Dietary composition for enhancing metabolism and alleviating oxidative stress

• US 5,916,912 A
• Filed: 06/16/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Hagen, Tory M., Ames, Bruce N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Rebecca
• Application Number:
  US08/874,467
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 514/440, 514/561
• US Class Current: 514/440
• 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 31/195 having an amino group
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/205 Amine addition salts of organic acids; Inner quaternary ammonium salts, e.g. betaine, carnitine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/221 with compounds having an amino group, e.g. acetylcholine, acetylcarnitine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/325 Carbamic acids; Thiocarbamic acids; Anhydrides or salts thereof thiurams A61K31/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/385 having two or more sulfur atoms in the same ring
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

The metabolic rate of aged cells of a mammalian host is enhanced without a concomitant increase in metabolic production of reactive oxygen species by orally administering to the host an effective dosage of a carnitine, such as acetyl-L-carnitine, and a mitochondrially active antioxidant, such as lipoic acid.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the metabolic rate of aged cells without a concomitant increase in metabolic production of reactive oxygen species, comprising orally administering to a mammalian host an effective dosage of at least about 10 mg/kg host/day of a carnitine and at least about 10 mg/kg host/day of a mitochondrially active antioxidant which physiologically comprises a metabolically reactive thiol group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carnitine is acetyl-L-carnitine.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant comprises at least one of glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine and lipoic acid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the antioxidant is lipoic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the carnitine is acetyl-L-carnitine, the antioxidant is lipoic acid and the dosage is at least about 100 mg/kg host/day each.

6. An orally administratable dry unit dosage comprising at least about 250 mg of a carnitine and at least about 250 mg of a mitochondrially active antioxidant which physiologically comprises a metabolically reactive thiol group.

7. The dosage of claim 6 wherein the carnitine is acetyl-L-carnitine.

8. The dosage of claim 6 wherein the antioxidant comprises at least one of glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine and lipoic acid.

9. The dosage of claim 6 wherein the antioxidant is lipoic acid.

10. The dosage of claim 6 wherein the carnitine is acetyl-L-carnitine and the antioxidant is lipoic acid.