Xylitol for treatment of vaginal infections
View Patent ↗A vaginal treatment composition that employs a therapeutic agent to inhibit and/or treat vaginal infection is provided. The therapeutic agent is capable of inhibiting and/or killing Gardnerella (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis ), Candida (e.g., Candida albicans ), and/or Trichomonas (e.g., Trichomonas vaginalis ) pathogens. Desirably, such antimicrobial efficacy is achieved without substantially inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. For instance, sugars and/or sugar alcohols may be employed in the present invention as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting and/or treating vaginal infection. In one particular embodiment, D-xylitol is used as the therapeutic agent.
1. A method for treating bacterial vaginosis caused by Gardnerella vaginalis , the method comprising topically administering to the vagina of a female in need thereof a vaginal treatment composition comprising:
from about 0.1 wt/vol % to about 10 wt/vol % of at least one therapeutic agent that includes xylitol, and
from about 0.05 wt/vol % to about 5 wt/vol % of at least one gelling agent that includes gellan gum,
wherein the vaginal treatment composition has an osmolarity of from about 270 to about 310 milliosmoles per liter and a pH of from about 2.5 to about 5.0, and
wherein the treatment composition forms a gel after application to the vagina.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition comprises from about 0.2 wt/vol % to about 5.0 wt/vol % of xylitol.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition comprises from about 0.5 wt/vol % to about 4.5 wt/vol % of xylitol.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition has an osmolarity of from about 280 to about 300 milliosmoles per liter.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition is substantially free of tonicity agents other than xylitol.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent consists of xylitol.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 4.5.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition further comprises a pH modifier.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pH modifier is a carboxylic acid.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pH modifier is lactic acid.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pH modifier is gallic acid.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1 wt/vol % to about 1 wt/vol %.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of monovalent and divalent salts.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent includes low acyl gellan gum.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition inhibits the growth of Gardnerella vaginalis.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition does not substantially inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus.
17. A method for treating trichomonas vaginitis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis , the method comprising topically administering to the vagina of a female in need thereof a vaginal treatment composition comprising:
from about 0.1 wt/vol % to about 10 wt/vol % of at least one therapeutic agent that includes xylitol, and
from about 0.05 wt/vol % to about 5 wt/vol % of at least one gelling agent that includes gellan gum,
wherein the vaginal treatment composition has an osmolarity of from about 270 to about 310 milliosmoles per liter and a pH of from about 2.5 to about 5.0, and
wherein the treatment composition forms a gel after application to the vagina.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition comprises from about 0.2 wt/vol % to about 5.0 wt/vol % of xylitol.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition comprises from about 0.5 wt/vol % to about 4.5 wt/vol % of xylitol.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition has an osmolarity of from about 280 to about 300 milliosmoles per liter.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the therapeutic agent consists of xylitol.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 4.5.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition further comprises a pH modifier.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the pH modifier is a carboxylic acid.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the pH modifier is lactic acid.
26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the pH modifier is gallic acid.
27. The method of claim 17 , wherein the gelling agent is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1 wt/vol % to about 1 wt/vol %.
28. The method of claim 17 , wherein the composition is substantially free of monovalent and divalent salts.
29. The method of claim 17 , wherein the gelling agent includes a low acyl gellan gum.
30. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition inhibits the growth of Trichomonas vaginalis .
31. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition does not substantially inhibit the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus .
32. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vaginal treatment composition is substantially free of tonicity agents other than xylitol.