Compositions, kits, and methods for providing and maintaining energy and metal alertness

• US 6,413,558 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adam Ekonomon, Jeannette L. Knudsen, Folgers Coffee Company The (The J. M. Smucker Company)
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Blumenstein-Stahl, Gabrielle, Weber, Regina Brigitte
• Primary Examiner(s): PADEN, CAROLYN A
• Application Number:
  US09/542,156
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 426/87, 426/590, 426/594, 426/2, 426/72-74, 426/591, 424/729
• US Class Current: 426/2
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/38 Other non-alcoholic beverages drinks from legumes A23L11/60
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/39 Dry compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/60 Sweeteners
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/10 using additives addition of substantially indigestible substances A23L33/21
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/032 Citric acid
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/21 Plant extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/214 Tea
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/242 Acesulfame K, acetylsulfame
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/2482 Aspartam
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/28 Oligosaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5036 Carrageenan
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/506 Guar
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5072 Pectine, pectinate
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5086 Xanthan
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5114 Dextrins, maltodextrins
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5424 Dairy protein
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/606 Fructose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/61 Glucose, Dextrose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/628 Saccharose, sucrose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/70 : Vitamins
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/708 : Vitamin C
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/08 : for glucose homeostasis pancreatic hormones A61P5/48

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions which provide an onset and steady maintenance of energy to the consumer, as well as kits comprising the compositions and methods of using the compositions. In particular, the compositions of the present invention comprises a select mixture of carbohydrates which provides immediate and sustained energy when consumed. The compositions may optionally, but preferably, comprise one or more bracers and/or flavanols which, in combination with the foregoing select mixture, provide sustained energy and mental alertness without nervousness or tension.

Claims

1. A beverage composition comprising:

(a) from about 0.1% to about 15% of one or more monosaccharides, by weight of the composition;

(b) from about 0.1% to about 15% o f one or more disaccharides, by weight of the composition ;

(c) from about 0.1% to about 15% of maltodextrin, by weight of the composition;

(d) one or more soluble fibers; and

(e) more than about 60% water;

wherein the ratio of monosaccharide to maltodextrin is from about 1;

5 to about 10;

1, by weight.

2. A beverage composition according to claim 1 comprising:

(a) from about 1% to about 5% of one or more monosaccharides, by weight of the composition, wherein the monosaccharides are selected from the group consisting of glucose and fructose;

(b) from about 1% to about 8% sucrose, by weight of the composition;

(c) from about 1% to about 5% of the maltodextrin, by weight of the composition; and

(d) from about 0.01% to about 15% of the soluble fiber, by weight of the composition.

3. A beverage composition according to claim 2 comprising:

(a) from about 1% to about 5% glucose, by weight of the composition;

(b) from about 1% to about 8% sucrose, by weight of the composition; and

(c) from about 1% to about 5% of the maltodextrin, by weight of the composition.

4. A beverage composition according to claim 3 wherein the ratio of monosaccharide to maltodextrin is from about 1:

2 to about 3;

1, by weight of the composition.

5. A beverage composition according to claim 3 wherein the soluble fiber is selected from the group consisting of pectins, psyllium, guar gum, xanthan, alginates, gum arabic, fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin, agar, carrageenan, and mixtures thereof.

6. A beverage composition according to claim 5 wherein the soluble fiber is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, xanthan, carrageenan, psyllium, fructo-oligosaccharides. and mixtures thereof.

7. A beverage composition of claim 5 wherein the soluble fiber is a fructo-oligosaccharide.

8. A beverage composition according to claim 5 further comprising from about 0.01% to about 15% of milk base solids, by weight of the composition.

9. A beverage composition according to claim 8 comprising from about 0.1% to about 5% of milk base solids, by weight of the composition.

10. A beverage composition according to claim 9 having a ratio of total soluble fibers to total milk base solids of from about 2:

1 to about 1;

6, by weight of the composition.

11. A beverage composition according to claim 2 further comprising one or more bracers.

12. A beverage composition according to claim 11 wherein at least one bracer is caffeine.

13. A beverage composition according to claim 12 wherein the caffeine is at least partially obtained from a botanical present in the composition;

wherein the botanical is selected from the group consisting of green tea, guarana, mate'"'"', black tea, cola nut, cocoa, coffee, and mixtures thereof.

14. A beverage composition according to claim 13 comprising from about 0.005% to about 0.05% caffeine, by weight of the composition.

15. A beverage composition according to claim 14 comprising from about 0.005% to about 0.02% caffeine, by weight of the composition.

16. A beverage composition according to claim 11 further comprising at least about 0.01% of one or more flavanols, by weight of the composition.

