Process for preparing oral calcium compositions

Abstract

A process for the preparation of an orally administrable calcium composition comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a physiologically tolerable particulate calcium compound having a mean particle size in the range 3 to 40 μm, having a crystalline structure and having a surface area of 0.1 to 1.2 m 2 /g; (ii) mixing the calcium compound with a water-soluble diluent and an aqueous solution of a water soluble binder in a fluid bed granulation apparatus and drying the resulting mixture to produce a first granulate; (iii) optionally mixing the first granulate with one or more further components to produce a second granulate; and (iv) optionally compressing the first or second granulate to form tablets.

1 . A process for the preparation of an orally administrable calcium composition, sad process comprising the steps of: 
 (i) obtaining a physiologically tolerable particulate calcium compound having a mean particle size in the range of 3 to 40 μm, having a crystalline structure and having a surface area of 0.1 to 1.2 m 2 /g;    (ii) mixing said calcium compound with a water-soluble diluent and an aqueous solution of water soluble binder in a fluid bed granulation apparatus and drying the resulting mixture to produce a first granulate;    (iii) optionally mixing said first granulate with one or more further components to produce a second granulate;    (iv) optionally compressing said first or second granulate to form tablets.    
   
   
       2 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said calcium compound is selected from calcium carbonate, calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, calcium citrate, calcium glycerophosphate, calcium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, calcium glucuronate, calcium aspartate, calcium glucoheptonate and mixtures of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said calcium compound is calcium carbonate.  
   
   
       4 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said calcium compound makes up 68 to 80% wt. of said first granulate.  
   
   
       5 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said calcium compound makes up 60 to 95% wt. of said second granulate.  
   
   
       6 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein in step (ii) the same material is used as said diluent and as said buffer.  
   
   
       7 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said water-soluble diluent comprises at least one sweetener.  
   
   
       8 . A process as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said sweetener is at least one component selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, mannitol, sucrose, fructose, maltodextrin, inulin and oligofructose.  
   
   
       9 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said water-soluble diluent makes up 70-96% wt. of the total weight of said water-soluble diluent and said water-soluble binder in said first granulate.  
   
   
       10 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said water-soluble binder is selected from the group consisting of celluloses, polysaccharides, maltodextrin, inulin and polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
   
   
       11 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said water-soluble binder is polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
   
   
       12 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said first granulate has a particle size distribution of D(V, 0.1)0 15-21 μm, D(V, 0.5)=70-120 μm and D(V, 0.9)=190-330 μm.  
   
   
       13 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein a said further component is mixed with said first granulate, said further component being at least one component selected from the group consisting of: vitamin B 6 , vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin D, isoflavones, inulin, and oligofructose and mixtures of two or more thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein in step (ii) said calcium compound is also mixed with isoflavones.  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)