Reducing or avoiding muscle cramps

• US 7,935,064 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stokely-Van Camp Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stokely-Van Camp Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zachwieja, Jeffrey J., Weber, Wayne W., Murray, Robert, Stofan, John R. IV, Rapkin, Myron C., Horswill, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/183,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20080286874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 600/346, 600/584, 424/439, 604/20
• US Class Current: 600/584
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/38 Other non-alcoholic beverages drinks from legumes A23L11/60
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/52 Adding ingredients adding preservatives A23L2/44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/16 Inorganic salts, minerals or trace elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0064 for taking sweat or sebum samples measuring sweat production A61B5/4266
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/10 Musculoskeletal or connective tissue disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6887 from muscle, cartilage or connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/193333 In aqueous solution

Abstract

Muscle cramps can be reduced or avoided by monitoring the concentration of salt in perspiration to indicate the degree of salt depletion. Based on the degree of salt depletion, a sufficient amount of rehydration beverage is consumed to normalize the salt level.

Claims

1. A method of limiting muscle cramping comprising:

providing a packaging having a consumable composition comprising at least one salt and a table providing an estimate of a quantity of sweat secreted during physical activity based on a level of sweat and a weight of a user;

providing with the packaging, a tester including a test portion configured to be exposed to body fluid of the user for use in obtaining a result indicative of an estimated degree of predicted muscle cramping from the user;

providing a test chart associated with the packaging configured to be compared with the tester after exposure to the body fluid to provide a test result of an estimated degree of muscle cramping; and

providing dosage information regarding the consumable composition, the dosage information comprising an amount of the consumable composition to be consumed by the user based on the test result for salt replenishment and the estimate of a quantity of sweat secreted during physical activity, sufficient to substantially limit muscle cramping.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tester is configured to measure a concentration of components selected from the group consisting of:

proteins, urea, ketones, lactate, magnesium, potassium and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the body fluid comprises perspiration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumable composition comprises a beverage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumable composition comprises a rehydration beverage concentrate and the dosage information comprises information in preparing a rehydration beverage from the rehydration beverage concentrate.