Nutritional supplements

Abstract

The present invention provides nutritional supplements comprising alginate, in combination with pectin, which will form hydrogels in the stomach when exposed to the low pH of the gastric juice. The formation of a hydrogel will lead to delayed release of sugars and other active ingredients in the stomach. The nutritional supplements can comprise high concentrations of sugars and complex carbohydrates without causing unwanted gastrointestinal symptoms.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for providing carbohydrates to an athlete, comprising:
 (a) dissolving a solid composition in water to produce a sports drink, wherein the solid composition comprises:
 (i) 0.2 to 16 wt % alginate, 
 (ii) 0.12 to 12 wt % pectin, and 
 (iii) 75 to 99 wt % active ingredients, where the active ingredients are selected from one or more of the ingredients consisting of sugars, complex carbohydrates, mineral salts, and amino acids; and 
   (b) providing the sports drink to the athlete before, during and/or after exercise.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the alginate content of the composition is 0.2 to 4 wt %. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the alginate content of the composition is 0.2 to 2.0 wt %. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the pectin content of the composition is 0.12 to 2.4 wt %. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the pectin content of the composition is 0.12 to 1.4 wt %. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the composition comprises,
 a) 0.2 to 2 wt % alginate,   b) 0.12 to 1.4 wt % pectin, and   c) 75 to 99 wt % active ingredients, where the active ingredients are selected from one or more of the ingredients consisting of sugars, complex carbohydrates, mineral salts, and amino acids.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the alginate is high-guluronate (high-G) alginate. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the pectin is high-ester/high-methylated (HE/HM) pectin. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sugars comprise at least one or more of glucose, fructose, sucrose and isomaltose. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the sugar content of the composition is 25 to 95 wt %. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the complex carbohydrates content of the composition is up to 80 wt %. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the complex carbohydrates content of the composition is 30 to 80 wt %. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the providing step (b) is done by the athlete drinking the sports drink before, during and/or after exercise. 
     
     
         23 . A solid nutritional supplement comprising
 a) 0.2 to 16 wt % alginate,   b) 0.12 to 12 wt % pectin, and   c) 75 to 99 wt % active ingredients, where the active ingredients are selected from one or more of the ingredients consisting of sugars, complex carbohydrates, mineral salts, and amino acids; wherein the sugar content is 25 to 95 wt %, and the content of complex carbohydrates is 0 to 80 wt %.   
     
     
         24 . The solid nutritional supplement according to  claim 23 , wherein the solid composition is comprising 0.2 to 4 wt % alginate. 
     
     
         25 . The solid nutritional supplement according to  claim 24 , wherein the solid composition is comprising 0.2 to 2.0 wt % alginate. 
     
     
         26 . The solid nutritional supplement according to  claim 23 , wherein the solid composition is comprising 0.12 to 2.4 wt % pectin 
     
     
         27 . The solid nutritional supplement according to  claim 26 , wherein the solid composition is comprising 0.12 to 1.4 wt % pectin. 
     
     
         28 . The solid nutritional supplement according to  claim 23 , wherein the content of complex carbohydrates is 30 to 80 wt %. 
     
     
         29 . The solid nutritional supplement according to  claim 23 , wherein the alginate is high-guluronate (high-G) alginate.