INHIBITION OF SYSTEMIC INFECTIONS IN HUMANS AND VERTEBRATES BY DIETARY FIBERS

摘要

The use of a dietary fiber or mixture of dietary fibers for the manufacture ofa composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition, a functional food or afunctional feed, for the prevention, the inhibition and/or treatment ofsystemic infections in humans and in vertebrates caused by pathogenic bacteriais disclosed. A method for preventing and/or inhibiting the systemic growth ofpathogenic bacteria in humans and vertebrates, and a method for theprevention, the inhibition and/or the treatment of systemic infections inhumans and in vertebrates caused by pathogenic bacteria, comprisingadministration to said beings a composition containing an effective amount ofa dietary fiber or mixture of dietary fibers, are also disclosed. The dietaryfiber is preferably a fructan, typically inulin and/or oligofructose, mostpreferably chicory inulin with an average degree of polymerisation DP of atleast 20. The composition and methods are useful for the prevention,inhibition and/or treatment of systemic infections in fish, particularlyduring cultivation in fish farms.