Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Radical -xh acid – or anhydride – acid halide or salt thereof...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-03-20
Spivack, Phyllis G. (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Radical -xh acid, or anhydride, acid halide or salt thereof...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06204291
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process and product for promoting weight loss in overweight dogs, and more particularly to a process for supplementing a canine diet with L-carnitine to promote weight loss, improve body composition, and enhance satiety in the animal.
It is estimated that 20 to 40% of the canine population is overweight or obese. This represents a very large number of animals that are in need of a means to lose weight. Obesity and being overweight are conditions associated with several health risks such as diabetes, increased blood pressure, increased blood triglycerides, impaired locomotion, skeletal stress, increased dystocia, thyroid dysfunction, etc. Consequently, ways to help treat these conditions are much needed by this population of animals. Currently, the most common form of treating obesity in dogs is through the use of diets that contain high amounts of fiber to dilute the calories of the diet.
While in some cases these diets can be effective, they are often associated with several side effects. These include: 1) excessive stool output, 2) decreased nutrient digestibility, 3) poor skin and haircoat, 4) decreased palatability, and 5) constipation and(or) increased frequency of defecation. As a result, alternative nutritional means to alleviate these conditions are needed.
Recently, it has been reported that carnitine, a vitamin-like substance, increased oxidation of octanoate in newborn pigs (van Kempen and Odle,
J. Nutr.
125:238-250 (1995)), lowered fat deposition and increased fatty acid oxidation by hepatic cells in growing salmon (Ji et al,
J. Nutr.
126:1937-1950 (19996), and decreased body fat accumulation in growing pigs (Owen et al,
J. Anim. Sci.
74:1612-1619 (1996).
Accordingly, there is still a need for addressing the obesity problems of canines while still providing adequate nutrition and without the side effects associated with prior diets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problem of obese and overweight canines through the use of a diet which contains supplemental L-carnitine. L-carnitine is an amino acid co-factor which is synthesized in an animal's body from the amino acids lysine and methionine. We have discovered that L-carnitine, when administered to a canine in need of treatment at extremely low supplemental amounts of 100 mg/kg of diet or less, promotes weight loss in the animal, improves the animal's body composition, and results in enhanced satiety in the animal. By improving the animal's body composition we mean that for a given animal ingesting a given amount of food, the percentage of body fat in the animal will be lower and the percentage of lean body mass will be higher when the animal is provided with the effective amount of supplemental L-carnitine as compared with an animal ingesting the same amount of food, but without L-carnitine supplementation. The L-carnitine may be provided to the animal either as a supplement or contained in a diet fed to the animal. Such a supplement may be in the form of a pill or capsule, a treat or biscuit, or any other edible form. By “diet” we mean the food or drink regularly consumed by the animal.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a process for promoting weight loss in canines is provided and includes the step of administering to a canine an effective amount of L-carnitine for a time sufficient to effect a reduction in the weight of the animal. In one embodiment, the L-carnitine may be administered in a diet containing supplemental L-carnitine in an amount of from about 15 to about 195 mg/kg, and preferably from about 25 to about 150 mg/kg of diet. The diet preferably comprises from about 18 to 40 wt % crude protein, about 4 to 30 wt % fat, and about 2 to 20 wt % total dietary fiber, and the L-carnitine is present in the diet in a concentration of between about 15 to about 195 ppm, more preferably about 25 to about 150 ppm, and most preferably about 50 to about 100 ppm.
In another embodiment of the invention, the L-carnitine is administered as a supplement in an amount of from between about 1 to about 100 mg L-carnitine per day, and more preferably from between about 2.5 to about 50 mg L-carnitine per day.
