Long lasting absorption of flavonoids

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for a ong-term and sustained release of flavonoids, in particular rhamnose-containing flavonoids, and for prolonging the uptake of said flavonoids in the gastro-intestinal tract. It further relates to compositions comprising said flavonoid and α-rhamnosidase. It also encompasses compositions comprising hesperidin and hesperetin-7-gluoside.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 : A product comprising:
 a first composition comprising a rhamnose-containing flavonoid; and   a second composition comprising an α-rhamnosidase, and the first and second compositions do not react with each other unless certain conditions are met.   
     
     
         2 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the certain conditions are selected from the group consisting of pH, temperature, water activity and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the certain conditions are gastro-intestinal tract conditions. 
     
     
         4 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the α-rhamnosidase is only able to cleave the rhamnose-containing flavonoid in gastro-intestinal tract conditions. 
     
     
         5 : The product according to  claim 4 , wherein the α-rhamnosidase is only able to cleave the rhamnose-containing flavonoid at a temperature provided by the gastro-intestinal tract conditions. 
     
     
         6 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the product has a pH that prevents the α-rhamnosidase from cleaving the rhamnose-containing flavonoid. 
     
     
         7 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the α-rhamnosidase has been treated with an inhibitor such that only when gastro-intestinal tract conditions are met is the α-rhamnosidase able to cleave the rhamnose-containing flavonoid. 
     
     
         8 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the α-rhamnosidase is encapsulated in a micro-organism capable of producing α-rhamnosidase, and the product has conditions in which the micro-organism has a metabolic rate such that the α-rhamnosidase is not released by the micro-organism. 
     
     
         9 : The product according to  claim 8 , wherein the product has a water activity that lowers the metabolic rate of the micro-organism to prevent the micro-organism from releasing the α-rhamnosidase. 
     
     
         10 : The product according to  claim 9 , wherein the micro-organism is a bacterium. 
     
     
         11 : The product according to  claim 10 , wherein the bacterium is selected from  Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Oenococcus  and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 : The product according to  claim 10 , wherein the bacterium is selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus crispatus  ATCC33820 , Lactobacillus crispatus  CNCM I-3654 , Lactobacillus plantarum  ATCC8014 , Lactobacillus plantarum  CNCM I-3653 , Lactobacillus gasseri  CNCM I-3795 and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 : The product according to  claim 8 , wherein the micro-organism is present in an amount of 10 6 -10 10  cfu/g. 
     
     
         14 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the second composition is a powder. 
     
     
         15 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the rhamnose-containing flavonoid is hesperidin. 
     
     
         16 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is a composition selected from the group consisting of nutritional composition, a pharmaceutical composition and a cosmetic composition. 
     
     
         17 : The product according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a solution, a spray, a powder, a tablet, a capsule, a yoghurt, a biscuit, milk, a beverage, chocolate, ice cream, breakfast cereal flakes, a breakfast cereal bar, a milk powder, a soy-based product, a non-milk fermented product, a nutritional supplement, a food supplement, a pet food, an infant formula and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 : A product comprising:
 a first powder comprising a rhamnose-containing flavonoid; and   a second powder comprising an α-rhamnosidase, and the first and second powders do not react with each other unless certain conditions are met.   
     
     
         19 : A method of improving aesthetics or comfort of skin, a coat, or hair of humans or pets, the method comprising the step of orally administering to a human or a pet in need of same a product comprising a first composition comprising a rhamnose-containing flavonoid and a second composition comprising an α-rhamnosidase, and the α-rhamnosidase is only able to cleave the rhamnose-containing flavonoid in gastro-intestinal tract conditions. 
     
     
         20 : A method of treating damage to the skin, coat and/or hair of humans or pets, the method comprising the step of orally administering to a human or a pet in need of same a product comprising a first composition comprising a rhamnose-containing flavonoid and a second composition comprising an α-rhamnosidase, and the α-rhamnosidase is only able to cleave the rhamnose-containing flavonoid in gastro-intestinal tract conditions. 
     
     
         21 : A method for improving skin health, the method comprising the step of administering separately and simultaneously a first composition comprising at least one rhamnose-containing flavonoid and a second composition comprising α-rhamnosidase. 
     
     
         22 : A composition comprising a mix of hesperidin and hesperetin-7-glucoside. 
     
     
         23 : The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein the hesperidin and hesperetin-7-glucoside are present in the composition in a ratio of between 70/30 to 50/50.