Dietary Supplement and Method for the Treatment of Digestive Tract Ulcers in Equines

Abstract

A novel dietary supplement and nutritional aid and methods for the manufacture and administration of the same are disclosed for the efficacious treatment and/or prevention of digestive tract ulcers in horses and other animals. The dietary supplement of the present invention is effective in treating and/or preventing gastric ulcers, and in treating colonic ulcers as well. The dietary supplement of the present invention consists of safe and natural ingredients rather than drugs, and is orally administrable. The ingredients of the dietary supplement of the present invention when combined provide a synergistic efficacy which greatly exceeds the sum of the efficacies of the individual ingredients, making the dietary supplement highly effective in the treatment of digestive tract ulcers.

1 . A dietary supplement for use in treating digestive tract ulcers, comprising:
 a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source which polar lipid strengthens the mucous gut membrane lining the inside wall of the stomach;   a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of foodstuffs ingested together with the dietary supplement through the stomach, wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans; and   a nutricine which increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine;   
       wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, and said nutricine are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses. 
     
     
         2 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said polar lipid contains antioxidants. 
     
     
         3 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said polar lipid contains lipids of oats. 
     
     
         4 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said polar lipid comprises at least one oil selected from the group consisting of oat oil, soybean oil, olive oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, rape seed oil, and linseed oil. 
     
     
         5 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said polar lipid comprises:
 oat oil.   
     
     
         6 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said polar lipid comprises between approximately twenty-nine percent and eighty percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         7 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said polar lipid comprises between approximately forty percent and sixty-five percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         8 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said polar lipid comprises approximately fifty-two and one-half percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         9 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from oats. 
     
     
         10 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said soluble fiber source comprises:
 β-glucan (beta-glucan).   
     
     
         11 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said wherein said β-glucan is derived from oats. 
     
     
         12 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said soluble fiber source comprises between approximately ten and fifty percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         13 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said soluble fiber source comprises between approximately fifteen and forty percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         14 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said soluble fiber source comprises approximately thirty-six percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         15 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said amino acids comprise:
 L-threonine.   
     
     
         16 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said L-threonine comprises between approximately one percent and eight percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         17 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said L-threonine comprises approximately two and one-half percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         18 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said amino acids comprise:
 L-glutamine.   
     
     
         19 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said L-glutamine comprises between approximately one percent and five percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         20 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said L-glutamine comprises approximately two percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         21 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a second nutricine which absorbs and eliminates mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract.   
     
     
         22 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said second nutricine that absorbs and eliminates mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract comprises:
 a pathogenic bacteria absorbant.   
     
     
         23 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said pathogenic bacteria absorbant comprises between approximately two percent to five percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         24 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said pathogenic bacteria absorbant comprises approximately two and one-half percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         25 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said second nutricine that absorbs and eliminates mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract comprises:
 a mycotoxin absorbant.   
     
     
         26 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said mycotoxin absorbant comprises between approximately two percent to five percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         27 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said mycotoxin absorbant comprises approximately two and one-half percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         28 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a pH balancer.   
     
     
         29 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said pH balancer comprises:
 sodium bicarbonate.   
     
     
         30 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said pH balancer comprises a sufficient percentage of said dietary supplement to bring said dietary supplement to a neutral pH. 
     
     
         31 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said pH balancer comprises a sufficient percentage of said dietary supplement to bring said dietary supplement to a pH of approximately seven. 
     
     
         32 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said pH balancer comprises approximately two percent of said dietary supplement by weight. 
     
     
         33 . A dietary supplement as defined in  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a medication that is carried with the other ingredients of said dietary supplement, wherein at least one of the absorption or the therapeutic value of said medication is maximized by being taken in conjunction with said dietary supplement.   
     
     
         34 . A feed supplement for use in treating digestive tract ulcers in horses, comprising:
 an oil-based polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source;   a β-glucan (beta-glucan) soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which β-glucan soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of foodstuffs ingested together with the dietary supplement through the stomach, wherein said β-glucan soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans, wherein said β glucan soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans;   a nutricine which increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine; and   a second nutricine which absorbs mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract;   
       wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, said nutricine, and said second nutricine are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses. 
     
     
         35 . A dietary supplement for use in treating and/or inhibiting digestive tract ulcers, comprising:
 a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source for strengthening the mucous gut membrane lining the inside wall of the stomach, to help the mucous gut membrane retain its ability to protect the inside wall of the stomach;   a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin for slowing the passage of foodstuffs ingested together with the dietary supplement through the stomach; and   a nutricine for increasing the integrity of the mucous gut membrane lining the inside wall of the stomach which nutricine comprises amino acids.   
     
     
         36 . A method of making a feed supplement for horses, said method comprising:
 providing a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source;   providing a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of foodstuffs ingested together with the dietary supplement through the stomach, wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans;   providing a nutricine which increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine; and   mixing said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, and said nutricine which increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes together;   
       wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, and said nutricine are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses. 
     
     
         37 . A method of making a feed supplement for horses, said method comprising:
 providing a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source;   providing a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of foodstuffs ingested together with the dietary supplement through the stomach, wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans;   providing a nutricine that increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine;   providing a second nutricine that absorbs mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract; and   mixing said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, said nutricine that increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes, and said nutricine that absorbs mycotoxins and/or pathogens together;   
       wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, said nutricine, said second nutricine, and said pH balancer are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses. 
     
     
         38 . A method for feeding a dietary supplement for use in treating digestive tract ulcers in horses, said method comprising:
 preparing an appropriately sized dose of dietary supplement comprising:
 a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source; 
 a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of foodstuffs ingested together with the dietary supplement through the stomach, wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans; and 
 a nutricine that increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine; 
   administering said dietary supplement to a horse on a regular basis; and   repeating said preparing and administering steps at least once daily;   
       wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, and said nutricine are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses. 
     
     
         39 . A method for administering a medication in horses utilizing a dietary supplement for use in treating digestive tract ulcers in horses, said method comprising:
 preparing an appropriately sized dose of dietary supplement comprising:
 a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source which polar lipid acts as a spreading agent to effectively coat the digestive tract with said dietary supplement; 
 a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of ingested items through the stomach, wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans; and 
 a nutricine which increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine; 
 a second nutricine for absorbing and eliminating mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract; 
   wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, said nutricine, and said second nutricine are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses;   mixing an appropriately sized dose of a medication into said dietary supplement;   administering said dietary supplement to a horse.   
     
     
         40 . A method of treating digestive tract ulcers in horses, comprising:
 preparing an appropriately sized dose of dietary supplement comprising:
 a polar lipid that has been isolated from its natural source which polar lipid acts as a spreading agent to effectively coat the digestive tract with said dietary supplement; 
 a soluble fiber source that has been fractionated from its natural origin which soluble fiber source is present in an amount that is effective to slow the passage of ingested items through the stomach, wherein said soluble fiber source is derived from at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of oats, barley, and soybeans; 
 a nutricine that increases the integrity of digestive tract membranes consisting of amino acids, wherein said amino acids include at least one of L-threonine or L-glutamine; and 
 a second nutricine for absorbing and eliminating mycotoxins and/or pathogens in the digestive tract; 
 wherein said polar lipid, said soluble fiber source, said nutricine, and said second nutricine are present in said dietary supplement in respective amounts sufficient to treat digestive tract ulcers in horses; and 
   administering said appropriately sized dose of dietary supplement to a horse.