Nutritional powders comprising spray dried hmb

Abstract

Spray dried nutritional powders include soluble calcium, protein, and at least one of a soluble citrate, a soluble phosphate, and combinations thereof as at least one chelating agent. At least a portion of the soluble calcium is calcium HMB. At least a portion of the protein is soluble protein. The spray dried nutritional powders have a weight ratio of soluble calcium binding capacity to total soluble calcium of from about 2.3:1 to about 12:1. The calcium HMB, the at least one chelating agent, and the protein are spray dried together.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing a nutritional powder comprising soluble calcium, protein, and at least one chelating agent, comprising the steps of:
 (a) preparing an aqueous admixture of at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of soluble citrates and soluble phosphates, and soluble calcium, wherein at least a portion of the soluble calcium is calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB);   (b) thereafter, admixing protein to the aqueous admixture containing the chelating agent and the soluble calcium, wherein and at least a portion of the protein is soluble protein, and   (c) spray drying the aqueous admixture to provide the nutritional powder comprising the soluble calcium, the at least one chelating agent, and the protein.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the aqueous admixture of the calcium HMB and the at least one chelating agent is held under agitation prior to admixing the protein thereto in order to allow unbound calcium to chelate with the at least one chelating agent. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the aqueous admixture of the calcium HMB and the at least one chelating agent is held under agitation for at least 10 minutes prior to admixing the protein thereto. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the powder has a weight ratio of soluble calcium binding capacity to total soluble calcium from about 2.3:1 to about 12:1. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of adding at least one of fat and carbohydrate to the aqueous admixture prior to said spray drying step, wherein the aqueous admixture comprises an aqueous slurry. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of admixing carbohydrate to the aqueous admixture prior to the addition of protein. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of admixing fat into the aqueous admixture after the addition of the carbohydrate but prior to spray drying. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the powder comprises from about 0.1% to about 8% by weight of calcium HMB. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the powder comprises from about 0.1% to about 8% by weight of calcium HMB. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the powder has a weight ratio of soluble calcium binding capacity to total soluble calcium from about 2.3:1 to about 12:1, and comprises from about 0.3% to about 3% by weight of calcium HMB. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the powder has a weight ratio of soluble calcium binding capacity to total soluble calcium from about 3:1 to about 8:1. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the powder comprises from about 5% to about 75% protein, from about 20% to about 90% carbohydrate, and from about 5% to about 75% fat, all by weight of the nutritional powder. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the powder comprises from about 12% to about 30% protein, from about 30% to about 80% carbohydrate, and from about 10% to about 35% fat, all by weight of the nutritional powder. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of tricalcium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, disodium phosphate, sodium citrate and potassium citrate. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the aqueous admixture is prepared by admixing the at least one chelating agent to water followed by the calcium HMB. 
     
     
         36 . A method of preparing a nutritional powder comprising calcium HMB, soluble protein, and at least one chelating agent, comprising the steps of:
 (a) preparing an aqueous slurry of calcium HMB and at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of soluble citrates and soluble phosphates;   (b) holding the aqueous slurry under agitation to allow unbound calcium to chelate with the at least one chelating agent;   (c) admixing soluble protein to the aqueous slurry; and   (d) spray drying the aqueous slurry to provide the nutritional powder.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the nutritional powder has a weight ratio of soluble calcium binding capacity to total soluble calcium from about 2.3:1 to about 12:1. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the steps of admixing carbohydrate to the aqueous slurry prior to the addition of protein, and admixing fat into the aqueous slurry after the addition of carbohydrate but prior to said spray drying step. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the nutritional powder has a moisture content of less than about 3.0% by weight. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the powder comprises from about 0.1% to about 8% by weight of calcium HMB.