Methods and compositions for improved chromium complexes

Abstract

Complex metal-containing matrices, and especially chromium-containing matrices are produced from a water soluble preparation that is derived from an item suitable for animal (and most typically human) consumption. In particularly contemplated aspects, the water soluble preparation is an extract or filtrate of disintegrated brewer's yeast, and the so prepared complex mixture is combined with a chromium-3 + ions.

1 . A metal-fortified substantially completely water soluble complex matrix formulated for mammalian consumption.  
   
   
       2 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 1  wherein the matrix comprises a water soluble fraction of a cellular lysate.  
   
   
       3 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 2  wherein the cellular lysate is a brewer's yeast extract.  
   
   
       4 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 2  wherein the cellular lysate is dehydrated.  
   
   
       5 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 1  wherein the metal is a chromium-3 +  ion.  
   
   
       6 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 5  wherein the matrix has an absorption maximum at a wavelength between 550 nm and 570 nm.  
   
   
       7 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 6  wherein the matrix comprises a freeze-dried filtrate of a brewer's yeast lysate.  
   
   
       8 . The metal-fortified complex matrix of  claim 1  formulated as a nutritional item selected from the group consisting of a beverage, a bar, a cereal, and a pill.  
   
   
       9 . A method of preparing a chromium-containing product comprising: 
 preparing a water soluble complex preparation from an edible material; and    combining the preparation with a trivalent chromium ion under conditions effective to form a complex between a component of the preparation and the chromium ion.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the step of preparing comprises disintegrating a cellular edible material and a step of removing at least part of an undissolved material from the disintegrated material.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of removing the undissolved material comprises at least one of filtration and centrifugation.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the trivalent chromium is added to the disintegrated material before the step of removing the undissolved material.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of removing water from the complex between the component of the preparation and the chromium ion.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the edible material comprises at least one of a fruit, a vegetable, and a grain.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the edible material comprises brewer's yeast.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the complex between the component of the preparation and the chromium ion has an absorption maximum at a wavelength between 545 nm and 565 nm.  
   
   
       17 . A food item comprising a chromium-containing complex having an absorption maximum at a wavelength between 545 nm and 575 nm, and wherein the complex is present in an amount effective to reduce fasting blood glucose in a mammal ingesting the food item.  
   
   
       18 . The food item of  claim 17  wherein the complex is substantially completely water soluble.  
   
   
       19 . The food item of  claim 17  wherein the complex comprises a water soluble extract from a cellular edible item.  
   
   
       20 . The food item of  claim 19  wherein the complex comprises a water soluble extract from brewer's yeast.