Combined calcium and vitamin D supplements

Details Combined calcium and vitamin D supplements Combined calcium and vitamin D supplements

1997-03-14

2003-01-21

Criares, Theodore J. (Department: 1617)

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Designated organic active ingredient containing

9,10-seco- cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai

C514S574000, C562S582000, C424S602000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06509326

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to nutritional and therapeutic improvements in calcium supplements containing vitamin D. These supplements are useful for increasing bone growth and treating age-related bone loss. They can be used in conjunction with foods and beverages or taken as an oral solid or liquid supplement. The invention also relates to a method of building bone or treating bone loss in osteoporotic patients, post-menopausal women and/or elderly men.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vitamin and mineral supplements for human and veterinary use are commonplace. Some diets, heavy physical exercise and disease conditions may require the intake of considerable quantities of minerals and vitamins apart from those generally obtained through what otherwise would be considered a normal diet. Calcium and vitamin supplementation is important primarily for those who have inadequate diets, including growing children. Older adults have an additional need for calcium to help prevent the bone loss which occurs as a normal consequence of the aging process. In particular, postmenopausal women need additional calcium due to hormonal changes which can accelerate the bone loss rate leading to a further diminishment in bone mass.
There are well-recognized problems associated with adding both calcium and vitamin D to foods and beverages. Some of these are taste; calcium tends to be chalky in flavor. In addition, the solubility of many calcium sources prevents them from being added to many beverages. Interactions of calcium with the food or beverage affect the stability and/or the bioavailabilty of the product. This invention provides a means for making such product.
This invention also relates to methods of building bone in humans and other animals, i.e., for the treatment of age-related bone loss and related disorders. In particular, this invention relates to such methods of treatment by administration of calcium, citrate and malate ions and vitamin D.
Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the human body. It plays an important role in many physiological processes, including nerve and muscle functions. Not surprisingly, nutritional and metabolic deficiencies of calcium can have broad-ranging adverse effects. Since about 98% to 99% of the body's calcium is found in bone tissues, many of these adverse effects are manifested through deficiencies in the structure, function and integrity of the skeletal system.
The most common metabolic bone disorder is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be generally defined as the reduction in the quantity of bone, either from the reduction in bone formation or the acceleration of bone resorption, in either event the result is a decrease in the amount of skeletal tissue and resultant bone fractures. In general, there are two types of osteoporosis: primary and secondary. “Secondary osteoporosis” is the result of an identifiable disease process or agent. However, approximately 90% of all osteoporosis cases are idiopathic “primary osteoporosis”. Such primary osteoporosis includes postmenopausal osteoporosis, age-associated osteoporosis (affecting a majority of individuals over the age of 70 to 80), and idiopathic osteoporosis affecting middle-aged and younger men and women.
For some osteoporotic individuals the loss of bone tissue is sufficiently great so as to cause mechanical failure of the bone structure. Bone fractures often occur, for example, in the wrist, hip and spine of women suffering from postmenopausal osteoporosis. Kyphosis (abnormally increased curvature of the thoracic spine) may also result.
The mechanism of bone loss in osteoporotics is believed to involve an imbalance in the process of “bone remodeling”. Bone remodeling occurs throughout life, renewing the skeleton and maintaining the strength of bone. Two reactions are involved, bone loss or resorption and bone growth or accretion. This remodeling occurs in a series of discrete pockets of activity in the bone. These pockets are lined with two different cell types called “osteoclasts” and “osteoblasts”. Osteoclasts (bone disolving or resorbing cells) are responsible for the resorption of a portion of bone within the bone matrix, during the resorption process. After resorption, the osteoclasts are followed by the appearance of osteoblasts (bone forming cells), which then refill the resorbed portion with new bone.
In young healthy adults, the rate at which the osteoclasts and osteoblasts are formed maintains a balance of bone resorption and bone formation. However, as a normal consequence of aging an imbalance in this remodeling process develops, resulting in loss of bone at a rate faster than the accretion of bone. As imbalance continues over time the reduction in bone mass and thus bone strength leads to fractures.
Many compositions and methods are described in the medical literature for the “treatment” of osteoporosis. See, for example, R. C. Haynes, Jr. et al., “Agents affecting Calcification”,
The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics,
7th Edition (A. G. Gilman, L. S. Goodman et al., Editors, 1985); and G. D. Whedon et al., “An Analysis of Current Concepts and Research Interest in Osteoporosis”,
Current Advances in Skeletogenesis
(A. Ornoy et al., Editors, 1985). Estrogen is often used to affect the metabolism of calcium by influencing the osteoblast cells. Treatments using fluoride have also been described. However, the utility of such agents may be limited, because of possible adverse side effects. See W. A. Peck, et al.,
Physician's Resource Manual on Osteoporosis
(1987), published by the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Nutritional therapies for osteoporosis have also been proposed. Many calcium-containing compounds and vitamins compositions have been described for use as nutritional supplements. Many commercial preparations are also available, typically containing calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate. Other calcium salts have also been described for use in calcium supplements, including calcium lactate, calcium citrate and calcium gluconate.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,098 issued Bangert (assigned Nabisco, 1976) describes a nutritious orange drink concentrate that contains whey protein. The patent suggests the addition of minor amounts of vitamins, including vitamin D, and other nutrients which include various minerals, such as calcium salts.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,800 issued to Larsen et al (assigned Mead Johnson & Company, 1985) describes a nutritionally complete ready-to-use liquid diet for providing total patient nourishment. The diet contains free amino acids and small peptides, a carbohydrate source, and nutritionally significant amounts of all essential vitamins and minerals, and stabilizers. Most of these minerals are given as the gluconate salt. Cholecalciferol (D
3
) is included.
“Effects of calcium carbonate in hydroxyapatite on zinc and iron retention in postmenopausal women”, Dawson-Hughes, Seligson and Hughes,
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
44, 83-88 (1986) describes the effect of calcium carbonate on whole-body retention of zinc and iron in thirteen healthy post menopausal women. The test meal, including both dry food and a formulated beverage, included iron, calcium, copper and zinc at a level of one-third the usual daily requirement. These are levels normally found in human diets.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,555 issued to Kovacs (assigned Vitamins, Inc., 1976) describes food supplements prepared by mixing assimilable iron compounds, vitamins and minerals with a heated edible fat carrier. Calcium and vitamin D are among the minerals in the supplement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,547 issued to Lamar et al (assigned Syntex Inc, 1976) describes a dietary composition containing peptides and/or amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates in an aqueous emulsion. Vitamins, including D, are added. Calcium citrate is also used.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,488 issued to Davis (unassigned, 1978) discloses a highly stabilized balanced nutritive composition useful in supplementing the diet of humans and/or animals. This composition contains gelatin. The patent discloses that the sul

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