Nutritional compositions

Abstract

Compositions for the promotion of muscle protein synthesis and control of tumor-induced weight loss in patients that are, for example, suffering from cancer cachexia, and methods of administering such compositions.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising: 
 leucine and    at least one of isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine or histidine in free and/or salt form,    wherein leucine, in free and/or salt form, is present in an amount of at least 10% to about 35% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.    
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising: 
 leucine and    at least one of isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, or histidine in free and/or salt form,    wherein total leucine is present in an amount of at least about 20% to about 35% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.    
     
     
         3 . A composition comprising: 
 a) essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids in free form and/or salt form, and    b) intact protein,    wherein total essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids are present in an amount of about 55% to about 75% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.    
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids comprises leucine and at least one of isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, or histidine.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein total leucine is present in an amount of about 20% to about 35% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 3  further comprising arginine in free and/or salt form in an amount of at least 5% to about 40% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 3  further comprising methionine in free and/or salt form in an amount of at least about 0.5% to about 5% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 3 , further comprising an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid is chosen from α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 3 , further comprising at least about 1 g of eicosapentaenoic acid per serving or at least about 2 g of eicosapentaenoic acid per daily dose.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 3 , further comprising tocopherol.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 3 , further comprising tocotrienol.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the tocopherol is present in an amount about 50 mg per serving or at least 150 mg per daily dose.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 3 , comprising from about 6 g to about 18 g amino acids in free and/or salt form per daily dose.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 3 , comprising from about 5 g to about 10 g leucine in free and/or salt form per daily dose.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 3 , comprising from about 6 g to about 21 g total essential and/or conditionally essential amino acids per serving.  
     
     
         17 . A kit comprising: 
 a) a first composition comprising: 
 1) essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids in free form and/or salt form, and  
 2) intact protein,  
 wherein total essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids are present in an amount of about 55% to about 75% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids; and  
   b) a second composition comprising an anti-cancer drug.    
     
     
         18 . A method of ameliorating a condition associated with cachexia and/or anorexia comprising the step of: 
 administering to a human in need of such amelioration a composition comprising 
 a) essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids in free form and/or salt form, and  
 b) intact protein,  
 wherein total essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids are present in an amount of about 55% to about 75% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.  
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the condition is chosen from tumor-induced weight loss and muscle loss.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the administering is enterally administering.  
     
     
         21 . A method of stimulating muscle protein synthesis comprising the step of: 
 administering to a human in need of such stimulation a composition comprising 
 a) essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids in free form and/or salt form, and  
 b) intact protein,  
 wherein total essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids are present in an amount of about 55% to about 75% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.  
   
     
     
         22 . A method of reducing malnutrition comprising the step of: 
 administering to a human in need of such reduction a composition comprising 
 a) essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids in free form and/or salt form, and  
 b) intact protein,  
 wherein total essential and, optionally, conditionally essential amino acids are present in an amount of about 55% to about 75% by weight based on the weight of total amino acids.