17. A beverage composition according to claim 16 comprising from about 0.01% to about 0.05% of one or more flavanols, by weight of the composition.

18. A beverage composition according to claim 16 wherein the bracer is caffeine;

and wherein the ratio of caffeine to flavanol is from about 1;

0.5 to about 1;

30, by weight of the composition.

19. A beverage composition according to claim 18 wherein the ratio of caffeine to flavanol is from about 1:

1 to about 1;

30, by weight of the composition.

20. A beverage composition according to claim 19 further comprising one or more botanicals selected from the group consisting of tea, aloe vera, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo, hawthorn, hibiscus, rose hips, chamomile, peppermint, fennel, ginger, licorice, lotus seed, schizandra, saw palmetto, sarsaparilla, safflower, St. John'"'"'s Wort, curcuma, cardimom, nutmeg, cassia bark, buchu, cinnamon, jasmine, haw, chrysanthemum, water chestnut, sugar cane, lychee, bamboo shoots, vanilla, coffee, and mixtures thereof.

21. A beverage composition according to claim 20 wherein the botanicals are selected from the group consisting of tea, guarana, ginseng, ginko, coffee, and mixtures thereof.

22. A beverage composition according to claim 21 further comprising at least one nutrient.

23. A beverage composition according to claim 22 wherein at least one nutrient is selected from the group consisting of vitamin C, vitamin B₆, vitamin B₁₂, vitamin E, pantothenic acid, niacin, and biotin.

24. A beverage composition according to claim 1 comprising:

(a) from about 0.01% to about 15% of the soluble fiber; and

(b) from about 0.01% to about 15% milk base solids.

25. A kit comprising:

(a) a composition according to claim 1; and

(b) information that use of the composition provides one or more benefits selected from the group consisting of general health benefits and general physiological benefits.

26. A kit according to claim 25 wherein at least one of the benefits is selected from the group consisting of energy and mental alertness.

27. A methodof providing or maintaining mental alertness to a mammal comprising administering to the mammal a composition according to claim 1.

28. A beverage concentrate comprising:

(a) one or more monosaccharides;

(b) one or more disaccharides;

(c) one or more complex carbohydrates;

(d) from about 0.004% to about 1.4% of one or more bracers, by weight of the concentrate;

(e) at least about 0.07% of one or more flavanols, by weight of the concentrate;

(f) one or more soluble fibers; and

(g) from about 20% to about 60% water;

wherein the ratio of monosaccharide to complex carbohydrate is from about 1;

5 to about 10;

1 and the ratio of monosaccharide to disaccharide is from about 1;

15 to about 15;

1, by weight of the concentrate.

29. A beverage concentrate according to claim 28 further comprising one or more milk base solids.

30. A beverage concentrate according to claim 29 wherein the soluble fiber is selected from the group consisting of pectins, psyllium, guar gum, xanthan, alginates, gum arabic, fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin, agar, carrageenan, and mixtures thereof.

31. A beverage concentrate according to claim 30 wherein the soluble fiber is a fructo-oligosaccharide.

32. A kit comprising:

(a) a composition according to claim 28; and

(b) information that use of the composition provides one or more benefits selected from the group consisting of energy and mental alertness.

33. An essentially dry composition comprising:

(a) one or more monosaccharides;

(b) one or more disaccharides; and

(c) one or more complex carbohydrates;

(d) one or more soluble fibers; and

(e) less than about 20% water;

wherein the composition has a ratio of monosaccharide to complex carbohydrate of from about 1;

5 to about 10;

1 and a ratio of monosaccharide to disaccharide of from about 1;

15 to about 15;

1, by weight of the composition.

34. A composition according to claim 33 further comprising from about 0.004% to about 1.4% of one or more bracers, by weight of the composition.

35. A composition according to claim 34 further comprising at least about 0.07% of one or more flavanols, by weight of the composition.

36. A composition according to claim 35 further comprising one or more soluble fibers and one or more milk base solids;

wherein the composition has a ratio of total carbohydrates to total soluble fibers of from about 100;

1 to about to 1;

1 and wherein the composition has a ratio of total soluble fibers to total milk base solids of from about 5;

1 to about 1;

20, by weight of the composition.

37. A composition according to claim 36 wherein the soluble fiber is selected from the group consisting of pectins, psyllium, guar gum, xanthan, alginates, gum arabic, fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin, agar, carrageenan, and mixtures thereof.

38. A composition according to claim 37 wherein the soluble fiber is a fructo-oligosaccharide.

39. A kit comprising:

(a) a composition according to claim 33; and

(b) information that use of the composition provides one or more benefits selected from the group consisting of energy and mental alertness.