Compositions containing non-polar compounds

Abstract

Provided are compositions and methods for clear and stable beverages that contain additives such as essential fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids, and other fatty acids; phytochemicals, including phytosterols; other oils; and coenzymes, including Coenzyme Q10, and other oil-based additives.

1 . A liquid nanoemulsion concentrate, comprising:
 a) one sucrose fatty acid ester or a mixture of sucrose fatty acid esters, wherein:   the total amount of sucrose fatty acid esters is between about 16% and about 30%, by weight, of the concentrate; and   b) a polar solvent in an amount between about 60% and about 79%, by weight, of the concentrate, wherein the polar solvent is selected from among water, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and trimethylene glycol; and   c) a non-polar active ingredient selected from among any one or more of polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids, Coenzyme Q10 compounds, vitamin D3 and phytosterols in an amount between about 5% and about 10%, by weight, of the concentrate.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrate contains between about 17% and about 29%, by weight, sucrose fatty acid ester or mixture thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the sucrose fatty acid ester or mixture thereof in the composition has an HLB value of between about 14 and about 20. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the sucrose fatty acid ester or mixture thereof comprises a sucrose fatty acid monoester. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the sucrose fatty acid ester or mixture thereof contains sucrose stearate, sucrose laurate, sucrose palmitate, sucrose oleate, sucrose caprylate, sucrose decanoate, sucrose myristate, sucrose pelargonate, sucrose undecanoate, sucrose tridecanoate, sucrose pentadeconoate, sucrose heptadecanoate, and homologs thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate  claim 1 , wherein the sucrose fatty acid ester or mixture thereof contains any one or more of sucrose monostearate, sucrose monolaurate, sucrose monooleate or sucrose monopalmitate. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the sucrose fatty acid ester mixture contains at least about 50%, by weight, sucrose monoester. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the sucrose fatty acid ester or mixture contains a sucrose fatty acid ester having a carbon chain length of 12, 14, 16 or 18 carbons. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of sucrose fatty acid esters is between about 17% and about 26%. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the non-polar active ingredient contains at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from among omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, phytosterols, vitamin D3 and conjugated fatty acids. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 10 , wherein the non-polar active ingredient contains a polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from among a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a fish oil, a flaxseed oil, a borage oil, an alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and a saw palmetto extract. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of DHA is between about 20% and about 90%, of the non-polar active ingredient. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of EPA is between about 5% and about 15%, by weight of the non-polar active ingredient. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of ALA is between about 50% and about 80%, by weight, of the non-polar active ingredient. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of GLA is at least about 22%, by weight, of the non-polar active ingredient. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent is a polar protic solvent. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 16 , wherein the polar solvent is water. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 17  wherein the polar solvent is water and the amount of water is between about 65% and about 76%, by weight, of the concentrate. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-polar solvent in an amount sufficient to dissolve the non-polar active ingredient and differs therefrom. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 19 , wherein the non-polar solvent contains a vitamin E oil, a flaxseed oil, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         21 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 19 , wherein the amount of non-polar solvent is between about 1% and about 6%, inclusive, by weight, of the concentrate. 
     
     
         22 . A method of providing an oil-based additive in a beverage, comprising:
 adding the liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1  to an aqueous beverage medium in an amount, whereby the aqueous medium contains an effective amount of the non-polar active ingredient for supplementation of the diet.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the beverage is water, soda, milk, juice or a sports nutrition beverage. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the non-polar active ingredient is selected from among Coenzyme Q10, a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a fish oil, a flaxseed oil, a borage oil, an alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a saw palmetto extract, and a phytosterol. 
     
     
         25 . A method for preparing a powder, comprising spray drying or freeze drying the liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of sucrose fatty acid esters is between about 18% and 26%, inclusive, by weight, of the concentrate. 
     
     
         27 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of sucrose fatty acid esters is between about 16% and about 18%, inclusive, by weight, of the concentrate. 
     
     
         28 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of sucrose fatty acid esters is at least about 23%, by weight, of the concentrate. 
     
     
         29 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of sucrose fatty acid esters is at least about 25%, by weight, of the concentrate. 
     
     
         30 . A liquid nanoemulsion concentrate, comprising:
 a) a surfactant that is a mixture comprising a sucrose fatty acid ester (SFAE) and a PEG-derivative of vitamin E or that comprises one or more sucrose fatty acid ester(s), wherein:   the total amount of the surfactant of a) is between about 16% and about 30%, by weight, of the concentrate; and   the concentrate contains at least about 1% sucrose fatty acid ester, which increases miscibility with the polar solvent compared to in the absence of sucrose fatty acid ester;   b) a polar solvent in an amount between about 60% and about 79%, by weight, of the concentrate wherein the polar solvent is water; and   c) a phytosterol or mixture thereof in an amount between about 5% and about 10%, by weight, of the concentrate.   
     
     
         31 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 30 , wherein the PEG-derivative of vitamin E is a tocopherol polyethylene glycol diester (TPGD). 
     
     
         32 . The liquid nanoemulsion concentrate of  claim 30 , wherein the PEG-derivative of vitamin E is tocopherol succinate polyethylene glycol (TPGS).