Dietary supplements containing terpenoid acids of maslinic acid or oleanolic acid and process for enhancing muscle mass in mammals

Abstract

A process for increasing lean body mass in a mammalian subject is provided that includes administering to the subject a purified quantity of maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, or a combination thereof. The administration can be orally and benefits from ingestion of an amino acid source such as dietary protein, oligopeptides, or amino acids. Administration within 2 hours of muscle-degrading exercise or on a daily basis for a period of time increases lean body mass.

1 . A process for increasing lean body mass in a mammalian subject comprising:
 administering to said subject a purified quantity of maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein administering is orally. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said purified quantity is only maslinic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein said purified quantity is an extract containing at least 10 extract weight percent of said maslinic acid, said oleanolic acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising mixing said purified quantity with at least one dietary supplement additive of protein or amino acids. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein said purified quantity is devoid of cellulosics, lignins, or alkaloids associated with the plant from which said extract is derived. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claims 1 , wherein administering occurs within 2 hours of muscle-degrading exercise. 
     
     
         8 . A dietary supplement comprising an active component consisting of:
 a purified quantity of maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, or a combination thereof;   a dietary amino acid source of protein oligopeptides, or amino acids; and   a dietary supplement additive.   
     
     
         9 . The supplement of  claim 8 , wherein said purified quantity is an extract containing at least 10 extract weight percent of the maslinic acid, the oleanolic acid, or the combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The supplement of  claim 8 , wherein said dietary supplement additive renders the supplement suitable for oral delivery. 
     
     
         11 . The dietary supplement composition of  claim 8 , wherein said purified quantity is 0.01%-5 total weight percent. 
     
     
         12 . The supplement of  claims 8 - 11 , wherein said purified quantity has a mass of between 0.1 and 5,000 milligrams. 
     
     
         13 . The supplement of  claim 8 , wherein the protein source is at least one of a whey protein isolate, a whey protein concentrate, a free form amino acid, a buckwheat protein, a soy protein isolate or concentrate, a milk protein isolate or concentrate, a micellar casein, calcium or other caseinate proteins, or a rice protein or any combination. 
     
     
         14 . The supplement of  claim 8 , wherein said protein source is 3-52 grams of dietary protein. 
     
     
         15 . The dietary supplement of  claim 6 , wherein the composition is administered orally. 
     
     
         16 . A dietary supplement composition comprising:
 a maslinic acid extract containing at least 10% maslinic acids by dry weight, wherein the maslinic acid extract comprises approximately 0.01%-5% of the dry weight of the composition; and at least one source of protein or nitrogen.   
     
     
         17 . The dietary supplement composition of  claim 16 , wherein the protein comprises whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, free form amino acids, buckwheat protein, soy protein isolate or concentrate, milk protein isolate or concentrate, micellar casein, calcium or other caseinate proteins, rice protein or any combination. 
     
     
         18 . The dietary supplement composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is administered orally. 
     
     
         19 . The dietary supplement composition of  claim 16 , wherein the maslinic acid comprises approximately 0.01%-5% of the dry weight of the composition. 
     
     
         20 . A method for enhancing nitrogen balance and lean body mass comprising:
 administering a composition comprising an extract containing at least 0.01% maslinic acid by dry weight.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the composition includes at least one source of protein or nitrogen.