FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based upon the findings of two large clinical studies to determine the efficacy of daily consumption of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis deposited as DSM 15954 for 4 weeks on abdominal pain in healthy women with abdominal discomfort and a low defecation frequency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Episodes of abdominal pain or discomfort occur both in healthy people and in individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, the difference being the higher frequency and greater severity of the symptoms in IBS patients (EFSA Journal 2011;9(4) : 1984)).

The present invention is based upon the results of two large clinical studies in healthy subjects with abdominal discomfort and a low defecation frequency. The results of these studies demonstrate an effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis compared to placebo on ab- dominal pain in postmenopausal women which is significantly higher than in premenopausal women.

In accordance herewith, the present invention relates to a probiotic product comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis for use in decreasing abdominal pain in a postmenopau- sal woman.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In this specification the following terms have the following meanings:

The administration of probiotics, defined by the World Health Organization as "live organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a benefit on the host" is a safe nutritional intervention in the general healthy population. Probiotic strains are often used in yogurt and other food items (e.g ., beverages, cereals and chocolate candy bars).

Probiotics have been investigated for their ability to modulate immune function, and positively impact clinical outcomes related to atopic allergies, respiratory allergies, respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal conditions, periodontal infections, and female urogenital conditions. By the term "a probiotic product" is meant any product which comprises a probiotic bacterium . A probiotic product for use in accordance with the invention may be administered in the form of a food product or a dietary supplement. The Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis may, for example, be incorporated in a dairy product, such as milk, and in particular a fermented dairy product, optionally in combination with other lactic acid bacteria, for example with yogurt ferments, or in other food products such as a snack bar, or beverages such as juice.

The probiotic product comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis can also be provided as a dietary supplement in the form of a powder, tablet, such as a lozenge or effervescent tablet, pastille, capsule, chewing gum, in individual sachets or as a component of a more general composition such as oil drops, an emulsion or a paste, or in any other suitable carrier determined by those of skill in the art to be an effective carrier for live microorganisms.

In a preferred embodiment, the probiotic product for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis deposited according to the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure with the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D- 38124 Braunschweig on September 30, 2003 under the accession number DSM 15954. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis is commercially available from Chr. Hansen A/S, Ho- ersholm, Denmark and from Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ).

It is contemplated that the findings are generalizable to other Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis strains, such as strains derived from, mutants and variants of the tested strain. Examples of such other strains of Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis are DSM 10140, which is the B. animalis subsp. lactis type strain, HN019 deposited with accession number DSM 17280, Bi-04 also known as DGCC2908 and RB 4825, Bi-07 deposited as ATCC PTA-4802, ATCC 27536, NCC 2818, CNCM 1-3446, VTT E-012010, and DN-173-010 deposited at CNCM with accession number 1-2494.

The present invention relates to a probiotic product comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis for use in reducing abdominal pain in a postmenopausal women as well as to a method for reducing abdominal pain in a postmenopausal woman, the method comprising administering a probiotic product comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis to the postmenopausal woman.

Preferably, in order to obtain an optimal effect, the probiotic product should be administered daily for at least one week, and advantageously for a longer period such as at least 2 weeks, at least 4 weeks as in the present study, at least 6 weeks, at least 9 weeks, and preferably 12 weeks, in an amount corresponding to at least 10 ⁵ CFU, such as at least 10 ⁷ CFU, preferably at least 10 ⁸ CFU, generally between 10 ⁹ CFU and 10 ¹² CFU of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

The findings reported in the present patent application are based upon a subgroup of women having the ages of 18 to 70 years but are considered applicable also to women of the age above 70 years.

In the present studies the probiotic product comprises Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis as the active ingredient. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis may be used as the only active ingredient. Alternatively, the probiotic product as described herein may comprise further com- pounds of interest such as other bacterial strains, vitamins, prebiotics, fibers or other compounds which may have a beneficial health effect.

