Compositions and methods for decreasing the effects of alcohol
The present invention relates probiotic compositions useful in accelerating alcohol catabolism in a subject.
1. A method of increasing the rate of alcohol metabolism in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a mixture of bacteria comprising Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum , wherein each of the bacteria in the mixture is individually anaerobically fermented, harvested, dried, and ground to produce a powder having a mean particle size of 295 microns, with 60% of the mixture in the size range between 175-840 microns, and the mixture has the following characteristics:
a) a moisture content of less than about 5%; and
b) a final bacterial concentration of about between 10 5 -10 11 colony forming units (CFU) per gram of the composition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are harvested by filtration or centrifugation.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are dried by liquid nitrogen followed by lyophilization.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are ground by conical grinding at a temperature less than 4° C.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture of bacteria is at a concentration of less than about 60.0% (w/w) in the composition.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered orally.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition is administered as a tablet, capsule, or powder.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each tablet, capsule, or powder contains between about 100-800 milligrams of the mixture of bacteria.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the capsule comprises at least 300 mg of the composition.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the powder comprises at least 300 mg of the composition.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein two tablets or capsules are administered before the consumption of alcohol.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising administering between 2 and 20 tablets or capsule within a 24 hour period after the consumption of alcohol.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the tablet comprises 687 mg of the composition.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the total weight of the tablet is 1200 mg.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are anaerobically fermented in the presence of carbohydrates.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the carbohydrates are selected from the group consisting of inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, and gluco-oligosaccharides.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a vitamin, a mineral or a sugar.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the vitamin is Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C or Vitamin E.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sugar is inulin, dextrose or fructose.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, or molybdenum.