Nutritional products having improved lipophilic solubility and bioavailability in an easily mixable form

Abstract

Methods of preparing a nutritional product which contain a lipophilic nutrient are disclosed. The nutritional product is made using a fortifying powder containing the lipophilic nutrient, a monoglyceride and diglyceride (“MDG”) oil, a phospholipid, and a carrier. The fortifying powder enhances the digestive absorption of the lipophilic nutrient when the nutritional product is consumed. The fortifying powder simplifies the process of manufacturing the nutritional product, as the fortifying powder can be added at a suitable stage of the process with other powdered ingredients. The fortifying powder may be manufactured in bulk and stored for later use, thereby improving manufacturing efficiencies. The fortifying powder and methods of preparing the fortifying powder are also presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fortifying powder comprising:
 a lipophilic nutrient;   a monoglyceride and diglyceride (MDG) oil present at a concentration of from about 6 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the fortifying powder;   a phospholipid present at a concentration of from about 1 wt. % to about 12 wt. % of the fortifying powder; and   a carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic nutrient is selected from the group consisting of lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, lycopene, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Coenzyme Q10, linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the phospholipid is selected from the group consisting of lecithin, choline, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl serine, lysophosphatides, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of simple sugars, complex sugars, starches, cellulosics, sugar alcohols, proteins, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic nutrient comprises lutein, and wherein the lutein is present at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of the fortifying powder. 
     
     
         6 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic nutrient comprises Vitamin D, and wherein the Vitamin D is present at a concentration of about 50 μg/g to about 125 mg/kg of the fortifying powder. 
     
     
         7 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic nutrient comprises Vitamin E, and wherein the Vitamin E is present at a concentration of from about 0.015 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of the fortifying powder. 
     
     
         8 . The fortifying powder of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic nutrient comprises DHA, and wherein the DHA is present at a concentration of from about 1.5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of the fortifying powder. 
     
     
         9 . A nutritional product comprising the fortifying powder of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A nutritional product powder comprising:
 a base nutritional powder comprising protein, carbohydrate, and fat; and   a free particle fortifying powder, the free particle fortifying powder comprising:
 a lipophilic nutrient; 
 a monoglyceride and diglyceride (MDG) oil present at a concentration of from about 6 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the fortifying powder; 
 a phospholipid present at a concentration of from about 1 wt. % to about 12 wt. % of the fortifying powder; and 
 a carrier. 
   
     
     
         11 . The nutritional product powder of  claim 10 , wherein the lipophilic nutrient is selected from the group consisting of lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, lycopene, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Coenzyme Q10, linoleic acid, alpha linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The nutritional product powder of  claim 10 , wherein the phospholipid is selected from the group consisting of lecithin, choline, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidyl serine, lysophosphatides, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The nutritional product powder of  claim 10 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of simple sugars, complex sugars, starches, cellulosics, sugar alcohols, proteins, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The nutritional product powder of  claim 10 , wherein the fortifying powder is present at a concentration of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 16 wt. % of the nutritional product powder.