The other bacterium may be selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Leuconostoc lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis, Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Thus, the composition may further comprise one or more strain(s) of a lactic acid bacterium selected from the group comprising Lactobacillus acidophilus deposited as DSM 13241, Lactobacillus rhamnosus deposited as ATCC 53103, Lactobacillus rhamnosus deposited as ATCC 55826, Lactobacillus reuteri deposited as ATCC 55845, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paraca- sei deposited as ATCC 55544, Lactobacillus paracasei deposited as LMG-17806, Streptococcus thermophilus deposited as DSM 15957, Lactobacillus fermentum deposited as NM02/31074, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei deposited as CCTCC M204012.

EXAMPLES

Two clinical studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis deposited as DSM 15954 on abdominal pain in subjects with a low defecation frequency and with abdominal discomfort. One study tested the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in an acidified milk drink. The placebo product was a similar milk drink but without Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. In the other study, the test product was a capsule containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis. The placebo product was a similar capsule but without the probiotic strain. The design of the two studies was identical. The results reported here are results from a meta-analysis of the two studies.

Subjects eligible for participation in the studies were healthy men or women of ≥18 to≤70 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) between 19-35 kg/m ² (both inclusive). In order to fulfill the inclusion criteria the subject should have experienced general abdominal discomfort/complaints weekly during the month prior to study entry and have a stool frequency between on average 2-4 days/week with any number of defecations on these days. Subjects who had a history or diagnosis of GI disease (e.g. gastric or duodenal ulcers, irritable bowel disease, colon cancer) or IBS or history of complicated GI surgery that could have an effect on GI tract function or a change of dietary habits within 4 weeks prior to the screening visit, e.g . start of fiber-enriched diet were not eligible for the studies. The first visit was followed by a 2-week run-in phase. A two week baseline period is believed to be sufficient to record baseline data in subjects with minimal severity requirements before randomization. Further, the run-in period ensured a two week wash-out of any pre-study pro- biotics. After this run-in phase the subject was randomly assigned to receive either the test or the reference product, followed by a 4-week intervention phase during which the subjects consumed either the test or the reference product.

The subjects were not allowed to consume any fermented dairy products or probiotic products other than the study products supplied to them by the study personnel. Compliance was based on subject's daily documentation of consumption of study product in the diary and number of returned capsules. Subjects who consumed >70% of the products, i.e. at least 5 of 7 days on a weekly basis, were considered compliant.

From 2 weeks prior to the screening visit (Visit 1) until final examination (Visit 4) all medica- tions including OTC products, large doses of vitamins and minerals, and food or herbal supplements that could have an effect on GI well-being, gut microbiota, gut regularity or gut symptoms, in particular laxatives were prohibited, unless the subject had taken them at a stable dose from 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 and was going to take them throughout the study. Antibiotics and antimicrobial medications were prohibited from 4 weeks prior to the screening visit (Visit 1) until the end of the study (Visit 4). Hormonal contraceptives and the occasional use of paracetamol were allowed .

Results The results are provided in the following table showing the results in the post-menopausal subgroup, pooled data from ITT population. Table 1 Abdominal pain sum score

Abdominal pain Bifidobacterium animal- Placebo

is subsp. lactis

1 billion CFU

Female (post), Baseline N=93 N = 126 N=219

Mean (SD) 10.3 (5.4) 10.6 (5.7) Median 10 11

Week 4

Mean (SD) 4.8 (5.4) 6.5 (5.4) Median 3 6 p-value ¹ 0.0090

Female (pre) Baseline N=446 N=660

Mean (SD) 11.9 (5.5) 12.0 (5.5) Median 12 12

Week 4

Mean (SD) 7.0 (5.3) 7.1 (5.4)

Median 6 7 p-value ¹ 0.9181 ¹ p-values from analysis of variance of ranked data with baseline and hormonal status included in the model

As can be seen from the table, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis significantly reduced abdominal pain.

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