Nutritional composition having lipophilic compounds with improved solubility and bioavailability

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a nutritional composition having at least one protein, at least one fat, and at least one lipophilic compound, the composition comprising at least one assembly comprising at least one hydrophobic protein, monoglycerides and diglycerides (“MDG”) and at least one lipophilic compound, wherein at least 1% of the total MDG in the nutritional composition remains in the aqueous phase after centrifugation at 100,000×g for 1 hour at 20° C.

1 . A method of preparing a nutritional composition having at least one lipophilic compound having improved bioavailability, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a premix comprising an assembly that comprises at least one hydrophobic protein, combination of monoglycerides and diglycerides (“MDG”) and at least one lipophilic compound, wherein the assembly is (i) water soluble; and (ii) has a size of 100 kD to 1000 kD;   adding the premix to an aqueous solution to form an activated premix; and   adding the activated premix to the nutritional composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly has a size of 60 kD to 400 kD. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the lipophilic compound is a carotenoid, a lipid soluble vitamin, a lipophilic antioxidant or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic compound is lutein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the premix is heated to a temperature of 120° F. for about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . A method of preparing a nutritional composition having at least one lipophilic compound having improved bioavailability, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a premix comprising an assembly that comprises at least one hydrophobic protein, a combination of monoglycerides and diglycerides (“MDG”) and at least one lipophilic compound, wherein the assembly is (i) water soluble; and (ii) has a size of 100 kD to 1000 kD;   adding the premix to a fat-containing solution to form a protected premix; and   adding the protected premix to the nutritional composition.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the assembly has a size of 60 kD to 400 kD. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the lipophilic compound is a carotenoid, a lipid soluble vitamin, a lipophilic antioxidant or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lipophilic compound is lutein, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the premix is heated to a temperature of 120° F. for about 10 minutes.