Patent Publication Number: US-2007104762-A1

Title: Appetizer supplement to suppress age-related decline in capacity and appetite

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from provisional application No. 60/733,394, filed Nov. 4, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This application relates generally to nutritional supplements.  
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
      Aging affects all parts of the human system. Bones can become thinner and less dense, joints may fail because of loss of cartilage, the circulatory system may become clogged, the heart may lose muscle or strength of contraction (or even fail), and mental-processing speed or capacity may decline. However, not all individuals with the same chronological age reflect the same “physiological” age. Thus, while aging cannot be prevented, the risks that arise from aging are not pre-ordained.  
      It has been shown that a healthy diet, regular physical activity program and positive attitude can help delay the onset and slow the progression of many age-related changes. What constitutes a “healthy” diet is an often debated topic and the subject of books and talk-shows. What is generally accepted is that it is not always easy for individuals to maintain a healthy diet or to acquire the nutrients that are beneficial for good health.  
      To many individuals, convenience foods are an attractive alternative to purchasing fresh foods and preparing meals. However, convenience foods are often high in calories and low in nutrients and fiber. Nutritional supplements in pill or tablet form may be helpful but must be taken regularly and provide little if any culinary gratification.  
      What would be desirable is an appetizer nutritional supplement (ANS) comprising specific portions of daily micronutrient requirements (e.g., vitamins, minerals, essentially fatty acids) targeted to reduce the risks associated with aging that is consumable in a form that is both tasty and palatable, as for example, before a meal. Such an ANS may also provide appetite suppressant effects.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One embodiment provides a method for administering daily micronutrient requirements (DMRs) made up of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids targeted to reduce risks associated with aging, and/or decrease the speed of aging. The DMRs are administered to individuals via food products. According to one embodiment, the DMRs are offered in the form of a health bar. In general, the DMRs may be embodied as comestibles having other form factors without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of illustration and not as a limitation, the constituents may be incorporated into a “smoothie” (fruit, vegetable, nut oil, or yogurt based), a frozen desert (e.g., ice cream or sorbet), and a beverage.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the DMRs are combined with other ingredients to form an appetizer nutritional supplement (ANS) that is consumed before a meal. Used in this way, the ANS also serves to suppress appetite by both specific means (releasing cholycystokinin and/or stimulating vagal afferents or as yet undetermined mechanisms. The DMRs embodied as an ANS may be varied in composition to suit the needs of particular groups, for example but not as a limitation, statin users, non-statin users, men and women.  
      Thus, one mode of practice of the invention is to provide an appetizer nutritional supplement (ANS) containing daily micronutrient requirements that include vitamins, minerals and essentially fatty acids targeted to reduce the risks associated with aging, and which is consumable in a form that is pleasing in flavor, texture, and consistency, as for example, before a meal.  
      Another embodiment provides an appetizer nutritional supplement that suppresses appetite.  
      Another embodiment provides an appetizer nutritional supplement that suppresses appetite via release of cholycystokinin and/or stimulating vagal or other nervous afferents or efferents  
      Another embodiment tailors the content of an appetizer nutritional supplement to the needs of particular groups of persons.  
      Another embodiment provides an appetizer nutritional supplement in the form of a health bar.  
      Another embodiment provides an appetizer nutritional supplement in the form of a frozen desert.  
      Another embodiment provides an appetizer nutritional supplement in the form of a beverage.  
      It is even another mode of practice of the invention to provide an appetizer nutritional supplement in the form of a “smoothie” type product.  
      A supplement according to at least some embodiments may be directed to reducing the risk of age related diseases such as cancer and arterial aging diseases including heart disease, sudden death from arrhythmias, stroke, memory loss, impotence and even wrinkled skin, and/or age related decline in functional capacity in cardiovascular or nervous or immune or musculosketal systems.  
      These modes of practice, as well as the various embodiments discussed will become apparent from a review of the detailed and general descriptions of the present application. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for administering daily micronutrient requirements (DMRs) composed of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids targeted to reduce the risks associated with aging. The DMRs are administered to individuals via food products. In one embodiment, the DMRs are offered in the form of a health bar. The DMRs may be incorporated into other forms without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of illustration and not as a limitation, the DMRs may be incorporated into a fruit or yogurt “smoothie,” a frozen desert such as an ice cream or sorbet, and a beverage.  
      According to another embodiment, the DMRs are combined with other ingredients to form an appetizer nutritional supplement (ANS) that is consumed before a meal. In this way, the ANS also serves to suppress appetite, by direct action or indirectly such as releasing cholycystokinin or stimulating the afferent vagas nerve by nutritional means or by other nervous or endocrine mechanisms.  
     EXAMPLE 1  
      The DMRs to be put in an ANS may be varied to suit the needs of particular groups. In a first example embodiment, an ANS for a statin user in the form of a health bar comprises ½ ounce walnuts, three ground dark chocolate nubbins, ground no-calorie carmel, fillers that are high in fiber. The DMRs to be included in the example embodiment&#39;s health bar are vitamins as listed in Table 1, below. It is noted that folate is commonly referred to as “vitamin F” (alternately termed a B vitamin by some authorities) and is the anion form of folic acid.  
               TABLE 1                          Vitamins for 1 st  example embodiment.                             VITAMIN   APPROX. AMOUNT                       A   up to 2500 IU           B 6       2 mg           B 12      400 mcg           C     50 mg           D   up to 1000 IU           E     50 IU           F (folate)    400 mcg           Thiamin   12.5 mg           Riboflavin   12.5 mg           Niacin     15 mg           Biotin    150 mg           Pantothenic acid    150 mg                      
 
