Patent ID: 7056531

Claim:
A sustained release composition suitable for use as an excipient for mixing within an orally administered specimen containing a glucosamine-based bioactive substance that can irritate the stomach in order to provide a sustained release of the glucosamine-based bioactive substance and protect the stomach of a user, comprising: (a) powdered cellulose; and (b) maltodextrin, wherein the ratio by weight of the amount of powdered cellulose to the amount of maltodextrin in the sustained release composition is in a range of about 1:9 to about 2:3 such that the amount by weight of the maltodextrin is at least about one and one-half times that of the powdered cellulose, and wherein, after mixing the sustained release composition with a glucosamine-based bioactive substance in an orally administered specimen in an amount so that the powdered cellulose has a concentration in a range from about 4% to about 14% by weight of the orally administered specimen, the powdered cellulose and the maltodextrin act to slow the disintegration of the orally administered specimen to provide a sustained release of the glucosamine-based or other bioactive substance over a period of time in a range of about one hour to about three hours and form a protective gel in order to reduce or eliminate detrimental side effects on the gastrointestinal system of the glucosamine-based bioactive substance, break-down products of the glucosamine-based bioactive substance, and/or reaction products of the glucosamine-based bioactive substance as the specimen breaks down after ingestion by a user.