The present invention relates to compositions, particularly baby food compositions, including living propionic acid-producing bacteria, preferably lactate-utilizing propionic acid-producing bacteria, their manufacture and use in the treatment of digestive diseases, particularly for treatment of infantile colic.

Described herein are methods of producing prebiotic compositions that are made up of oligosaccharide compositions, as well as methods of using such prebiotic compositions in nutritional compositions and methods of producing such oligosaccharide and nutritional compositions.

Described herein are methods of producing prebiotic compositions that are made up of oligosaccharide compositions, as well as methods of using such prebiotic compositions in nutritional compositions and methods of producing such oligosaccharide and nutritional compositions.

The present invention provides a use of a substance in the preparation of a product for treating chronic atrophic gastritis, protecting gastric mucosa, treating gastric precancerous lesions, blocking transformation of gastritis into cancer, and preventing occurrence of gastric cancer, the product being one selected from a medicament, a healthcare product and a foodstuff, and the substance being selected from the group consisting of: nuciferin, a nuciferin derivative, a lotus leaf extract, and a mixture of at least two selected from the above substances. The use includes at least one of treating chronic atrophic gastritis, protecting gastric mucosa, blocking transformation of gastritis into cancer, treating gastric precancerous lesions, and preventing occurrence of gastric cancer. In vitro experiments showed that nuciferin can block transformation of gastritis into cancer and cell proliferation. In vivo experiments showed that nuciferin and lotus leaf extract can treat atrophic gastritis in rats (especially chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia), protect rats from gastric mucosal damage and inhibit abnormal proliferation of gastrointestinal stem cells in Drosophila. Clinical tests indicated that lotus leaf extract can improve symptoms and objective indicators in patients with atrophic gastritis or gastric precancerous lesions.

The present invention provides a use of a substance in the preparation of a product for treating chronic atrophic gastritis, protecting gastric mucosa, treating gastric precancerous lesions, blocking transformation of gastritis into cancer, and preventing occurrence of gastric cancer, the product being one selected from a medicament, a healthcare product and a foodstuff, and the substance being selected from the group consisting of: nuciferin, a nuciferin derivative, a lotus leaf extract, and a mixture of at least two selected from the above substances. The use includes at least one of treating chronic atrophic gastritis, protecting gastric mucosa, blocking transformation of gastritis into cancer, treating gastric precancerous lesions, and preventing occurrence of gastric cancer. In vitro experiments showed that nuciferin can block transformation of gastritis into cancer and cell proliferation. In vivo experiments showed that nuciferin and lotus leaf extract can treat atrophic gastritis in rats (especially chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia), protect rats from gastric mucosal damage and inhibit abnormal proliferation of gastrointestinal stem cells in Drosophila. Clinical tests indicated that lotus leaf extract can improve symptoms and objective indicators in patients with atrophic gastritis or gastric precancerous lesions.

The present invention concerns a nutritional composition, for example a synthetic nutritional composition, for use in reducing the metabolic stress. This composition is for use in mammals, preferably in humans, more preferably in infants. The nutritional composition comprises one or more medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) derivative or derivatives for use in reducing metabolic stress. Conditions and/or diseases associated to the metabolic disorders and/or imbalances in an infant are selected in the group consisting of neurological, growth and/or gut retarded development or abnormalities, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia. The infant is born preterm or with low-birthweight (LBW) or who experienced intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) or small for gestational age (SGA)).

The present invention concerns a nutritional composition, for example a synthetic nutritional composition, for use in reducing the metabolic stress. This composition is for use in mammals, preferably in humans, more preferably in infants. The nutritional composition comprises one or more medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) derivative or derivatives for use in reducing metabolic stress. Conditions and/or diseases associated to the metabolic disorders and/or imbalances in an infant are selected in the group consisting of neurological, growth and/or gut retarded development or abnormalities, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia. The infant is born preterm or with low-birthweight (LBW) or who experienced intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) or small for gestational age (SGA)).

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an agent for improving intestinal flora which can increase the number of beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium to improve intestinal flora by using an enzyme. A protease consisting of a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 can increase beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium in intestines to exert an excellent effect of improving intestinal flora.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an agent for improving intestinal flora which can increase the number of beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium to improve intestinal flora by using an enzyme. A protease consisting of a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 can increase beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium in intestines to exert an excellent effect of improving intestinal flora.

A formulation to increase the ratio of gastrointestinal microbiota in phylum Bacteroidetes to microbiota of Firmicutes phylum preferably includes about 20-60 mg/kg of body weight of fermentable fiber, about 10-30 mg/kg of body weight of beta glucan and about 20-60 mg/kg of body weight of blueberry extracts or any fruit or berry ingredient preparation containing similar phenolics. This formulation is preferably used to control body weight, body composition, and blood glucose regulation, preferably in humans, and is preferably administered orally, preferably twice per day.