VISUAL PERFORMANCE AND/OR MACULAR PIGMENTATION

• US 20130011486A1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howard Foundation Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Howard Foundation Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Howard, Alan N., Nolan, John, Beatty, Stephen, Loughman, James, Thurnham, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,623,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/581
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/105 Aliphatic or alicyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/179 Colouring agents, e.g. pigmenting or dyeing agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/75 for poultry
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 15/00 Egg products; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 15/30 Addition of substances other than those covered by A23L15/20 – A23L15/25
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/256 from seaweeds, e.g. alginates, agar or carrageenan
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/10 using additives addition of substantially indigestible substances A23L33/21
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/105 Plant extracts, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/115 Fatty acids or derivatives thereof; Fats or oils
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/15 Vitamins
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/16 Inorganic salts, minerals or trace elements
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/00 Function of food ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/30 Foods, ingredients or supplements having a functional effect on health
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/00 Food ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1578 Calcium
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1586 Chromium
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1588 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1592 Iron
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1598 Iodine
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1608 : Molybdenum
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/161 : Magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1612 : Manganese
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1626 : Selenium
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1642 : Zinc
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/211 : Carotene, carotenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/702 : Vitamin A
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/704 : Vitamin B
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/708 : Vitamin C
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/71 : Vitamin D
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/712 : Vitamin E
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/72 : Biotin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 : Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/047 : having two or more hydroxy groups, e.g. sorbitol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/07 : Retinol compounds, e.g. vitamin A retinoic acids A61K31/203
• 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 35/57 : Birds; Materials from birds, e.g. eggs, feathers, egg white, egg yolk or endothelium corneum gigeriae galli
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/60 : Fish, e.g. seahorses; Fish eggs
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 : Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/48 : Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate A61K9/0004 takes precedence; bite capsules A61K9/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 : Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 : Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

Disclosed is a composition comprising MZ for use as a dietary supplement or food additive for oral consumption for improving the visual performance of a human subject.

Claims

1. A composition comprising MZ for use as a dietary supplement or food additive for oral consumption for improving the visual performance of a human subject.

2. The composition of claim 1, further comprising lutein or zeaxanthin.

3. The composition of claim 2, comprising lutein and zeaxanthin.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the ratio of MZ to lutein to zeaxanthin is about 10:

10;

2.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in a unitary dosage form.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein each dose comprises at least 0.1 mg MZ.

7. The composition of claim 5, wherein each dose comprises at least 100 mg MZ.

8. The composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more vitamins and/or minerals.

9. The composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a vegetable oil, a fish oil, and an omega 3 fatty acid.

10. The composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following:

an acidity regulator;

an anti-caking agent;

an antioxidant;

a coloring;

a color retention agent;

an emulsifier;

a flavoring;

a flavor enhancer;

a preservative;

a stabilizer;

a sweetener;

a thickener.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of an egg obtained from a hen fed with feed comprising MZ.

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the subject'"'"'s visual performance is improved in one or more of the following:

contrast sensitivity;

visual acuity;

and glare disability.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is for improving the visual performance of a subject in photopic conditions with a level of illumination greater than 3 Cdm⁻

2.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is for improving the visual performance of a subject who has a normal level of macular pigment.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is for improving the visual performance of a subject without age-related macular degeneration.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the subject has an atypical “

central dip”

macular pigment distribution.

17. A method of improving the visual performance of a human subject in need of such improvement, the method comprising the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising MZ for use as a dietary supplement or food additive for oral consumption.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the subject consumes the composition at least once a week.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the subject consumes the composition at least 3 times a week.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the subject consumes the composition daily.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the subject consumes the composition, at a desired frequency, over a period of at least 8 weeks.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the subject consumes the composition over a period of at least 3 months.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the subject consumes the composition over a period of at least 6 months.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein performance of the method causes an improvement in one or more of contrast sensitivity, best corrected visual acuity, and glare disability.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein performance of the method causes an improvement in visual performance of the subject in photopic conditions.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein performance of the method causes an improvement in visual performance of a subject who has a normal level of macular pigment.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein performance of the method causes an improvement in visual performance of a subject without age-related macular degeneration.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein performance of the method causes an improvement in visual performance of a subject with an atypical “

central dip”

macular pigment distribution.

29. A method of making a composition for human consumption, the composition to be consumed by a human subject for the purpose of improving visual performance, the method comprising the step of mixing an effective amount of MZ with an acceptable dietary diluent, excipient or carrier.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of packaging the composition in a package, preferably in unitary dosage form, together with instructions for consumption of the composition at sufficient dose, frequency and duration, to effect an improvement in visual performance.