MCFAs and PUFAs to be included in the supplement will be selected according to the manner in which the supplement is to be administered.
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The supplement may be in the form of powder, tablets, capsules, pastilles or a liquid for example, as long as it is a suitable nutritional composition for the infant. The supplement may further contain protective hydrocolloids (such as gums, proteins, modified starches), binders, film forming agents, encapsulating agents/materials, wall/shell materials, matrix compounds, coatings, emulsifiers, surface active agents, solubilizing agents (oils, fats, waxes, lecithins etc.), adsorbents, carriers, fillers, co-
compounds, dispersing agents, wetting agents, processing aids (solvents), flowing agents, taste masking agents, weighting agents, jellifying agents and gel forming agents. The supplement may also contain conventional pharmaceutical additives and adjuvants, excipients and diluents, ที่รวมถึง, but not limited to, water, gelatine of any origin, vegetable gums, lignin-sulfonate, talc, sugars, starch, gum arabic, vegetable oils, polyalkylene glycols, flavouring agents, preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifying agents, buffers, lubricants, colorants, wetting agents, fillers, and the like.
The supplement can be added in a product acceptable to the consumer (who is an infant), such as an ingestible carrier or support, respectively. Examples of such carriers or supports are a pharmaceutical or a food composition. Examples for such compositions are infant formula ที่รวมถึง preterm formula.
Further, the supplement may contain an organic or inorganic carrier material suitable for enteral or parenteral administration as well as vitamins, minerals trace elements and other micronutrients in accordance with the recommendations of Government bodies such as the European Commission Directive 2006/141/EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formulae and follow-on formulae.
The composition of the การประดิษฐ์ is an infant formula (or a follow-on formula or a growing up milk or a human milk สารเสริมโภชนาการ), for infant of less than 12 months, less than 6 months or ทททคือ of 3 months or less. In this case, the composition is a preterm infant formula. It is generally known, or at least hypnotized, that early nutritional interventions can be more effective (in comparison to intervention at later stages in life)
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in programming the metabolic pathways of the infants to induce optimal balanced growth and thus prevent obesity during infancy and later in life
In one embodiment of the การประดิษฐ์, the composition of the การประดิษฐ์ is an infant formula intended and/or especially designed for preterm infants. It is generally known, or at least hypothized, that this subject group is more prone to suffer from unbalanced growth (and, thus, from being obese later in life) due to the immaturity of the metabolic pathways and physiological conditions at birth. Early adaptation and control of the diet is therefore of the highest importance.
In one embodiment of the การประดิษฐ์, the composition of the การประดิษฐ์ is an infant formula (or a follow-on formula or a growing up milk or a human milk สารเสริมโภชนาการ), for infants born from mothers or parents having a history of obesity or overweight. It is generally known, or at least hypothized, that these subjects groups are more prone to suffer from unbalanced growth (and, thus, from being obese later in life), due, for example, to genetic or epi-genetic predispositions. It is, therefore, critical to address such issues as early as possible during infancy by a specifically adapted diet.
Although the การประดิษฐ์ has been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the การประดิษฐ์ as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.
The การประดิษฐ์ is further described with reference to the following examples. It will be appreciated that the การประดิษฐ์ as claimed is not intended to be limited in any way by these examples.