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AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsKati A. Chevaux, Harold H. Schmitz, Leo J. Romanczyk, Jr.
Estimating the term…
Foods and pharmaceuticals which contain cocoa and/or nut procyanidin(s) in combination with L-arginine are effective to induce a physiological increase in nitric oxide production in a mammal having ingested the product. A preferred food product is a confection, particularly a dark or milk chocolate containing nuts. The procyanidins may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as chocolate liquor and/or cocoa solids prepared from underfermented beans and nut skins. The L-arginine may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as nut meats, nut pastes, and/or nut flours, seeds, seed pastes, and/or seed flours, or gelatin. The beneficial health effects may include, for example, reduced blood pressure, resistance to cardiovascular disease, and anticancer activity.
A chocolate product comprising (i) a cocoa polyphenol in an amount of at least 3.6 mg/g and (ii) L-arginine in an amount of at least 10 mg/g, with the proviso that when the cocoa polyphenol is in the form of a cocoa ingredient, wherein the amount of L-arginine is greater than that provided by the cocoa ingredient.
A milk chocolate product comprising (i) a cocoa polyphenol in an amount of at least about 1 mg/g, and (ii) L-arginine in an amount of at least about 10 mg/g, with the proviso that when the cocoa polyphenol is in the form of a cocoa ingredient, wherein the amount of L-arginine is greater than that provided by the cocoa ingredient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.