LACTOSE COMPOSITIONS WITH DECREASED LACTOSE CONTENT
The invention provides methods and compositions for treating symptoms associated with lactose intolerance and for overall improvement in gastrointestinal health. Described herein are methods and compositions for improving overall gastrointestinal health or for decreasing symptoms of lactose intolerance by administering to an individual a lactose composition with decreased lactose content in combination with effective amounts of prebiotics and/or probiotics.
1 . A composition comprising a lactose composition with decreased lactose content and an effective amount of a probiotic, a prebiotic, or a mixture thereof, wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises at least about 0.001% lactose.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises lactose present ins a substance chosen from the group consisting of milk or milk products comprising flavored-milk, yogurt, a yogurt drink, a cheese, butter, ice cream, sherbet, a liquado, and a smoothie.
3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises non-fat, reduced-fat, or whole-fat compositions.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.01% to about 5.3% lactose.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.01% to about 2.7% lactose.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.1% to about 5.3% lactose.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.1% to about 2.7% lactose.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the prebiotic comprises a carbohydrate polymer.
9 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the prebiotic comprises one or more of a fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), a galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), a transgalacto-oligosaccharide (TOS), or a xylo-oliogosaccharide (XOS).
10 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the GOS and/or TOS comprise β (1-4) linkages, β (1-6) linkages, or a combination of both.
11 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the carbohydrate polymer comprises about 0.1 g to about 15 g per 240 g serving.
12 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said prebiotic is lactulose.
13 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the probiotic comprises a member of the genera lactobacillus, bifidobacteria , or mixtures thereof.
14 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein the probiotic comprises about 1×10 6 cfu's to about 1×10 9 cfu's per 240 g serving.
15 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein the probiotic comprises about 0.001 mg to about 1 mg per 240 g serving.
16 . A method comprising providing to a subject a composition comprising a lactose composition with decreased lactose content and an effective amount of a probiotic, a prebiotic, or a mixture thereof, wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises at least about 0.001% lactose.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises lactose present in a substance chosen from the group consisting of milk or milk products comprising flavored-milk, yogurt, a yogurt drink, a cheese, butter, ice cream, sherbet, a liquado, and a smoothie.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises non-fat, reduced-fat, or whole-fat compositions.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises at least 0.01% lactose.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises at least 0.1% lactose.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.01% to about 5.3% lactose.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.1% lactose to about 5.3% lactose.
23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.01% to about 2.7% lactose.
24 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.1% to about 2.7% lactose.
25 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.01% to about 7% lactose.
26 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.1% to about 7% lactose.
27 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.01% lactose to about 25% lactose.
28 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the lactose composition with decreased lactose content comprises about 0.1% lactose to about 25% lactose.
29 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the prebiotic comprises a carbohydrate polymer.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the prebiotic comprises one or more of a fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), a galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), a transgalacto-oligosaccharide (TOS), a xylo-oliogosaccharide (XOS).
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the GOS and/or TOS comprise β(1-4) linkages, β (1-6) linkages, or a combination of both.
32 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said prebiotic is lactulose.
33 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the probiotic comprises a member of the genera lactobacillus, bifidobacteria , or mixtures thereof.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the probiotic comprises about 1×10 6 cfu's to about 1×10 9 cfu's per 240 g serving.
35 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the probiotic comprises about 0.001 mg to about 1 mg per 240 g serving.