Ubiquinol and alpha lipoic acid compositions

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ that is reduced in the presence of lipoic acid and, optionally a fatty acid and/or optionally in a monoterpene. The compositions that include the reduced CoQ can be formulated in soft gel capsules.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soft gelatin capsule, comprising an encapsulated solution comprising:
 a ubiquinol;   a sufficient quantity of lipoic acid to maintain the ubiquinol in its reduced form; and   one or more fatty acids, such that the ubiquinol comprises about 95% by weight of a total amount of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution.   
     
     
         2 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the ubiquinol content is about 98% by weight of the total weight of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         3 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 2 , wherein the ubiquinol content is about 99% by weight of the total weight of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         4 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of lipoic acid to ubiquinol is from about 0.1:1 to about 2.5:1. 
     
     
         5 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is butanoic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, 9-hexadecenoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, 12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid, 11-octadecenoic acid, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid, eicosanoic acid, 9-eicosenoic acid, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, docosanoic acid, 13-docosenoic acid, 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic, tetracosanoic acid or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 5 , wherein the fatty acid is a combination of decanoic acid and octanoic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 6 , wherein the ratio of decanoic acid to octanoic acid is 3:7. 
     
     
         8 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising a monoterpene. 
     
     
         9 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 8 , wherein the monoterpene is limonene or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 9 , wherein the limonene derivative is perillyl alcohol, perillic acid, cis-dihydroperillic acid, trans-dihydroperillic acid, methyl esters of perillic acid, methyl esters of dihydroperillic acid, limonene-2-diol, uroterpenol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated ubiquinol solution is stable to oxidation for at least about 30 days, such that about 95% ubiquinol remains from the original total amount of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         12 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated ubiquinol solution is stable to oxidation for at least about 120 days, such that about 95% ubiquinol remains from the original total amount of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         13 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated ubiquinol solution is stable to oxidation for at least about 365 days, such that about 95% ubiquinol remains from the original total amount of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         14 . A method for the delivery of an effective amount of ubiquinol to an individual in need thereof, comprising the steps of
 providing a soft gelatin capsule as claimed in  claim 1 , such that an effective amount of ubiquinol is provided to an individual.   
     
     
         15 . A method to prevent oxidation of a ubiquinol to a ubiquinone or a semi-ubiquinone, comprising the step of:
 contacting a sufficient amount of alpha lipoic acid with ubiquinol, such that oxidation of the ubiquinol to a ubiquinone or a semi-ubiquinone does not occur.   
     
     
         16 . A soft gelatin capsule, comprising an encapsulated solution comprising:
 a ubiquinol;   a sufficient quantity of lipoic acid to maintain the ubiquinol in its reduced form; and   a monoterpene, such that the ubiquinol comprises about 95% by weight of a total amount of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution.   
     
     
         17 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 16 , wherein the ubiquinol content is about 98% by weight of the total weight of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         18 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of lipoic acid to ubiquinol is from about 0.1:1 to about 2.5:1. 
     
     
         19 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 16 , wherein the monoterpene is limonene or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 19 , wherein the limonene derivative is perillyl alcohol, perillic acid, cis-dihydroperillic acid, trans-dihydroperillic acid, methyl esters of perillic acid, methyl esters of dihydroperillic acid, limonene-2-diol, uroterpenol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The soft gelatin capsule of  claim 16 , wherein the encapsulated ubiquinol solution is stable to oxidation for at least about 365 days, such that about 95% ubiquinol remains from the original total amount of ubiquinol and coenzyme Q in the solution. 
     
     
         22 . A method for the delivery of an effective amount of ubiquinol to an individual in need thereof, comprising the steps of
 providing a soft gelatin capsule as claimed in  claim 16 , such that an effective amount of ubiquinol is provided to an individual.