GENDER SPECIFIC SYNTHETIC NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS AND NUTRITIONAL SYSTEMS COMPRISING THEM

1 . A gender specific synthetic nutritional composition for an infant selected from the group consisting of 4 to 8 months of age, 1 to 2 months of age, and up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted based on that found in human milk produced for an infant of the same gender and age.

2 . A gender specific synthetic nutritional composition according to claim 1 wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted to an infant of 4 to 8 months of age and wherein, if the concentration of methionine is adapted to a male infant it is 4.2 to 31.2, mg per 100 g and, if the concentration of methionine is adapted to a female infant it is 0.5 to 21.7, mg per 100 g.

3 . A gender specific synthetic nutritional composition according to claim 1 wherein the concentration of methionine is adapted to an infant of 1 to 2 months of age and wherein, if the concentration of methionine is adapted to a male infant it is 2.8 to 30.2, mg per 100 g and, if the concentration of methionine is adapted to a female infant it is 4.8 to 30.2, mg per L.

4 . A gender specific synthetic nutritional composition according to claim 1 wherein the concentration of methionine is adapted to an infant of up to 1 month of age wherein, if the concentration of methionine is adapted to a male infant it is 9.6 to 49.7 mg per 100 g and, if the concentration of methionine is adapted to a female infant it is 9.7 to 28.3 mg per 100 g.

5 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the gender specific synthetic nutritional composition is selected from the group consisting of: infant formula and a composition for infants that is intended to be added to or diluted with human milk.

6 . A method of preparing a composition comprising: measuring out an appropriate amount of a gender neutral synthetic nutritional composition and mixing it with an additive and/or diluent to produce a gender specific synthetic nutritional composition for an infant selected from the group consisting of 4 to 8 months of age, 1 to 2 months of age, and up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted based on that found in human milk produced for an infant of the same gender and age.

7 . A nutritional system comprising a gender specific synthetic nutritional composition for an infant selected from the group consisting of 4 to 8 months of age, 1 to 2 months of age, and up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted based on that found in human milk produced for an infant of the same gender and age.

8 . A nutritional system according to claim 7 comprising at least one gender specific synthetic nutritional composition for a male infant and at least one gender specific nutritional composition for a female infant, the male and female gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions are for infants of the same age.

9 . A nutritional system according to claim 8 wherein, if the nutritional system comprises male and female gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions for infants 4 to 8 months of age, the concentration of methionine in the male gender specific nutritional composition is higher than that for the female gender specific synthetic nutritional composition.

10 . A nutritional system according to claim 8 wherein, if the nutritional system comprises male and female gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions for infants up to 1 month of age, the concentration of methionine in the male gender specific nutritional composition is higher than that for the female gender specific synthetic nutritional composition.

11 . A nutritional system according to claim 8 wherein, if the nutritional system comprises male and female gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions for infants 1 to 2 months of age, the concentration of methionine in the female gender specific nutritional composition is higher than that for the male gender specific synthetic nutritional composition.

12 . A nutritional system according to claim 7 further comprising gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions for infants of 2 to 4 months of age wherein, the concentration of methionine in said gender specific synthetic nutritional compositions does not differ by gender for infants of the same age.

13 . A nutritional system according to claim 7 further comprising gender neutral synthetic nutritional compositions for infants of 2 to 4 months of age.

14 . (canceled)

15 . A method for use to treat, protect or mitigate sub optimal growth and development of an infant comprising administering to an infant a gender specific synthetic nutritional composition as selected from the group consisting of 4 to 8 months of age, 1 to 2 months of age, and up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted based on that found in human milk produced for an infant of the same gender and age.

16 . A method for providing an optimum amount of methionine to an infant comprising:

a. preparing a gender specific nutritional composition from a gender neutral synthetic nutritional composition to produce a gender specific synthetic nutritional composition for an infant selected from the group consisting of 4 to 8 months of age, 1 to 2 months of age, and up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted based on that found in human milk produced for an infant of the same gender and age;

b. feeding the gender specific nutritional compositions to an infant based on the infant's age.

17 . (canceled)

18 . A kit for providing an optimized amount of total methionine to an infant, the kit comprising:

a. a gender neutral synthetic nutritional composition; and

b. a label indicating dosage requirements for an infant so as to arrive at a gender specific nutritional composition for an infant selected from the group consisting of 4 to 8 months of age, 1 to 2 months of age, and up to 1 month of age wherein, the concentration of methionine is adapted based on that found in human milk produced for an infant of the same gender and age.