Practice of the present invention is also useful in increasing the lean body mass of a canine as well as enhancing the satiety and decreasing voluntary food intake of a canine.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the invention to provide a process for feeding a pet food supplement or diet for providing weight loss in a canine by providing an effective amount of L-carnitine in the diet of the animal. It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a pet food supplement or diet which increases the lean body mass of the animal. It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a pet food supplement which enhances satiety and reduces voluntary food intake in a canine. These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4656191 (1987-04-01), Fanelli
patent: 4883672 (1989-11-01), Shug et al.
patent: 5030458 (1991-07-01), Shug et al.
patent: 5192804 (1993-03-01), Blum et al.
patent: 5540917 (1996-07-01), Isler et al.
patent: 5626849 (1997-05-01), Hastings et al.
patent: 5730988 (1998-03-01), Womack
patent: 5869528 (1999-02-01), Cavazza
patent: 5895652 (1999-04-01), Giampapa
patent: 2 735 331 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 03094655 (1991-04-01), None
patent: WO 89/10065 (1989-11-01), None
patent: WO 92/16218 (1992-10-01), None
van Kempen and Odle, “Carnitine Affects Octanoate Oxidation to Carbon Dioxide and Dicarboxylic Acids in Colostrum-Deprived Piglets: In Vivo Analysis of Mechanisms Involved Based on CoA- and Carnitine-Ester Profiles” J. Nutr. 125, 1995, pp. 238-250.
Ji et al., “Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Fed L-Carnitine Exhibit Altered Intermediary Metabolism and Reduce Tissue Lipid, but No Change in Growth Rate” J. Nutr. 126, 1996, pp. 1937-1950.
Owen et al., “Effect of L-Carnitine and Soybean Oil on Growth Performance and Body Composition of Early-Weaned Pigs” J. Anim. Sci. 74, 1996, pp. 1612-1619.
Abstract—Sunvold et al., “Effect of dietary carnitine during energy restriction in the canine” FASEB Journal, vol. 13, No. 4, Part 1, 1999, p. A268.
Abstract—L.M. Freeman, “Interventional nutrition for cardiac disease” Seminars in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (Small Animal), vol. 13, No. 4, 1998, pp. 232-237.
Abstract—Gross et al., “Registration of plasma carnitine levels in dogs and pigs fed suplemental dietary L-carnitine” Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 81, No. Suppl. 1, 1998, p. 186.
Abstract—Gross et al., “Effect of dietary carnitine or chromium on weight loss and body composition of obese dogs” Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 81, No. Suppl. 1, 1998, p. 175.
Abstract—Kittleson et al., “Results of the Multicenter Spaniel Trial: Taurine-and carnitine-responsive dilated cardiomyopathy in American Cocker Spaniels with decreased plasma taurine concentrations” Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, vol. 11, No. 4, 1997, pp. 204-211.
Abstract—J.K. Gwathmey and A.J. Davidoff, “Pathophysiology of cardiomyopathies: Part II. Drug-induced and other interventions” Current Opinion in Cardiology, vol. 9, No. 3, 1994, pp. 369-378.
Abstract—Grandjean et al., “Dietary supplementation with L-carnitine, vitamin C and vitamin B12 in sport dogs: Experimental study with sledge dogs” Recueil de Medecine Veterinaire de I'Ecole d'Alfort, vol. 169, No. 7, 1993, pp. 543-551.
Abstract—McMillin et al., “Influence of Dietary Fish Oil on Mitochondrial Function and Response to Ischemia” Am. J. Physiol., vol. 263, No. 5 Part 2, 1992, pp. H1479-H1485.
Abstract—Grandjean et al., “Ergogenic Nutritional Supplementation in Efforts of Sporting Dogs” Recl. Med. Vet. Ec. Alfort, vol. 167, No. 7-8, 1991, pp. 753-761.
Abstract—C. Iben, “Effect of L-carnitine in racing sledge dogs” Wiener Tierarztliche Monatsschrift, vol. 85, No. 10, 1998, pp. 334-339.
Abstract—J.K. Goodwin and K.N
Davenport Gary Mitchell
Sunvold Gregory Dean
Tetrick Mark Alan
Killworth, Gottman Hagan & Schaeff LLP
Spivack Phyllis G.
The Iams Company
LandOfFree
Process for promoting weight loss in overweight dogs does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Process for promoting weight loss in overweight dogs, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Process for promoting weight loss in overweight dogs will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2468341