      The DMRs for the first example embodiment&#39;s health bar also include minerals as listed in Table 2, below.  
               TABLE 2                          Minerals for 1 st  example embodiment.                             MINERALS   APPROX. AMOUNT                       Calcium   up to 1600 mg           Magnesium   up to 400 mg           Selenium   100 mcg           Zinc    7.5 mg           Potassium    0 mg                      
 
      The DMRs for the first example embodiment&#39;s health bar also include vitamin-like substances as listed in Table 3, below.  
               TABLE 3                          Vitamin-like substances for 1 st  example embodiment.                             VITAMIN-LIKE               SUBSTANCES   APPROX. AMOUNT                       Lycopene   30 mg           Lutein   20 mg           Alpha lipoic acid   up to 200 mg           Acetyl-L-carnitine   up to 1500 mg a day                      
 
     EXAMPLE 2  
      According to a second example embodiment of the invention, an ANS for statin users further includes up to 1200 mg of Coenzyme Q10 as an ingredient, in addition to those listed above for the first example embodiment.  
     EXAMPLE 3  
      According to a third example embodiment of the invention, the ANS includes the ingredients described in the first example, with each of the identified DMRs being in the range of 25-100% of the minimum daily requirements as established by the government (e.g., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) for each such DMR.  
     EXAMPLE 4  
      According to a fourth example embodiment of the invention, the ANS includes the ingredients described in the first example, with an alternative formulation being substituted for the ½ ounce of walnuts. Specifically, up to a gram of three fatty acids (alone or in combination) are substituted for actual walnuts. These three fatty acids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is found in walnuts, and DHA and EPA are related to ALA and have demonstrated cardiac health benefits.  
     EXAMPLE 5  
      According to a fifth example embodiment of the invention, the ANS includes the ingredients described in the first example, except substituting blueberry extract for the carmel.  
     EXAMPLE 6  
      According to a sixth example embodiment of the invention, the ANS includes the ingredients described in the first example, except substituting raspberry extract for the carmel.  
     EXAMPLE 7  
      According to a seventh example embodiment of the invention, the ANS includes the ingredients described in the first example, with each of the identified DMRs being substantially the same, with the exception of vitamins C and E. For the seventh example, the quantities of vitamins C and E are boosted, as listed in Table 4, below.  
               TABLE 4                          Vitamin quantities for 7 th  example embodiment.                             VITAMIN   APPROX. AMOUNT                       C   500 mg           E   500 IU                      
 
