Center-filled chewing gum containing a deliverable form of calcium

Abstract

A centerfill chewing gum composition having a shell portion and a centerfill portion, the centerfill portion containing an effective amount of a calcium-containing compound suspended therein.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A centerfilled chewing gum composition comprising a shell portion and a centerfill portion, said centerfill portion comprising at least one non-water soluble or sparingly water soluble calcium-containing compound suspended in the centerfill portion and being relatively uniformly dispersed therein without settling, and being present in an effective amount, sufficient to provide at least the minimum daily nutritional amount of calcium to a user by chewing a reasonable number of pieces of the chewing gum composition per day.  
     
     
         20 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 19  wherein the centerfill further comprises a suspending agent.  
     
     
         21 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 20  wherein the suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin, gelatin, starch, modified starch, and carboxymethylcellulose.  
     
     
         22 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 20  wherein the suspending agent has a molecular weight such that a 1% to 2% aqueous solution of the suspending agent imparts a viscosity of from about 500 to 10,000 cps to the centerfill portion.  
     
     
         23 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 22  wherein the viscosity is from about 2,000 to 6,000 cps.  
     
     
         24 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 23  wherein the viscosity is from about 2,500 to 5,500 cps.  
     
     
         25 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 19  wherein the calcium-containing compound has an average particle size of less than about 17 microns.  
     
     
         26 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 25  wherein the calcium-containing compound has an average particle size of from about 0.4 to 17 microns.  
     
     
         27 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 26  wherein the calcium-containing composition has an average particle size of from about 2 to 8 microns.  
     
     
         28 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 25  wherein the calcium-containing compound has an average particle size of from about 3 to 5 microns.  
     
     
         29 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 19  wherein from 45 to 55% of the calcium-containing compound has a particle size of from about 0.6-1.0 microns and the remaining 55 to 45% has a particle size of about 14-17 microns.  
     
     
         30 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 29  wherein the calcium-compound is calcium carbonate, and wherein 50% of the calcium carbonate has a particle size of about 0.8 micron and 50% has a particle size of about 15 microns.  
     
     
         31 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 19  the calcium-containing compound is calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         32 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 19  wherein the centerfill portion further comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, mineral salts and botanicals.  
     
     
         33 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 19  wherein the amount of the calcium-containing compound is sufficient to release an effective amount of calcium into the oral cavity by chewing 3 to 5 pieces of the chewing gum composition per day.  
     
     
         34 . A method of delivering an effective amount of calcium to the oral cavity of a human being comprising chewing 3 to 5 pieces of the chewing gum composition of  claim 19.