Dietary compositions and methods

Abstract

Dietary compositions and methods employ a mammal food base and a component comprising estrogen, androgen or a mixture thereof in an amount sufficient to reduce weight gain normally incurred in the mammal type subsequent to neutering, castration, spaying, ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy, or post menopause. Preferably, the component comprises phytoestrogen, phytoandrogen or a mixture thereof. The compositions are adapted for administration to the mammal on a regular, preferably daily, basis.

1 - 28 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         29 . A pet food composition comprising a component selected from the group consisting of phytoestrogens, phytoandrogens, and mixtures thereof; wherein the pet food product is selected from the group consisting of complete and balanced pet foods, pet treats, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  comprising from about 0.001% to about 10% of the component, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         31 . The pet food composition according to  claim 30  comprising from about 0.01% to about 10% of the component, by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         32 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  which is a complete and balanced pet food.  
     
     
         33 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  which is a pet treat.  
     
     
         34 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  wherein the component comprises phytoestrogen.  
     
     
         35 . The pet food composition according to  claim 34  wherein the phytoestrogen comprises phytoestrogen selected from the group consisting of isoflavone, lignan, coumestan, resorcylic acid lactone, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The pet food composition according to  claim 34  wherein the phytoestrogen comprises phytoestrogen selected from the group consisting of daidzin, genistin, daidzein, genistein, coumesterol, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         37 . The pet food composition according to  claim 34  wherein the phytoestrogen comprises phytoestrogen selected from the group consisting of formononetin, genistin, daidzin, ononin, sissotrin, resveratrol, biochanin A, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         38 . The pet food composition according to  claim 34  which is a complete and balanced pet food.  
     
     
         39 . The pet food composition according to  claim 34  which is a pet treat.  
     
     
         40 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  wherein the component comprises photoestrogen or phytoandrogen selected from the group consisting of soybean derivatives, flax seed derivatives, protein products thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The pet food composition according to  claim 40  which is a complete and balanced pet food.  
     
     
         42 . The pet food composition according to  claim 40  which is a pet treat.  
     
     
         43 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  further comprising a second component selected from the group consisting of carnitine, inulin, conjugated linoleic acid, fructooligosaccharide, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         44 . The pet food composition according to  claim 43  comprising carnitine.  
     
     
         45 . The pet food composition according to  claim 43  comprising inulin.  
     
     
         46 . The pet food composition according to  claim 43  comprising conjugated linoleic acid.  
     
     
         47 . The pet food composition according to  claim 43  comprising fructooligosaccharide.  
     
     
         48 . The pet food composition according to  claim 29  further comprising a second component selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         49 . The pet food composition according to  claim 48  wherein the second component comprises at least one vitamin selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E.  
     
     
         50 . The pet food composition according to  claim 48  wherein the second component comprises at least one mineral selected from the group consisting of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, and selenium.