     EXAMPLE 8  
      According to an eighth example embodiment of the invention, the ANS includes the ingredients described in the first example, with each of the identified DMRs being substantially the same and further including additional DMRs identified in the listing in Table 5, below.  
               TABLE 5                          Vitamin-like substances for 8 th  example embodiment.                             VITAMIN-LIKE               SUBSTANCES   APPROX. AMOUNT                       1-arginine   up to 70 mg           tyrosine   up to 180 mg           taurine   up to 70 mg           green tea catechins   up to 120 mg           caffeine   up to 20 mg           querecin   up to 10 mg                      
 
      The green tea catechins as a class may be used as an ingredient in the ANS, as listed in this example. Of the green tea catechins, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is currently identified as a particularly useful anti-oxidant.  
      It has been demonstrated that consuming walnuts prior to a meal, at the levels indicated for some above examples, inhibits stomach emptying and suppresses appetite, and this and other substances consumed can stimulate release of cholycystokinin and or vagal or other nerve impulses that inhibit stomach emptying and or hunger.  
      One embodiment provides a method of reducing appetite when an ANS, including as ingredients walnuts, ground dark chocolate nubbins, ground no-calorie carmel, fillers that are high in fiber, and DMRs, is eaten 8 to 30 minutes before a meal. The appetite suppression affect, particularly of the walnut content of the ANS, is effective to reduce the amount of food consumed during the meal. It is understood that the mechanism of action that brings about the reduction in appetite is induced release of endogenous hormones or gut polypeptides or other substances that reduce appetite.  
      Sustained use of the ANS according to the method of reducing appetite is effective to support weight loss and reduction of waist size.  
      Studies have indicated that the combination of vitamins and minerals and micronutrients decreases sudden death and delays arterial aging. Studies further indicate that the combination of vitamins and minerals and micronutrients additionally provides some degree of protection against certain cancers.  
      Accordingly, another facet of the invention is its use to reduce the risks and/or processes associated with aging, through administration of nutritional supplements in the form of an appetizer bar (or other delivery mechanism) containing daily micronutrient requirements that include targeted vitamins, minerals and essentially fatty acids. To reduce the risks associated with aging, an ANS according to the various embodiments supports heart function, supports arterial health, supports health of a subject&#39;s immune system, and supports reduction of defects in mitochondrial function.  
      The delivery mechanism is selected from among various diverse choices such that at least one mechanism will be pleasing in flavor, texture, and consistency to most any subject. Smoothies, frozen desserts, or beverages are all strategically available as delivery mechanisms for nutritional supplements delivered according to embodiments of the present invention.  
      Another embodiment provides a method for packaging a dietary supplement targeted to reducing the risks and or processes associated with aging. In this embodiment, an ANS comprises walnuts, ground dark chocolate nubbins, ground no-calorie carmel, fillers that are high in fiber, and DMRs in the form of a health bar. The health bar is packed in an airtight container. By way of illustration, and not as a limitation, the health bar is packed in an aluminized polyester film in the presence of nitrogen gas and dated for shelf life. Dry nitrogen gas (i.e., without water vapor) is particularly effective for practicing this embodiment. Although nitrogen is named as an example, other gasses that are relatively non-reactive are suitable. As a further illustration, and not as a limitation, the health bar is packed in the airtight container with a preserving substance added to the bar to preserve fats in the bar.  
      An appetizer bar to suppress age-related disease and appetite has been shown. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed and that the examples and embodiments described herein are in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art of the present invention will recognize that other embodiments using the concepts described herein are also possible. Further, any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” or “the” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.