Method of accelerating intestinal absorption of calcium in mammals

• US 5,880,109 A
• Filed: 03/04/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Takeya, Nakamura, Satoshi, Hamada, Shingo, Kimura, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): FONDA, KATHLEEN KAHLER
• Application Number:
  US08/811,292
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 536/20, 514/55
• US Class Current: 514/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/715 Polysaccharides, i.e. having more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ethers, esters

Abstract

A composition for accelerating calcium absorption containing water-soluble chitosan as an active ingredient is disclosed. The composition is useful as an additive for foods, feed, and pharmaceutical preparations.

Claims

1. A method for accelerating intestinal absorption of calcium in a mammal in need of accelerated calcium absorption comprising orally administering a food, beverage, feed or pharmaceutical preparation to said mammal, wherein said food, beverage, feed or pharmaceutical preparation comprises water-soluble chitosan in an amount effective to accelerate intestinal absorption of calcium of said mammal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water-soluble chitosan has a molecular weight of 10,000 or less.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said food, beverage, feed or pharmaceutical preparation additionally comprise a calcium salt.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said calcium salt is in a form selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate and calcium chloride.