Therapeutic compositions

• US 6,316,038 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BTG International Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BTG International Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Veech, Richard Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Reamer, James H.
• Application Number:
  US09/397,109
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 514/547, 420/531
• US Class Current: 426/531
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/10 using additives addition of substantially indigestible substances A23L33/21
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/30 Dietetic or nutritional methods, e.g. for losing weight A23L33/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/30 Other Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/19 Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid salicylic acid A61K31/60

Abstract

Compositions comprising ketone bodies and/or their metabolic precursors are provided that are suitable for administration to humans and animals and which have the properties of, inter alia, (i) increasing cardiac efficiency, particularly efficiency in use of glucose, (ii) for providing energy source, particularly in diabetes and insulin resistant states and (iii) treating disorders caused by damage to brain cells, particularly by retarding or preventing brain damage in memory associated brain areas such as found in Alzheimer'"'"'s and similar conditions.

These compositions may be taken as nutritional aids, for example for athletes, or for the treatment of medical conditions, particularly those associated with poor cardiac efficiency, insulin resistance and neuronal damage. The invention further provides methods of treatment and novel esters and polymers for inclusion in the compositions of the invention.

Claims

1. A foodstuff comprising poly D-β

-hydroxybutyrate characterised in that it is derived from a foodstuff generating organism that has had a gene capable of producing D-β

-hydroxybutyrate inserted therein.

2. A foodstuff as claimed in claim 1 for use in therapy.