Novel dietary compositions to reduce inflammation

• US 20040208939A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zone Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zone Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Sears, Barry, Bell, Stacey
• Application Number:
  US10/418,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/523
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/202 having three or more double bonds, e.g. linolenic eicosanoids, e.g. leukotrienes A61K31/557
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/36 Compounds containing methylenedioxyphenyl groups, e.g. sesamin

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of combinations of fatty acids and specific inhibitors of delta-5 desaturase activity in a nutritional supplement to modulate the inflammatory state of a mammal. The nutritional supplement is composed of various oils selected in combination to enhance the production of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids derived from omega 6 fatty acids while simultaneously decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids derived from omega 6 fatty acids. In one embodiment, the invention features a combination of a fish oil, an oil containing gamma linolenic acid (GLA), and a sesame oil extract rich in one or more lignans (such as sesamol and sesamin) that are specific inhibitors of delta-5 desaturase activity.

Claims

1. A nutritional supplement for increasing the ratio of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids derived from omega-6 fatty acids in a mammal, said supplement consisting essentially of, as active ingredients;

(a) fish oil comprising eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA);

(b) gamma linolenic acid (GLA); and

(c) a specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase enzymatic activity, wherein the amount of each of said fish oil, GLA, and inhibitor in said supplement is a function of the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA in the plasma phospholipids in said mammal.

2. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein said nutritional supplement comprises sesame oil as a source of at least a portion of the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase enzymatic activity.

3. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is a lignan.

4. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is sesamin.

5. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is episesamin.

6. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is sesamol.

7. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is sesaminol.

8. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is episesaminol.

9. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is sesamolin.

10. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein said nutritional supplement comprises an oil as a source of at least a portion of said GLA.

11. The nutritional supplement of claim 10, wherein the oil is an oil selected from the group consisting of borage oil, evening primrose oil, and black currant oil.

12. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein said ratio of arachidonic acid AA to EPA is less than ten.

13. The nutritional supplement of claim 12, wherein said ratio of arachidonic acid AA to EPA is less than six.

14. The nutritional supplement of claim 12, wherein said ratio of arachidonic acid AA to EPA is greater than 0.5.

15. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the amounts of each of said EPA, GLA and inhibitor in said supplement are further a function of the ratio of linoleic acid (LA) to GLA in said mammal.

16. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein said ratio of linoleic acid (LA) to GLA in said mammal is less than 100.

17. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the amounts of each of said EPA, GLA and inhibitor in said supplement are further a function of the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to dihomo gamma linolenic acid (DGLA) in said mammal.

18. The nutritional supplement of claim 17, wherein said ratio of AA to DGLA in said mammal is less than ten.

19. The nutritional supplement of claim 1, wherein the concentration of said specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase in said nutritional supplement is adequate to maintain the ratio of AA/DGLA to be less than 20.

20. A method of increasing the ratio of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids derived from omega-6 fatty acids in a mammal, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) administering to said mammal the nutritional supplement of claim 1;

and

(b) monitoring the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to EPA in said mammal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said monitoring comprises obtaining a sample of plasma phospholipids from said mammal, and measuring the amount of AA and the amount of EPA in said sample.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is used to control a cardiovascular disorder in said mammal.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is used to control a neurological disorder in said mammal.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is used to control an immune disorder in said mammal.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is used to control a diabetic condition in said mammal.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is used to control inflammation caused by obesity said mammal.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said method is used to control obesity in said mammal.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of measuring the ratio of LA to GLA in a sample of blood plasma phospholipids from said mammal, and adjusting the amount of GLA in said nutritional supplement to maintain said LA/GLA at or below 100.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of measuring the ratio of AA to DGLA in a sample of plasma phospholipids wherein an adequate level of a specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase is added to keep the AA/DGLA ratio less than 20 in the plasma phospholipids.

30. A food product comprising the nutritional supplement of claim 1.

31. The food product of claim 30, wherein said food product further comprises carbohydrate and protein.

32. The food product of claim 31, wherein the protein and the carbohydrate are present in a ratio of between 0.5 and 1.0 protein-to-carbohydrate, inclusive.

33. A method of preparing the nutritional supplement of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a source of fish oil comprising EPA and DHA;

(b) providing a source of GLA; and

(c) providing a source of a specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase enzymatic activity.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said source of a specific inhibitor of delta-5 desaturase enzymatic activity is sesame oil comprising a lignan, and said method further comprises the step of crystallizing said lignan from said sesame oil.

35. The method of claim 36, wherein said crystallization step comprises the step of cystallizing said lignan in acetone solvent.