Mineral complexes of lactobionic acid and method of using for mineral fortification of food products

Abstract

Mineral complexes, especially calcium complexes, of lactobionic acid which are especially useful for mineral fortification of food and beverage products are provided. The preferred calcium complex of lactobionic acid provided in the present invention delivers a soluble, stable, clean tasting calcium source suitable for calcium fortification of a wide variety of food and beverage products. The mineral complexes are prepared by mixing lactobionic acid, a mineral source, (e.g., mineral hydroxide), and an edible acid (e.g., citric acid) in an aqueous solution.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mineral complex of lactobionic acid comprising lactobionic acid, a mineral source, and an edible acid, wherein the mineral complex is prepared by mixing lactobionic acid, the mineral source, and the edible acid in an aqueous solution and wherein the mineral complex can be incorporated in a food or beverage product to provide about 5 to about 200 percent of the current recommended United States Daily Value of the mineral per single serving size of the food or beverage product.  
     
     
         2 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the mineral source is a mineral hydroxide, mineral carbonate, a mineral oxide, or mixtures thereof and the edible acid is citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, ascorbic acid, phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the mineral complex is prepared by mixing about 5 to about 95 percent lactobionic acid, about 1 to about 50 percent of the mineral source, and about 1 to about 50 percent of the edible acid in the aqueous solution.  
     
     
         4 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the mineral complex is prepared by mixing about 50 to about 90 percent lactobionic acid, about 5 to about 25 percent of the mineral source, and about 2 to about 20 percent of the edible acid in the aqueous solution.  
     
     
         5 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, manganese, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, manganese, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, manganese, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, manganese, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the mineral is calcium.  
     
     
         10 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the mineral is calcium.  
     
     
         11 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the mineral is calcium.  
     
     
         12 . The mineral complex of lactobionic acid as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the mineral is calcium.  
     
     
         13 . A mineral-fortified food or beverage product comprising about 0.2 to about 20 percent of complex of lactobionic acid comprising lactobionic acid, a mineral source, and an edible acid, wherein the mineral complex is prepared by mixing lactobionic acid, the mineral source, and the edible acid in an aqueous solution and wherein the mineral complex can be incorporated in a food or beverage product to provide about 5 to about 200 percent of the current recommended United States Daily Value of the mineral per single serving size of the food or beverage product.  
     
     
         14 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the mineral source is a mineral hydroxide, a mineral carbonate, a mineral oxide, or mixtures thereof and the edible acid is citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, ascorbic acid, phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the mineral complex is prepared by mixing about 5 to about 95 percent lactobionic acid, about 1 to about 50 percent of the mineral source, and about 1 to about 50 percent of the edible acid in the aqueous solution.  
     
     
         16 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the mineral complex is prepared by mixing about 50 to about 90 percent lactobionic acid, about 5 to about 25 percent of the mineral source, and about 2 to about 20 percent of the edible acid in the aqueous solution.  
     
     
         17 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, manganese, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the mineral is calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the mineral is calcium.  
     
     
         20 . The mineral-fortified food or beverage product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the mineral is calcium.