United States Patent:  6,093,711

Assignee:  AMBI Inc. (Purchase, NY)

Filed:  January 12, 1999

Compositions comprising chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate in the form of enteric-coated tablets, capsules or microbeads, optionally in combination with nicotinic acid, picolinic acid or both nicotinic acid and picolinic acid. The compositions are useful for supplementing dietary chromium, lowering blood glucose levels, lowering serum lipid levels and increasing lean body mass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a composition for supplementing dietary chromium and facilitating absorption of essential metals, the composition comprising an enteric-coated chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate pharmaceutical formulation. Advantageously, the formulation is a tablet, capsule or microbead. Preferably, the microbead is a sugar beadlet or microcrystalline cellulose beadlet and the chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate is coated on the beadlet. The composition may optionally comprise additional picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, or both, and/or at least one of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, an acid, a mucolytic, and a salicin-containing herb.

The present invention also provides a method for supplementing dietary chromium in an individual, comprising orally administering to the individual a composition comprising an enteric-coated chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate pharmaceutical formulation. In one aspect of this preferred embodiment, the formulation is a tablet, capsule or microbead. Preferably, the microbead is a sugar beadlet or microcrystalline cellulose beadlet and the chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate is coated on the beadlet. The composition may optionally comprise additional picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, or both, and/or at least one of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, an acid, a mucolytic, and a salicin-containing herb.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method for reducing hyperglycemia and stabilizing serum glucose levels in an individual in need thereof, comprising orally administering to the individual an effective daily hyperglycemia-reducing amount of a composition comprising an enteric-coated chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate formulation. Advantageously, the formulation is a tablet, capsule or microbead. Preferably the microbead is a sugar beadlet or microcrystalline cellulose beadlet and the chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate is coated on the beadlet. The composition may optionally comprise additional picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, or both, and/or at least one of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, an acid, a mucolytic, and a salicin-containing herb.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method for increasing lean body mass and reducing body fat of an individual in need thereof, comprising orally administering to the individual an effective, lean body mass-increasing amount of a composition comprising an enteric-coated chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate formulation. In one aspect of this preferred embodiment, the formulation is a tablet, capsule or microbead. Preferably, the microbead is a sugar beadlet or microcrystalline cellulose beadlet and the chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate is coated on the beadlet. The composition may optionally comprise additional picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, or both, and/or at least one of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, an acid, a mucolytic, and a salicin-containing herb.

The present invention also provides a method for reducing high levels of blood serum lipids in an individual in need thereof, comprising administering to the individual an effective blood serum lipid-reducing amount of a composition comprising an enteric-coated chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate formulation. In one aspect of this preferred embodiment, the formulation is a tablet, capsule or microbead. Preferably, the microbead is a sugar beadlet or microcrystalline cellulose beadlet and the chromic tripicolinate or chromic polynicotinate is coated on the beadlet. The composition may optionally comprise additional picolinic acid, nicotinic acid, or both, and/or at least one of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, an acid, a mucolytic, and a salicin-containing herb.

Claim 1 of 35 Claims

1. A composition for supplementing dietary chromium and facilitating absorption of essential metals, said composition comprising an enteric-coated chromic tripicolinate pharmaceutical formulation.

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