Blends Comprising a Substituted Fatty Acid or a Derivative Thereof

Abstract

The invention concerns blends of a hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid (as present in Kombo nut oil) or a derivative thereof, which blends comprised: (i) 0.1-99.9 wt % of the substituted acid (ii) 0-99.8 wt % of Kombo butter glycerides (iii) 0.1-99.9 wt % of other triglycerides Food products and food supplements comprising such hydroquinone substituted acids are also part of the invention. The substituted acids display many useful health benefits.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A blend comprising a substituted organic acid, or a derivative thereof and a glyceride wherein the blend comprises:
 (i) 0.1 to 99.9 wt % of a hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid or a derivative of said acid,   (ii) 0 to 99.8 wt % of kombo butter glycerides obtainable from kombo butter and   (iii) 0.1 to 99.9 wt % of other triglycerides.   
   
   
       36 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein (i) is sargahydroquinoic acid (SHQA), a C1 to C32 acid or alcohol ester thereof or a food acceptable salt thereof. 
   
   
       37 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein (i) is an ester or food acceptable salt of said hydroquinone substituted polyunsaturated fatty acid. 
   
   
       38 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein the acid derivative is an ester of the hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid and a straight chain saturated and/or unsaturated alcohol with 2 to 20 carbon atoms. 
   
   
       39 . A blends according to  claim 35  wherein the hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid derivative is a Na or K or Ca salt. 
   
   
       40 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein components (i) and (ii) are obtained from kombo nut oil. 
   
   
       41 . A blend according to  claim 35 , wherein the other glycerides (iii) are selected from the group consisting of palm oil; cocoa butter; coconut oil; palm kernel oil; soy bean oil, olive oil; sunflower oil; rape seed oil; safflower oil; corn oil, cotton seed oil; cocoa butter equivalents or cocoa butter replacers; fish oil; borage oil, pine nut oil; coriander oil; fungal oils, or high oleic varieties thereof, or fractions thereof, or hardened varieties thereof, or fractions of the hardened varieties or mixtures of one or more of these oils and fats. 
   
   
       42 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein the blend displays a solid fat content, measured by NMR pulse on a non stabilized blend at the temperature indicated of N 5 =5 to 80 and N 35 =less than 20. 
   
   
       43 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein the hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid is isolated from  Pycnanthus angolensis  nut oil. 
   
   
       44 . A blend according to  claim 35  wherein the blend comprises an effective amount of an oxidation stabiliser selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic tocopherols, BHT, TBHQ, BHA, propylgallate; free radical scavengers, enzymes with anti oxidant properties and ascorbyl esters of fatty acids. 
   
   
       45 . A food composition comprising an effective amount of a health component wherein the health component is a hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid or a derivative thereof. 
   
   
       46 . A food composition according to  claim 45  wherein said fatty acid or derivative thereof is SHQA or an ester or food acceptable salt thereof. 
   
   
       47 . A food composition according to  claim 45  which is selected from the group consisting of margarine; fat continuous or water continuous or bicontinuous spreads, fat reduced spreads; confectionery products, ice creams, ice cream coatings, ice cream inclusions, dressings, mayonnaises, cheese, cream alternatives, dry soups, drinks, cereal bars, sauces and snack bars. 
   
   
       48 . A food supplement comprising an effective amount of a hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid or a derivative thereof in an encapsulating material or in granule or powder form. 
   
   
       49 . A food supplement according to  claim 48  wherein the acid is SHQA or ester or food acceptable salt thereof and the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, starch, modified starch, flour, modified flour, sucrose, lactose, glucose and fructose. 
   
   
       50 . The method of treatment which comprises administering to a host in need of treatment, a blend according to  claim 35 , a food composition or food supplement according to  claim 45  or  claim 48  in an amount effective to obtain at least one of the following health effects:
 (i) acting as a lipase inhibitor for pancreatic lipase   (ii) acting as a ligand for peroxisome proliferator activated receptors subtype alpha or gamma   (iii) reducing or helping prevent ageing or photo damage of the skin   (iv) promoting the formation of decorin in the skin   (v) reducing/helping to prevent acne   (vi) reducing/helping to prevent cellulite   (vii) enhancing body or oral freshness   (viii) preventing the formation of free radicals, delaying the oxidation of fats and oils and/or to help prevent or retard the development of diseases in mammals related to the presence of free radicals   (ix) improving glucose metabolism and/or reducing blood glucose levels;   (x) treating or preventing insulin resistance;   (xi) treating or preventing Type 2 diabetes;   (xii) treating or preventing Syndrome X;   (xiii) treating or preventing stroke;   (xiv) treating or preventing hypertension.   
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid in said blend, food composition or food supplement is sargahydroquinoic acid (SHQA) or ester or salt derivative thereof and said composition is administered to prevent or retard the development of cancer, Alzheimer disease, arthritis and/or cardiovascular diseases. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the derivative is a C6 to C20 acid or alcohol ester of SHQA. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid derivative is a Na or K or Ca salt of SHQA. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the derivatives are used as a mix with an effective amount of one or more other anti oxidants selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic tocopherols, BHT, TBHQ, BHA, propylgallate; free radical scavengers, enzymes with anti oxidant properties and ascorbyl esters of fatty acids. 
   
   
       55 . Process for the enrichment of a hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid present in kombo nut oil or derivatives thereof in a glyceride surrounding which comprises:
 (i) selecting a kombo nut oil containing a sufficient amount of the desired acid or acid derivative   (ii) refining the oil by neutralization by adding a base at a temperature of 40 to 60° C.   (iii) separating the crude reaction produce in an organic phase and an aqueous phase   (iv) acidifying the water phase of step (iii) to a pH of 0 to 4 and draining off the organic phase, and   (v) recovering a product that contains the hydroquinone substituted poly unsaturated fatty acid in an amount of more than 20 wt %.   
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the blend, food composition or food supplement is administered to treat or prevent Type 2 diabetes. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the blend, food composition or food supplement is administered to treat or prevent impaired glucose tolerance. 
   
   
       58 . A method of obtaining an improved health effect which comprises administering to a subject in need of such improved health effect an effective amount of at least one member of the group consisting of SHQA, a C1 to C32 acid or alcohol ester of SHQA and food acceptable salts of SHQA. 
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 58  for treating or preventing Type 2 diabetes comprising administering an effective amount of a SHQA or ester or salt derivative thereof to a mammal in need of such treatment or prevention. 
   
   
       60 . A composition for improving health comprising an effective amount of a blend according to  claim 35 . 
   
   
       61 . A composition for improving health comprising an effective amount of SHQA extracted from kombo nut oil or ester or food acceptable salt thereof.