Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of overweight in a monogastric mammal. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such a method comprising administering to the mammal a liquid edible composition with a pH of more than 5, a viscosity below 50 mPas at a shear rate of 100 s−1 and 20° C., and a viscosity of at least 125% of the aforementioned viscosity at a pH 3 and a temperature of 37° C.; and with a caloric density between 0 and 500 kcal per liter, the composition comprising: a. between 0.01 and 5 wt. % of one or more polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of pectin and alginate; and b. between 0.01 and 3 wt. % calcium.

Abstract: Method of inhibiting intestinal carbohydrate absorption in mammals and a dietetic preparation for use in such a method. The method comprises orally administering a dietetic preparation to such mammal, the preparation containing a-hydroxy carboxylic acid component, whose intestinal absorption is sodium dependent, in an amount equivalent to at least 1 wt. % citric acid, so as to provide a-hydroxy carboxylic acid component in an amount which is therapeutically effective to achieve inhibition of intestinal absorption of carbohydrate. The dietetic preparation is in the form of an oral dosage unit of between 0.1 and 100 grams, and contains between 2 and 90 wt. % of a-hydroxy carboxylic acid component, between 1 and 80 wt. % of a carbohydrate absorption inhibitor and between 97 and 9 wt. % of pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more non-digestible polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of dextrans having a molecular weight of 8 kD to 40,000 kD, hydrolysed (gluco)mannans having a molecular weight of 0.5 kD to 1,000 kD and hydrolysed (galacto) mannans having a molecular weigth of 0.5 kD to 1,000 kD for the preparation of a nutritional composition to reduce the uptake of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the intestinal wall, more particularly to reduce transport of high molecular weight substances, allergens and microorganisms through the tight junctions in the intestines, the rise in the viscosity of the nutritional composition caused by the polysaccharides being less than 20 mPa.s.

Abstract: A nutritional composition having beneficial effect in the gastrointestinal tract, especially an anti-adhesion effect on pathogenic micro-organisms and a bifidogenic effect, contains non-digestible oligosaccharides, said oligosaccharides comprising, per daily dosage, 0.3-10 g of oligosaccharides containing at least one terminal arabinose unit. The nutritional composition may furhermore comprise 0.5-10 g of other non-digestible oligosaccharides selected from fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides and manno-oligosaccharides. The arabino-oligosaccharides can be obtained conveniently by controlled hydrolysis of arabinose-containing polysaccharides irom natural (vegetable) origin.

Abstract: Procyanidin, optionally combined with hydroxycitric acid, is used in a method for the reduction of appetite in a mammal. Preferably procyanidin is administered to the mammal in a dosage of between 0.5 and 100 mg per kg bodyweight. Also shown is a process for the manufacture of an appetite reducing composition.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a liquid edible composition with a pH of more than 6, a viscosity below 50 mPas at a shear rate of 100 s−1 and 20° C., and a viscosity of at least 125% of the aforementioned viscosity at a pH below 5 and a temperature of 37° C., the composition comprising at least 0.05 wt. % of pectin having a degree of methoxylation between 2 and 50 and/or of alginate; and at least 5 mg calcium per 100 ml; and between 1 and 25 g protein per 100 ml.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of overweight in a monogastric mammal. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such a method comprising administering to the mammal a liquid edible composition with a pH of more than 5, a viscosity below 50 mPas at a shear rate of 100 s−1 and 20° C., and a viscosity of at least 125% of the aforementioned viscosity at a pH 3 and a temperature of 37° C.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a liquid edible composition with a pH of more than 6, a viscosity below 600 mPas at a shear rate of 100s−1 and 20° C., and a viscosity of at least 125% of the aforementioned viscosity at a pH below 5 and a temperature of 37° C., the composition comprising at least 0.05 wt. % of pectin having a degree of methoxylation between 2 and 50 and/or of alginate; at least 5 mg calcium per 100 ml; and at least 0.1 wt. % indigestible oligosaccharide having a degree of polymerisation between 2 and 60.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing obesity, overweight, fluctuations in blood insulin levels and/or fluctuations in blood glucose levels in mammals. The method acording to the invention comprises the enteral administration to a mammal of an effective amount of a preparation containing an enzyme capable of converting an ingested carbohydrate or digestion product thereof into one or more absorbable components, wherein the total metabolic caloric value of the absorbable component(s) is less than the metabolic caloric value of the ingested carbohydrate or digestion product thereof. Thus the present invention effectively provides a method that allows complete digestion of ingested digestible carbohydrates whilst at the same time reducing the actual metabolic caloric value of said ingested carbohydrates.

Abstract: Procyanidin, optionally combined with hydroxycitric acid, is used in a method for the reduction of appetite in a mammal. Preferably procyanidin is administered to the mammal in a dosage of between 0.5 and 100 mg per kg bodyweight. Also shown is a process for the manufacture of an appetite reducing composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of inhibiting intestinal carbohydrate absorption in mammals and a dietetic preparation for use in such a method. More particularly the present invention is concerned with a method of inhibiting intestinal absorption of carbohydrates in a mammal, which method comprises orally administering a dietetic preparation to such mammal, said preparation containing &agr;-hydroxy carboxylic acid component, whose intestinal absorption is sodium dependent, in an amount equivalent to at least 1 wt. % citric acid, so as to provide &agr;-hydroxy carboxylic acid component in an amount which is therapeutically effective to achieve inhibition of intestinal absorption of carbohydrate. Citric acid is an example of an &agr;-hydroxy carboxylic acid which may suitably employed.