Formulations for nutritional support in subjects in need thereof

1. A formulation for oral administration comprising a protein component, the protein component designating the entire amount of protein comprised by the formulation, wherein the protein component comprises:

(a) one or more digestion-aiding proteins, comprising whey protein hydrolysate (WPH), and alpha-lactalbumin; and

(b) one or more immunoprotective proteins, comprising lactoferrin;

wherein the one or more digestion-aiding proteins and the one or more immunoprotective proteins comprise about 15% to about 75% by weight of the protein component;

wherein the WPH comprises 26% to 35% by weight of the protein component;

wherein the alpha-lactalbumin comprises 14% to 20% by weight of the protein component;

wherein the lactoferrin comprises 1% to 6% by weight of the protein component;

wherein the formulation comprises a milk component comprising whole cow's milk;

wherein the milk component comprises milk protein naturally occurring in the whole cow's milk, the entire amount of the milk protein being considered part of the protein component; and

wherein the whole cow's milk is in an amount to provide 25% to 30% by weight of the protein component.

2. A formulation for oral administration comprising a protein component, a fat component, a carbohydrate component, and whole milk, wherein:

(a) the protein component, designating the entire amount of protein comprised by the formulation, including protein naturally occurring in the milk, comprises whey protein hydrolysate (WPH), alpha-lactalbumin, and lactoferrin, wherein the WPH comprises 26% to 35% by weight of the protein component, the alpha-lactalbumin comprises 14% to 20% by weight of the protein component, and the lactoferrin comprises 1% to 6% by weight of the protein component;

(b) the fat component comprises one or more vegetable oils, one or more plant oils, or a combination thereof;

(c) the carbohydrate component comprises lactose and galactooligosaccharide; and

(d) the whole milk is in an amount to provide 25% to 30% by weight of the protein component.

3. The formulation of claim 2 , wherein:

the WPH comprises 26% to 28% of the protein component; and

the alpha-lactalbumin comprises 18% to 20% of the protein component.

4. The formulation of claim 2 , wherein:

the WPH and the lactoferrin are present in the formulation in a ratio of 3:1 to 7:1 by weight; and

the alpha-lactalbumin and the lactoferrin are present in the formulation in a ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 by weight.