Title:  Dietary supplements for treating fatigue-related syndromes

United States Patent:  6,352,712

Appl. No.:  303779

The present invention provides dietary supplements, medical foods and methods effective to ameliorate at least one of the symptoms, preferably all of the symptoms, of a fatigue-related syndrome, such as fibromyalgia. The dietary supplements of the present invention include rosemary, curcumin and at least one component selected from the group consisting of quercetin and rutin. The medical foods of the present invention include rosemary, at least one macronutrient selected from the group consisting of protein, carbohydrate and fat, and at least one member of the group consisting of quercetin, curcumin and rutin. The methods of the present invention include the step of administering to a person suffering from a fatigue-related syndrome an effective amount of a dietary supplement or medical food of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides dietary supplements, medical foods and methods effective to ameliorate at least one of the symptoms, preferably all of the symptoms, of a fatigue-related syndrome, such as fibromyalgia, idiotypic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome. Preferred dietary supplements and medical foods of the present invention improve both the physical and mental functioning of a person suffering from a fatigue-related syndrome, such as fibromyalgia, idiotypic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The dietary supplements of the present invention are compounded for the amelioration of a fatigue-related syndrome and include rosemary, curcumin and at least one component selected from the group consisting of quercetin and rutin. A presently preferred dietary supplement of the invention includes rosemary, curcumin and quercetin. The dietary supplements of the present invention are preferably compounded in a daily dose that includes rosemary in an amount of from about 180 mg to about 220 mg; curcumin in an amount of from about 360 mg to about 440 mg; quercetin, if utilized, in an amount of from about 360 mg to about 440 mg; and rutin, if utilized, in an amount of about 360 mg to about 440 mg.

Additionally, presently preferred dietary supplements of the invention may include at least one component selected from the group consisting of limonene, preferably D-limonene, hesperidin and ginger. The dietary supplements of the present invention are preferably compounded in a daily dose that can include one or more of the following components: limonene in an amount of from about 180 mg to about 220 mg; hesperidin in an amount of from about 360 mg to about 440 mg; and ginger in an amount of from about 180 mg to about 220 mg. The dietary supplements of the present invention optionally include at least one vitamin and at least one non-vitamin antioxidant.

The present invention also provides medical foods compounded for the amelioration of a fatigue-related syndrome. The medical foods of the present invention include rosemary, at least one macronutrient selected from the group consisting of protein, carbohydrate and fat, and at least one member of the group consisting of quercetin, curcumin and rutin. A presently preferred medical food of the invention includes rosemary, curcumin and quercetin. The medical foods of the present invention are preferably compounded in a daily dose that includes rosemary in an amount of from about 180 mg to about 220 mg; curcumin, if utilized, in an amount of from about 360 mg to about 440 mg; quercetin, if utilized, in an amount of from about 360 mg to about 440 mg; and rutin, if utilized, in an amount of about 360 mg to about 440 mg.

Additionally, presently preferred medical foods of the invention may include at least one component selected from the group consisting of limonene, preferably D-limonene, hesperidin and ginger. The medical foods of the present invention are preferably compounded in a daily dose that can include one or more of the following components: limonene in an amount of from about 180 mg to about 220 mg; hesperidin in an amount of from about 360 mg to about 440 mg; and ginger in an amount of from about 180 mg to about 220 mg. The medical foods of the present invention optionally include at least one vitamin and at least one non-vitamin antioxidant.

Macronutrients included in the medical foods of the present invention include protein, carbohydrates and fat. The protein is preferably obtained from a cereal grain that is gluten-free, or substantially gluten-free. The presently preferred protein source is a hypoallergenic rice protein concentrate, suitably prepared as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,096, incorporated herein by reference. A daily dose of the medical foods of the present invention include protein in an amount of from about 25 g to about 35 g. Carbohydrates are provided as rice fiber, bran and/or flour, or equivalent gluten-free or substantially gluten-free grain fiber, bran and/or flour. Carbohydrate can also be provided as rice syrup solids which contain approximately 70 to 90 percent by weight of high molecular weight dextran, or as equivalent gluten-free or substantially gluten-free grain syrup solids. A daily dose of the medical foods of the present invention include carbohydrate in an amount of from about 43 g to about 69 g. Fats are preferably provided as medium chain triglycerides, preferably in combination with canola oil. Canola oil can be substituted with nutritionally equivalent oils, such as flaxseed oil and safflower oil. Medium chain triglycerides useful in the compositions of the present invention include a fatty acid moiety having an 8 to 14 carbon atom backbone, and can be derived from, for example, coconut oil and related tropical oils. A daily dose of the medical foods of the present invention include fats in an amount of from about 3 g to about 8 g.

Presently preferred medical foods of the invention may also include at least one vitamin, or vitamin precursor. Preferred vitamins possess antioxidant properties and include vitamins A, C and E, and/or their biochemical precursors. Presently preferred medical foods of the invention also include at least one trace element, preferably selected from the group consisting of zinc, manganese and selenium. Presently preferred medical foods of the invention also may include at least one additional antioxidant selected from the group consisting of carotenoids, N-acetylcysteine and L-glutamine. 

In addition, the present invention provides methods for treating fatigue-related syndromes. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention include the step of administering to a person suffering from a fatigue-related syndrome an effective amount of a dietary supplement of the present invention. Preferably the dietary supplement is administered at least once per day. In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention include the step of administering to a person suffering from a fatigue-related syndrome an effective amount of a medical food of the present invention. Preferably the medical food is administered at least once per day.

Claim 1 of 40 Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A dietary supplement comprising rosemary, curcumin and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of quercetin and rutin, said dietary supplement compounded for the amelioration of a fatigue-related syndrome.

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