Provided are nutritional compositions containing dietary butyrate. Further disclosed are methods for reducing the incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in a target subject via administering the nutritional composition containing dietary butyrate to the target subject. Further provided are methods for improving adipose tissue functioning in a target subject.

A method is for stimulating the growth of bacteria of the Bacteroidetes phylum in the gut microbiota of a mammal. The method includes administering a yeast product as a prebiotic agent to the mammal. The yeast product comprises the walls of yeast cells, such as those of the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia, Candida, Kluyveromyces, Yarrowia and/or Wickehomomyces, or a fraction thereof.

A method is for stimulating the growth of bacteria of the Bacteroidetes phylum in the gut microbiota of a mammal. The method includes administering a yeast product as a prebiotic agent to the mammal. The yeast product comprises the walls of yeast cells, such as those of the genera Saccharomyces, Pichia, Candida, Kluyveromyces, Yarrowia and/or Wickehomomyces, or a fraction thereof.

The present invention relates to a composition for relieving a hangover or a composition for preventing, alleviating or treating alcoholic liver disease, comprising a β-glucan as an active ingredient.

The present invention relates to a composition for relieving a hangover or a composition for preventing, alleviating or treating alcoholic liver disease, comprising a β-glucan as an active ingredient.

A non-therapeutic method of improving growth performance of a weaning mammal comprises a step of administering to the weaning mammal or a maternal mammal an effective amount of beta-glucan and casein hydrolysate, wherein the weight ratio of beta-glucan to casein hydrolysate is 1:2 to 2:1. A dietary supplement suitable for oral administration to a mammal comprising beta-glucan and casein hydrolysate is also provided, wherein the weight ratio of beta-glucan to casein hydrolysate is 1:2 to 2:1.

A digestive supplement that mitigates adverse reactions caused by food allergens and assists in the enhancement of digestive health of mono-gastric mammals, including, but not limited to, companion animal and humans.

A digestive supplement that mitigates adverse reactions caused by food allergens and assists in the enhancement of digestive health of mono-gastric mammals, including, but not limited to, companion animal and humans.

The present invention relates to an enzyme having -1,6-glucosyl transfer activity, which can use a partially degraded starch product as a substrate and is heat resistant and suitable for industrial applications; an enzyme preparation for use in manufacturing -1,6-glucan, comprising the enzyme as an active ingredient; and a method for manufacturing -1,6-glucan using the enzyme or enzyme preparation. The present invention provides an enzyme having -1,6-glucosyl transfer activity, which is any one of proteins (a), (b), and (c): (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and (c) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acid(s) have been substituted, inserted, deleted and/or added in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

The present invention relates to an enzyme having -1,6-glucosyl transfer activity, which can use a partially degraded starch product as a substrate and is heat resistant and suitable for industrial applications; an enzyme preparation for use in manufacturing -1,6-glucan, comprising the enzyme as an active ingredient; and a method for manufacturing -1,6-glucan using the enzyme or enzyme preparation. The present invention provides an enzyme having -1,6-glucosyl transfer activity, which is any one of proteins (a), (b), and (c): (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3; and (c) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acid(s) have been substituted, inserted, deleted and/or added in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.