United States Patent:  5,955,102

Assignee:  Amway Corporation (MI)

Filed:  September 4, 1998

This invention provides a nutritional supplement containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), antioxidants and anthocyanosides. The supplement is useful for improving night vision acuity, field of vision and adaptation to light.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a nutritional supplement is provided which includes at least DHA, lutein and anthocyanosides as active ingredients.

As used herein, an "anthocyanoside" is a flavonoid plant pigment which accounts for most of the red, pink, and blue colors in plants, fruits, and flowers.

A "carotenoid" is a class of pigments occurring in the tissues of higher plants, algae, bacteria and fungi. They are usually yellow to deep red, crystaline solids, soluble in fats and oils, insoluble in water, high melting, stable to alkali, unstable to acids and oxidizing agents, their color is easily destroyed by hydrogenation or by oxidation, and some are optically active.

A "flavonoid" is a group of aromatic, oxygen-containing, heterocyclic pigments widely distributed among higher plants. They constitute most of the yellow, red, and blue colors in flowers and fruits, excluding the carotenoids. The flavonoids include the following subgroups: (1) catechins, (2) leucoanthocyanidins and flavanones, (3) flavanins, flavones, and anthocyanins, and (4) flavonols.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention is preferably provided as a capsule and includes a liquid or dry inner filling and an outer shell. In the preferred embodiment, the inner filling is a liquid mixture which is contained within a gelatin capsule, such as a "softgel" type capsule.

The inner filling includes at least DHA, lutein and at least one anthocyanoside. "DHA" refers to the free acid form of docosahexaenoic acid, not the phospholipid form or the ester form. One naturally occurring source of DHA is fish oil. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, ocean trout and herring contain the highest amounts of DHA (about 600-800 mg/3 oz). Other sources of DHA include fin fish such as whiting and flounder (about 200-400 mg/ 3 oz), plants such as seaweeds, and many microorganisms.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention preferably contains about 25 to 900, preferably 25 to 140, mg/day of DHA. Alternatively, the nutritional supplement contains 10 to 15% by weight of DHA.

EPA, another .omega.3 PUFA, is commonly found in sources of DHA. When EPA is present, the ratio of DHA:EPA in the nutritional supplement is greater than 1.1:1, preferably greater than 2:1, and more preferably greater than 4:1. Tuna oil is the preferred source of DHA as it contains about 25% DHA and about 6% EPA.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are both carotenoids and structural isomers of one another. They can be extracted in crystalline form from marigolds. Dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include mustard greens, spinach, kale, broccoli, leaf lettuce, green peas, brussel sprouts, corn, some squash and green beans.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention preferably contains about 1 to 6 mg/day of lutein. Alternatively, the nutritional supplement contains 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of lutein.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention preferably contains about 0 to 0. 15 mg/day of zeaxanthin. Alternatively, the nutritional supplement contains 0 to 0.05% by weight of zeaxanthin.

In addition to lutein and zeaxanthin, other antioxidants may also be present in the nutritional supplement of this invention. These may include vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E (.varies.-tocopherol) or lemon bioflavonoids. The nutritional supplement may contain 0 to 10% by weight of one or more antioxidants.

Any source of anthocyanosides can be used in accordance with the present invention. Bilberry extract is preferred. "Bilberry" refers to berries of Vaccinium myrtillus, a small, perennial scrub that is native to northern Europe and Asia. Other names include blueberry, whortleberry, black whortles, shinberry, trackleberry, hurts, bleaberry, hurtleberry and airelle.

The nutritional supplement of the present invention preferably contains about 3 to 200, preferably about 30 to 200, mg/day of an anthocyanoside such as bilberry extract. Alternatively, the nutritional supplement contains 5 to 10% by weight of an anthocyanoside such as bilberry extract.

The components of the inner filling are preferably solubilized in a liquid to form a liquid mixture (i.e., not an emulsion). Suitable liquids include vegetable oils such as soybean oil. The inner filling can other components, including fillers, components useful for adjusting the isotonic properties of the filling (such as glycerol), and components useful for adjusting the stability of the inner filling such as amino acids and carbohydrates (such as fructose, glucose, dextrose, etc.).

When the inner filling of the nutritional supplement of the present invention is a liquid, the outer shell is preferably composed of gelatin as well as other optional components such as glycerol and coloring agents (such as caramel). Such a nutritional supplement can be obtained by filling the outer shell with the premixed inner filling.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the nutritional supplement is a softgel capsule comprising (i) about 70% by weight, based on the total weight of the capsule, of an inner filling comprising: about 8% by weight of bilberry extract, about 0.3% by weight of lutein, about 0.01% by weight of zeaxanthin, about 12% by weight of DHA, about 3% by weight of EPA, about 6% by weight of vitamin C, and about 6% by weight of lemon bioflavonoids; and (ii) about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the capsule, of an outer shell comprising about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the capsule, of gelatin.

Claim 1 of 16 Claims

1. A nutritional supplement comprising as active ingredients docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), lutein, and at least one anthocyanoside.

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