Novel Stabilized Carotenoid Compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel compositions containing finely dispersed carotenoids. The novel compositions of this invention can be used as colorants or additives for food, beverages, animal feeds, cosmetics or drugs. The colorant composition may be a liquid or a solid composition. The solid composition comprises at least one carotenoid which is dispersed in a matrix, wherein the matrix contains at least one carbohydrate and/or one modified carbohydrate and optionally, a protein, a modified protein or mixtures thereof, wherein the at least one carbohydrate and/or one modified carbohydrate is starch or modified starch, wherein the amount of starch or modified starch is from about 10 wt-% to 60 wt-% of based on the total weight of the matrix, and wherein the concentration of the at least one carotenoid is at least 2% based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably β-carotene is used as a solid water-dispersible colorant composition.

1 . A colorant composition comprising at least one carotenoid which is dispersed in a matrix, wherein the matrix contains at least one carbohydrate and/or one modified carbohydrate and optionally, a protein, a modified protein or mixtures thereof, wherein the at least one carbohydrate and/or one modified carbohydrate is starch or modified starch, wherein the amount of starch or modified starch is from about 10 wt-% to 60 wt-% based on the total weight of the matrix, and wherein the concentration of the at least one carotenoid is at least 2% based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , which is a water-soluble composition. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of starch or modified starch is from about 0.5 to about 60.0 wt.-%. 
     
     
         4 . A composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the at least one carotenoid is from about 2% to 10%, preferably form about 2% to 5% based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . A composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the carotenoid is β-carotene. 
     
     
         6 . A composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the starch or modified starch is sodium octenyl succinyl starch or octenylbutanedioate amylodextrin (Capsul™). 
     
     
         7 . A composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the matrix which is present in the composition contains in addition to starch or modified starch a polysaccharide gum such as gum Arabic, and/or a maltodextrin, or a protein such as gelatin, e.g. fish gelatin or swine or bovine gelatin, or a plant protein, or a milk protein or a ligninsulfonate or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A composition as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a mono- di-, oligo- or polysaccharide, a triglyceride, a water-soluble anti-oxidant, a fat-soluble anti-oxidant, silicic acid and water are additionally present. 
     
     
         9 . A composition as in  claim 8 , wherein the triglyceride is a middle chain triglyceride. 
     
     
         10 . A composition as in  claim 8 , wherein the fat soluble antioxidant is a tocopherol or a fatty acid ester or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A composition as in  claim 8 , wherein the water soluble antioxidant is ascorbic acid. 
     
     
         12 . A composition as in  claim 1 , which is a powder. 
     
     
         13 . A composition as in  claim 1  which comprises
 about 10 to about 60 wt.-%, preferably about 20 to about 30 wt.-% of sugar polymer, for example Maltodextrin;   about 5 to about 50 wt.-%, preferably about 10 to about 40 wt.-% of gum Arabic;   about 0.2 to about 10 wt.-% preferably about 1.5 to about 10 wt.-% of a carotenoid;   5 to about 15 wt.-% preferably about 5 to about 10 wt.-% of a mono- or disaccharide;   10 to about 50 wt.-% preferably about 15 to about 45 wt.-% of starch and modified starch;   about 5 to about 50 wt.-% preferably about 10 to about 20 wt.-% of a triglyceride;   0 to about 5% preferably about 0.1 to about 2 wt.-% of a water-soluble anti-oxidant;   0 to about 5% preferably about 0.01 to about 1 wt.-% of a fat-soluble anti-oxidant;   0 to about 2 wt.-% preferably about 0.1 to about 1 wt.-% of silicic acid; and   0 to about 10 wt.-% preferably about 1 to about 5 wt.-% of water.   
     
     
         14 . A composition as in  claim 1 , which comprises about 25 wt-% to about 80 wt-%, preferably 60 wt-% to 80 wt-% of octenylbutanedioate amylodextrin based on the mixture of octenylbutanedioate amylodextrin and Arabic gum. 
     
     
         15 . The use of a composition as claimed in  claim 1  as a colorant for food, beverages, animal feeds, cosmetics or drugs. 
     
     
         16 . Food, beverages, animal feeds, cosmetics or drugs containing a composition as claimed in  claim 1 .