Dietary supplement, and methods of use

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides dietary fiber compositions comprising effective amounts of glucomannan, xanthan gum, and alginate to produce a desired viscosity. The invention also provides food products comprising an effective amount of a dietary fiber composition. In other aspects, the invention provides methods for preparing a dietary fiber composition or a food product comprising a dietary fiber composition, and methods for promoting satiety, promoting weight loss, lowering blood glucose levels, or lowering blood cholesterol levels in a mammal

1 . A dietary fiber composition comprising from about 70% to about 80% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) alginate 
     
     
         2 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dietary fiber composition produces at least a threefold increase in the viscosity of a solution simulating gastric conditions within 30 minutes after addition of the composition to a 70-fold (w/w) excess of the solution simulating gastric conditions having a pH of about 1.2 as compared to the initial viscosity of a solution comprising the composition under neutral conditions as measured in a 100-fold (w/w) excess of water. 
     
     
         3 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dietary fiber composition produces at least a threefold increase in the viscosity of a solution simulating intestinal conditions within 30 minutes after addition of the composition to a 70-fold (w/w) excess of the solution simulating intestinal conditions having a pH between about 7.5 and about 8.0 as compared to the initial viscosity of a solution comprising the composition under neutral conditions as measured in a 100-fold (w/w) excess of water. 
     
     
         4 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 70% to about 80% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 13% to about 17% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         5 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 70% (w/w) glucomannan, about 13% (w/w) xanthan gum, and about 17% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         6 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 70% glucomannan, about 17% (w/w) xanthan, and about 13% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         7 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alginate is a medium viscosity alginate. 
     
     
         8 . The dietary fiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in a gelatin capsule. 
     
     
         9 . A food product comprising from about 2% to about 30% (w/w) of a dietary fiber composition comprising from about 60% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         10 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the food product is a dietary supplement or a meal replacement. 
     
     
         11 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the food product comprises from about 2% to about 20% (w/w) of the dietary fiber composition. 
     
     
         12 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises from about 60% to about 80% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         13 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises from about 60% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         14 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the dietary fiber is a baked food product and the dietary fiber is added prior to baking the food product. 
     
     
         15 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the food product is an ingestible liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises granules, wherein each granule comprises from about 60% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         17 . The food product of  claim 16 , wherein the granulated dietary fiber composition comprises granules of from about 30 mesh to about 60 mesh. 
     
     
         18 . The food product of  claim 9 , wherein the alginate is a medium viscosity alginate. 
     
     
         19 . A method for preparing a food product comprising a dietary fiber composition, the method comprising adding from about 2% to about 30% (w/w) of a dietary fiber composition comprising from about 60% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate to a food product. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the food product is a baked food product and the method comprises adding the dietary fiber composition to the food product prior to baking. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the food product is an ingestible liquid and the method comprises mixing the dietary fiber composition into the liquid prior to consumption. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method comprises sprinking the dietary fiber composition onto the food product prior to consumption. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises granules, wherein each granule comprises from about 60% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the granulated dietary fiber composition comprises granules of from about 30 mesh to about 60 mesh. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the alginate is a medium viscosity alginate. 
     
     
         26 . A method for promoting satiety, promoting weight loss, lowering blood glucose levels, or lowering blood cholesterol levels in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal an amount of a dietary fiber composition effective to promote satiety, to promote weight loss, to lower blood glucose levels, or to lower blood cholesterol levels in the mammal, wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises from about 60% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises from about 60% to about 80% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 9% to about 17% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dietary fiber composition comprises from about 70% to about 90% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 5% to about 20% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises from about 70% to about 80% (w/w) glucomannan, from about 10% to about 20% (w/w) xanthan gum, and from about 9% to about 17% (w/w) alginate. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises about 70% glucomannan, about 13% xanthan, and about 17% alginate. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises about 70% glucomannan, about 17% xanthan, and about 13% alginate. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the alginate is a medium viscosity alginate. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dietary fiber composition is administered in a gelatin capsule. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dietary fiber composition is administered in or on a food product. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the dietary fiber composition is administered in an ingestible liquid.