Primary composition comprising a lipophilic bioactive compound

Abstract

A primary composition that includes at least one lipophilic bioactive compound and a whey protein in an amount effective to increase the bioavailability of the lipophilic bioactive compound, and methods of forming the same. Also, an oral composition that contains the primary composition in a foodstuff, in a food supplement, in a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation, and methods of forming the same.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Primary composition comprising at least one lipophilic bioactive compound and a whey protein in an amount effective to increase the bioavailability of the lipophilic bioactive compound.  
     
     
         2 . Primary composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic bioactive compound is obtained, extracted, enriched or purified from a plant, microorganism, yeast or product of animal origin.  
     
     
         3 . Primary composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the plant is tomatoes, soya, green tea, green coffee beans, spices, grapes, cocoa, ginger or cereals.  
     
     
         4 . Primary composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the microorganism is any type of bacterium which produces a lipophilic bioactive compound.  
     
     
         5 . Primary composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the yeast is a yeast which produces a lipophilic bioactive compound.  
     
     
         6 . Primary composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the product of animal origin is chosen from the group consisting of a liver extract and a milk fraction.  
     
     
         7 . Primary composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic bioactive compound is a carotenoid, polyphenol, lipophilic vitamin, flavonoid, isoflavone, curcuminoid, ceramide, proanthocyanidin, terpenoid, sterol, phytosterol, sterol ester, tocotrienol, squalene, or retinoid, alone or as a mixture.  
     
     
         8 . Primary composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic bioactive compound is a tomato extract, a soybean extract or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         9 . Primary composition according to  claim 1  in the form of a powder, gel or liquid and which further comprises at least one of vitamin C or tocopherol.  
     
     
         10 . Primary composition according to  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one of an emulsifier, a stabilizer or another additive.  
     
     
         11 . Primary composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic bioactive compound is present in an amount of about 0.05 to 50% by weight of the composition and the whey protein is present in an amount of about 5 to 90% of the composition.  
     
     
         12 . Primary composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the whey protein and lipophilic bioactive compound are present in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to 500:1.  
     
     
         13 . A primary composition comprising at least one lipophilic bioactive compound of a tomato oleoresin, a soybean extract, or a mixture thereof, and a whey protein in an amount effective to increase the bioavailability of the lipophilic bioactive compound.  
     
     
         14 . Oral composition comprising the primary composition according to  claim 1  in a foodstuff, in a food supplement, in a cosmetic preparation or in a pharmaceutical preparation.  
     
     
         15 . Oral composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the foodstuff is a yogurt, a liquid drink, a chocolate containing product, an ice cream, cereal, coffee or animal food.  
     
     
         16 . Oral composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the food supplement further comprises at least one of a sweetener, a stabilizer, a flavoring and a colorant and is provided in the form of sugar-coated tablets, pills, gelatin capsules, a syrup, a gel or a cream.  
     
     
         17 . Oral composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the cosmetic preparation additionally comprises a compound active with respect to the skin.  
     
     
         18 . Oral composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the content of the primary composition is between about 0.001 and 100%.  
     
     
         19 . Oral composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the content of the primary composition is between about 10 and 50%.  
     
     
         20 . Cosmetic composition comprising the primary composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         21 . Cosmetic composition according to  claim 20 , wherein the content of primary composition is between about 10 −10 % and 10%.  
     
     
         22 . A method for protecting skin tissue against ageing which comprises administering to a subject in need of such protection the primary composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         23 . A method for protecting skin tissue against ageing which comprises administering to a subject in need of such protection the oral composition of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         24 . A method for protecting skin tissue against ageing which comprises administering to a subject in need of such protection the cosmetic composition according to  claim 20 .  
     
     
         23 . A process for the preparation of a primary composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises associating the whey protein with the lipophilic bioactive compound under conditions sufficient to form the composition a mixture.  
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the composition is formed by dissolving the whey protein in water to form a first solution, dissolving the lipophilic bioactive compound in a solvent to form a second solution, combining the two solutions, and evaporating the solvent to form the composition as a dispersion.  
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the composition is formed by mixing the lipophilic bioactive compound with a solvent to form a first mixture, mixing the first mixture with the whey protein in the form of a powder to form a second mixture and evaporating the solvent from the second mixture to produce the composition as a dry powder.  
     
     
         26 . The process according to  claim 24 , wherein the solvent is acetone, ethanol, isopropanol or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 25 , wherein the solvent is acetone, ethanol, isopropanol or mixtures thereof.