Food supplement for increasing lean mass and strength

Abstract

Food supplement compositions and their methods of use in increasing lean mass and/or muscle size and/or strength in individuals, particularly, athletes is described. The food supplements described comprise a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body, and, a source of amino acids. Other food supplements described comprise a substance which can enhance and/or mimic insulin activity, and a source of amino acids. The food supplement compositions described are suitable for supplementing the diet of an athlete and particularly for enhancing an athlete's muscle size or strength.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A food supplement comprising a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body, and, a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         2 . A food supplement according to  claim 1  wherein the substance which increases nitric oxide production is selected from the group consisting of glycosidal saponins, ginseng, 1-arginine, N-acetyl cysteine, and folic acid.  
     
     
         3 . A food supplement according to  claim 2  wherein the substance is ginseng.  
     
     
         4 . A food supplement which comprises a substance which can enhance and/or mimic insulin activity, and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         5 . A food supplement according to  claim 4  wherein the substance is glucomannan.  
     
     
         6 . A food supplement according to  claim 4  wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of N-acetyl cysteine, myo-inositol, cis-inositol, epi-inositol, allo-inositol, muco-inositol, neo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol, 1-chiro-inositol, and d-pinitol.  
     
     
         7 . A food supplement according to  claim 6  wherein the substance is myo-inositol.  
     
     
         8 . A supplement which increases nitrogen retention in the body comprising a substance which increases nitrogen retention and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         9 . A supplement according to  claim 8  wherein the substance which increases nitrogen retention in the body is selected from the group consisting of glucomannan and 1-arginine.  
     
     
         10 . A supplement according to  claim 9  wherein the substance is glucomannan.  
     
     
         11 . A supplement comprising a glycosidal saponin, glucomannan D-chiro-inositol, myo-inositol, and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         12 . A supplement comprising a glycosidal saponin, glucomannan myo-inositol, and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         13 . A supplement according to any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the source of amino acids is selected from the group consisting of WPI 97, Whey Peptides, WPC 80, ION EXCHANGE, lactoferrin, and whey protein.  
     
     
         14 . A food supplement comprising a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body, and, whey protein.  
     
     
         15 . A supplement according to  claim 14  wherein the whey protein is WPI 97, Whey Peptides, WPC 80, or ION EXCHANGE whey protein.  
     
     
         16 . A supplement according to  claim 14  wherein the whey protein is a combination of two or more of WPI 97, Whey Peptides, WPC 80, or ION EXCHANGE whey protein.  
     
     
         17 . A food supplement according to  claim 14  wherein the substance which increases nitric oxide production is selected from the group consisting of glycosidal saponins, ginseng, 1-arginine, N-acetyl cysteine and folic acid.  
     
     
         18 . A food supplement according to  claim 17  wherein the substance is ginseng.  
     
     
         19 . A food supplement comprising 1 mg-3000 mg glycosidal saponins; 1 mg-2000 mg myo-inositol; 1 mg-2000 mg d-chiro-inositol; 10 mg-4000 mg glucomannan; and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         20 . A food supplement according to  claim 19  wherein the glycosidal saponins comprise 150 mg to 1500 mg; the myo-inositol comprises about 100 mg to 2000 mg; and the glucomannan comprises 25 mg to 2000 mg.  
     
     
         21 . A food supplement according to  claim 19  wherein the glycosidal saponins comprise 50 mg to 500 mg; the myo-inositol comprises about 200 mg to 1000 mg; and the glucomannan comprises 50 mg to 1000 mg.  
     
     
         22 . A food supplement according to  claim 19  wherein the glucomannan comprises 100 mg to 500 mg.  
     
     
         23 . A food supplement according to  claim 19  wherein the glycosidal saponins comprise about 50 mg.  
     
     
         24 . A food supplement according to anyone of claims  19 - 23  wherein the source of amino acids is whey protein.  
     
     
         25 . A method for supplementing the diet of an athlete, comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement comprising a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the the substance which increases nitric oxide production is selected from the group consisting of glycosidal saponins, ginseng, 1-arginine, N-acetyl cysteine, and folic acid.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the substance is ginseng.  
     
     
         28 . A method for supplementing the diet of an athlete, comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement comprising a substance which can enhance and/or mimic insulin activity, and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the substance is glucomannan.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of N-acetyl cysteine, myo-inositol, cis-inositol, epi-inositol, allo-inositol, muco-inositol, neo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol, 1-chiro-inositol, and d-pinitol.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the substance is myo-inositol.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the supplement is administered to the diet of the athlete on a daily basis.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the food supplement is mixed with water to provide a liquid drink.  
     
     
         34 . A method for increasing muscle mass and or strength of an individual, comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the the substance which increases nitric oxide production is selected from the group consisting of glycosidal saponins, ginseng, 1-arginine, N-acetyl cysteine, and folic acid.  
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 35  wherein the substance is ginseng.  
     
     
         37 . A method for increasing muscle mass and or strength of an individual comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement comprising a substance which can enhance and/or mimic insulin activity, and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein the substance is glucomannan.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of N-acetyl cysteine, myo-inositol, cis-inositol, epi-inositol, allo-inositol, muco-inositol, neo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol, 1-chiro-inositol, and d-pinitol.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the substance is myo-inositol.  
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein the supplement is administered to the diet of the athlete on a daily basis.  
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41  wherein the food supplement is mixed with water to provide a liquid drink.  
     
     
         43 . A method for supplementing the diet of an athlete, comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement comprising a substance which increases nitric oxide production in the body and whey protein.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43  wherein the the substance which increases nitric oxide production is selected from the group consisting of glycosidal saponins, ginseng, 1-arginine, N-acetyl cysteine, and folic acid.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 44  wherein the substance is ginseng.  
     
     
         46 . A method for supplementing the diet of an athlete, comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement comprising a substance which can enhance and/or mimic insulin activity, and whey protein.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 46  wherein the substance is glucomannan.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 46  wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of N-acetyl cysteine, myo-inositol, cis-inositol, epi-inositol, allo-inositol, muco-inositol, neo-inositol, scyllo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol, 1-chiro-inositol, and d-pinitol.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 48  wherein the substance is myo-inositol.  
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 48 , wherein the supplement is administered to the diet of the athlete on a daily basis.  
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 50 , wherein the food supplement is mixed with water to provide a liquid drink.  
     
     
         52 . A method for supplementing the diet of an athlete, comprising administering to the diet of the athlete an effective amount of a supplement comprising 1 mg-3000 mg glycosidal saponins; 1 mg-2000 mg myo-inositol; 1 mg-2000 mg d-chiro-inositol; 10 mg-4000 mg glucomannan; and a source of amino acids.  
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 52  wherein the glycosidal saponins comprise 150 mg to 1500 mg; the myo-inositol comprises about 100 mg to 2000 mg; and the glucomannan comprises 25 mg to 2000 mg.  
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 52  wherein the glycosidal saponins comprise 50 mg to 500 mg; the myo-inositol comprises about 200 mg to 1000 mg; and the glucomannan comprises 50 mg to 1000 mg.  
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 52  wherein the glucomannan comprises 100 mg to 500 mg.  
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 52  wherein the glycosidal saponins comprise about 50 mg.  
     
     
         57 . A method according to anyone of claims  52 - 56  wherein the source of amino acids is whey protein.