Compositions and methods for improving vascular health

Abstract

This invention relates to compositions containing polyphenols, for example, cocoa polyphenols such as procyanidins, in combination with at least one cholesterol lowering agent, and methods for improving vascular health including treating and preventing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical, a dietary supplement or a food additive comprising a cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer and a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical, the dietary supplement or the food additive of  claim 1 , further comprising a soy protein, a soluble fiber and/or L-arginine.  
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical, the dietary supplement or the food additive of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of the following: calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C, any of the vitamins of the B complex, a carotenoid, guar gum or a mono or poly unsaturated fatty acid.  
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical, the dietary supplement or the food additive of  claim 1 , wherein the cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer is in the form of a cocoa ingredient, a procyanidin containing cocoa extract, or a fraction of the cocoa extract containing at least one procyanidin monomer or oligomer.  
     
     
         5 . A food other than a confectionery comprising a cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer and a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         6 . The food of  claim 5 , further comprising a soy protein, a soluble fiber and/or L-arginine.  
     
     
         7 . The food of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one of the following: calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C, any of the vitamins of the B complex, a carotenoid, guar gum or a mono or poly unsaturated fatty acid.  
     
     
         8 . The food of  claim 5 , wherein the cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer is in the form of a cocoa ingredient, a procyanidin containing cocoa extract, or a fraction of the cocoa extract containing at least one procyanidin monomer or oligomer.  
     
     
         9 . The food of  claim 5 , wherein the food is a beverage.  
     
     
         10 . The food of  claim 5 , wherein the food is a pet food.  
     
     
         11 . A cholesterol reducing confectionery comprising a cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer and a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         12 . The confectionery of  claim 11 , further comprising a soy protein, a soluble fiber and/or L-arginine.  
     
     
         13 . The confectionery of  claim 11  further comprising at least one of the following: calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin C, any of the vitamins of the B complex, a carotenoid, guar gum, or a mono or polyunsaturated fatty acid.  
     
     
         14 . The confectionery of  claim 11 , wherein the cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer is in the form of a cocoa ingredient, a procyanidin containing cocoa extract, or a fraction of the cocoa extract containing at least one procyanidin monomer or oligomer.  
     
     
         15 . The confectionery of  claim 11 , wherein said confectionery is a chocolate, a chocolate covered candy, a baked product, and a granola bar.  
     
     
         16 . The confectionery of  claim 11 , wherein said confectionery has at least one of the following properties: inducing vasorelaxation, inhibiting LOX activity, inhibiting oxidation of LDL, enhancing NOS activity, increasing the level of NO, inhibiting platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reducing blood pressure, reducing thrombosis, and modulating oxidative stress.  
     
     
         17 . A cholesterol reducing chocolate comprising a cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer and a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         18 . A package comprising the food of claims  5  and a label and/or instructions for use of the food to promote cardiovascular health and/or reduce the risk of heart disease.  
     
     
         19 . A package comprising the confectionery of  claim 11  and a label and/or instructions for use of the confectionery to promote cardiovascular health and/or reduce the risk of heart disease.  
     
     
         20 . A package comprising the food  claim 5  and a label and/or instructions for use of the food to induce vasorelaxation, inhibit LOX activity, inhibit oxidation of LDL, enhance NOS activity, increase the level of NO, inhibit platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reduce blood pressure, reduce thrombosis, and counter the effect of oxidative stress.  
     
     
         21 . A package comprising the confectionery of  claim 11  and a label and/or instructions for use of the confectionery to induce vasorelaxation, inhibit LOX activity, inhibit oxidation of LDL, enhance NOS activity, increase the level of NO, inhibit platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reduce blood pressure, reduce thrombosis, and counter the effect of oxidative stress.  
     
     
         22 . A package comprising the food of  claim 5  and a label and/or instructions for use indicating that the food promotes and/or enhances absorption of the cocoa procyanidin.  
     
     
         23 . A package comprising the confectionery of  claim 11  and a label and/or instructions for use indicating that the confectionery promotes and/or enhances absorption of the cocoa procyanidin.  
     
     
         24 . A package comprising (i) a composition comprising a polyphenol having at least one of the following properties: inducing vasorelaxation, inhibiting COX activity, inhibiting LOX activity, inhibiting oxidation of LDL, enhancing NOS activity, increasing the level of NO, inhibiting platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reducing blood pressure, reducing thrombosis, and modulating oxidative stress, and a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol reducing agent; and (ii) a label and/or instructions for use of the composition to promote vascular health, reduce the risk of heart disease, and/or promote or enhance absorption of the polyphenol.  
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 24 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavanol.  
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 24 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavonol.  
     
     
         27 . A package comprising (i) a composition comprising a polyphenol having at least one of the following properties: inducing vasorelaxation, inhibiting COX activity, inhibiting LOX activity, inhibiting oxidation of LDL, enhancing NOS activity, increasing the level of NO, inhibiting platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reducing blood pressure, reducing thrombosis, and modulating oxidative stress, and a cholesterol lowering agent; and (ii) a label and/or instructions for use of the composition to promote the vascular health and/or reduce the risk of heart disease.  
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 27 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavanol.  
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 28 , wherein the flavanol is a cocoa flavanol.  
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 27 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavonol.  
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 27 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavanol related oligomer.  
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the flavanol related oligomer is a cocoa procyanidin oligomer.  
     
     
         33 . A composition comprising a polyphenol having at least one of the following properties: inducing vasorelaxation, inhibiting COX activity, inhibiting LOX activity, inhibiting oxidation of LDL, enhancing NOS activity, increasing the level of NO, inhibiting platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reducing blood pressure, reducing thrombosis, and modulating oxidative stress, and a cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         34 . A method of promoting cardiovascular and/or vascular health of a human or a veterinary animal comprising administering to the human or the veterinary animal a composition comprising a polyphenol and a cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the polyphenol is a cocoa procyanidin monomer and/or oligomer.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the cholesterol lowering agent is a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the cholesterol lowering agent is a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent.  
     
     
         38 . A method of enhancing absorption of a polyphenol into the blood of a human or a veterinary animal comprising administering to the human or a veterinary animal, in combination, a (i) polyphenol having at least one of the following properties: inducing vasorelaxation, inhibiting COX activity, inhibiting LOX activity, inhibiting oxidation of LDL, enhancing NOS activity, increasing the level of NO, inhibiting platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle, reducing blood pressure, reducing thrombosis, and modulating oxidative stress, and (ii) a sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol reducing agent.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the polyphenol and the sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol reducing agent are administered separately.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the polyphenol and the sterol and/or stanol based cholesterol lowering agent are administered in the same composition.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavanol.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavanol.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the polyphenol is a flavanol.