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 of a composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition, a functional food or a functional feed, for the prevention, the inhibition and/or treatment of systemic infections in humans and in vertebrates caused by pathogenic bacteria is disclosed. A method for preventing and/or inhibiting the systemic growth of pathogenic bacteria in humans and vertebrates, and a method for the prevention, the inhibition and/or the treatment of systemic infections in humans and in vertebrates caused by pathogenic bacteria, comprising administration to said beings a composition containing an effective amount of a dietary fiber or mixture of dietary fibers, are also disclosed. The dietary fiber is preferably a fructan, typically inulin and/or oligofructose, most preferably chicory inulin with an average degree of polymerisation DP of at least 20. The composition and methods are useful for the prevention, inhibition and/or treatment of systemic infections in fish, particularly during cultivation in fish farms.