AN OLIGOSACCHARIDE-ENRICHED COMPOSITION HAVING IMMUNE-MODULATORY AND ANTI-ADHESION PROPERTIES
This invention provides an oligosaccharide-enriched composition that is derived from a bovine milk whey fraction and comprises at least 23% oligosaccharides (at least 30g per 100g of composition dry weight) having a molecular weight range of 300-1200Da, and at least 20% sialyllactose (at least 20g per 100g of composition dry weight). The oligosaccharide-enriched composition has been found to have a significant immunomodulatory effect (Fig. 1) and has been shown to significantly reduce adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to lung cells and activated pharynx cells, and thereby have a protective effect in humans from respiratory and gastrointestinal infections (Figs 3 and 4). The composition of the invention is derived from a dairy product stream that is substantially free of casein and retains lactose and oligosaccharides, for example demineralised whey powder, demineralised whey, whey permeate, or mother liquor. The dairy product stream is subjected to a micro filtration step to remove whey protein and bacteria, the permeate is then subjected to an ultrafiltration step to enrich for oligosaccharides, and the permeate from the ultrafiltration step is enriched in oligosaccharides having a molecular weight of 300-1200Da, using a chromatographic step.