Water-dispersible encapsulated sterols
OwnerNicolas Auriouinventor
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Abstract
A method for producing a water-dispersible powder containing one or more sterols is described. This method involves creation of micelles comprising sterol and surfactant in an aqueous medium, and coating of these micelles with a mixture of starch and modified starch in a drying step. The dried powder can conveniently be added to water-based edible or drinkable formulations, thereby enabling administration of the cholesterol-lowering sterol in conjunction with a fat-restricted diet.
Claims21
A method for preparing a water-dispersible powder comprising a phytosterol, which comprises the steps of:
- (a) in an aqueous medium, mixing the phytosterol with starch, modified starch and surfactant;
- and
- (b) drying the product of step (a) to obtain a water-dispersible powder.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said surfactant has a HLB value of between 8 and 18.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein said surfactant comprises a sucrose fatty acid ester.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein the mixing in step (a) is achieved by vigorous agitation.
A method according to any preceding claim which comprises the steps of dissolving the surfactant in the aqueous medium to form a solution, followed by the step of adding the starch and modified starch to said solution to form a mixture, followed by addition of the phytosterol to the mixture.
A method according to any preceding claim wherein step (b) is a spray-drying step.
A method according to any preceding claim which comprises a series of intervening steps between steps (a) and (b), said intervening steps being the steps of homogenization, deaeration, and pasteurization.
A composition comprising a phytosterol, starch and modified starch.
Use of a water-dispersible composition comprising a phytosterol, starch and modified starch, in the preparation of a medicament or nutritional formulation for the treatment or prevention of any of:
- high blood cholesterol levels, hypertriglyceridemia, coronary heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammation, osteoarthritis, breast cancer, colon cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
A method of treating or preventing any of:
- high blood cholesterol levels, hypertriglyceridemia, coronary heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, inflammation, osteoarthritis, breast cancer, colon cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, comprising administration, to a person in need of such treatment, an effective amount of a water-dispersible composition comprising a phytosterol, starch and modified starch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.