Patent ID: 7067150

Claim:
A process for preparing a semi-solid oral gel delivery system for nutritional supplements comprising the steps of: a) dispersing an effective amount of one or more nutritional supplements in a solvent at or below a temperature of 70° C. to provide a solvent mixture, said solvent comprising glycerol and optionally one or more other polyhydric alcohols; b) blending said solvent mixture at a temperature between about 50° C. and 80° C. with a blend comprising: (i) one or more starches, or a modified version thereof; (ii) optionally one or more other carbohydrates, (iii) one or more hydrocolloids, (iv) one or more sugars, sugar alcohols or sugar syrups, or a combination thereof, and (v) optionally water, to provide a flowable matrix in which said one or more nutritional supplements are substantially uniformly dispersed; and c) moulding said matrix and allowing it to cool to provide said semi-solid oral gel delivery system, wherein said oral gel delivery system is flowable at and above a temperature of about 45° C. wherein said semi-solid oral gel delivery system is formulated to have a final moisture content of about 10% to about 30% by weight and a water activity less than about 0.7, and comprises between about 5% and about 35% by weight of said solvent; between about 1% and about 15% by weight of said one or more starches or modified version thereof, and said optional one or more other carbohydrates; between about 0.1% and about 7% by weight of said one or more hydrocolloids; between about 20% and about 60% by weight of said one or more sugars, sugar alcohols, or sugar syrup; or combination thereof, and less than about 25% by weight of said one or more nutritional supplements, and wherein said one or more nutritional supplements are selected from the group consisting of: antioxidants, amino acids, amino acid derivatives, botanical extracts, joint health nutrients, co-enzymes, dipeptides, fatty acids, macro-nutrients, phospholipids, phytochemicals, prebiotics, and trace nutrients.