Composition comprising cinnamaldehyde and zinc to improve swallowing

Abstract

Compositions contain an amount of cinnamaldehyde that is orally tolerable, thus avoiding an unpleasant mouth feeling, and also tolerable in the gastrointestinal tract. The amount of cinnamaldehyde is supplemented by zinc, and the combination is effective to promote a swallowing reflex. The composition containing the combination of cinnamaldehyde and zinc can be used in a method to treat dysphagia and/or prevent aspiration pneumonia from dysphagia. In an embodiment, the composition containing cinnamaldehyde is administered to a human. The composition containing cinnamaldehyde may be a medicament, a food product or a supplement to a food product.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for promoting a swallowing reflex, the method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising cinnamaldehyde and zinc. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cinnamaldehyde is present in the composition in an amount that is tolerable to ingest and, in combination with the zinc, effective to promote a swallowing reflex in the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein promotion of the swallowing reflex comprises an effect selected from the group consisting of provoking the swallowing reflex, increasing the ability of the patient to swallow, increasing the efficacy of the swallowing reflex, decreasing a delay in swallowing, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises cinnamon essential oil extract that provides at least a portion of the cinnamaldehyde. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the cinnamaldehyde is selected from the group consisting of isolated cinnamaldehyde and synthesized cinnamaldehyde. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the zinc is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc lactate, zinc citrate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising cinnamaldehyde and zinc. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the cinnamaldehyde is present in the composition in an amount that is orally tolerable and, in combination with the zinc in the composition, effective to promote a swallowing reflex. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the composition is a food product in which the cinnamaldehyde is present at a concentration of about 100 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the composition is a food product in which the cinnamaldehyde:zinc ratio is 1:0.5 to 1:0.005. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the composition is a food product comprising a component selected from the group consisting of protein, carbohydrate, fat and combinations thereof.