Protein hydrolysate and plant sterol containing composition for improving serum lipid profile and preventing atherosclerosis

Abstract

The invention relates to a terapeutical composition comprising a protein hydrolysate and a plant sterol, wherein the weight ratio of the plant sterol to the protein hydrolysate is from 1:0.02 to 1:150. The invention also relates to a terapeutical composition comprising a protein hydrolysate and a synthetic emulsifier and/or a lipid based grain fraction having emulsifying properties. Said compositions can be used in a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or food product for improving serum lipid profile.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A therapeutical composition comprising a protein hydrolysate and a plant sterol, wherein the weight ratio of the plant sterol to the protein hydrolysate is from 1:0.02 to 1:150.  
   
   
       30 . The composition according to  claim 29 , comprising an additional component selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, fats, mineral salts and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       31 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the plant sterol is selected from the group consisting of free sterols, free stanols, sterols in esterified form, stanols in esterified form and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       32 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the protein hydrolysate is derived from vegetable or animal origin, including soybean protein, wheat protein, corn protein, oat protein, rye protein, rapeseed protein, barley protein, milk protein and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       33 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides, monoglyceride derivatives, lecithins, modified lecithins, polyglycerol esters, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, sorbitan esters, polysorbates, propylene glycol esters, stearoyl lactylates, diacetyl tartaric acid esters, diacetyl lactic acid esters, sucrose esters and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       34 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the emulsifier has a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) of at least 4, preferably at least 6.  
   
   
       35 . The composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the weight ratio of the plant sterol to the protein hydrolysate is from 1:0.2 to 1:30, preferably from 1:0.4 to 1:12.5 and more preferably from 1:1 to 1:5.  
   
   
       36 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the protein hydrolysate is in the form of a protein hydrolysate/emulsifier complex.  
   
   
       37 . The composition according to  claim 36 , wherein the complex comprises at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 20% emulsifier on dry weight basis.  
   
   
       38 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the plant sterol is in the form of a plant sterol/emulsifier complex or dissolved or suspended in fat or a mixture of fat and an emulsifier.  
   
   
       39 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the protein hydrolysate and the plant sterol are in the form of a protein hydrolysate/plant sterol/emulsifier complex.  
   
   
       40 . The composition according to  claim 38 , wherein the weight ratio of the plant sterol to emulsifier is from 1:0.01 to 1:5, preferably from 1:0.05 to 1:2, more preferably from 1:0.1 to 1:2.  
   
   
       41 . The composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the fat content is from 0 to 80%, preferably from 0 to 60%, more preferably from 0 to 20% of the weight of the complex or suspension or solution.  
   
   
       42 . A therapeutical composition comprising a protein hydrolysate and at least one emulsifier or a mixture of at least one emulsifier and a fat, wherein the emulsifier is a synthetic emulsifier.  
   
   
       43 . A therapeutical composition comprising a protein hydrolysate and at least one emulsifier or a mixture of at least one emulsifier and a fat, wherein the emulsifier is a lipid based grain fraction having emulsifying properties.  
   
   
       44 . A food product comprising at least one basic nutritional ingredient and a composition according to  claim 29 .  
   
   
       45 . The food product according to  claim 44  being in the form of a product selected from the group consisting of bakery, confectionery, cereal, fermented cereal, snacks, beverage, dairy, sauce, soup, meat, fish, poultry, egg, soy based, vegetable oil based and ready mix products.  
   
   
       46 . The food product according to  claim 44 , wherein the plant sterol content calculated as sterol equivalents is from 0.05 to 20 g per 100 g food product and the protein hydrolysate content is from 0.0002 to 20 g per 100 g food product.  
   
   
       47 . A pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product comprising a composition according to  claim 29 .  
   
   
       48 . A composition according to  claim 29  for use as a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.  
   
   
       49 . A composition according to  claim 29  for use in a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or food product for improving serum lipid profile, especially for lowering serum total and/or LDL cholesterol and/or for increasing the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol and/or for lowering the serum apolipoprotein B level and/or for lowering the serum triglyceride level, and/or for lowering blood pressure.  
   
   
       50 . The food product, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product or composition according to  claim 44 , wherein the amounts of the protein hydrolysate and the plant sterol are such that the protein hydrolysate is consumed at a rate of 0.1 to 60 g, preferably 0.5 to 15 g and more preferably 0.8 to 10 g per day, and the plant sterol is consumed at a rate of 0.4 to 5 g, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 g and more preferably 0.8 to 2 g per day calculated as sterol equivalents.  
   
   
       51 . Use of a composition according to  claim 29  for the preparation of a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or food product for improving serum lipid profile, especially for lowering serum total and/or LDL cholesterol and/or for increasing the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol and/or for lowering the serum apolipoprotein B level and/or for lowering the serum triglyceride level, and/or for lowering blood pressure.  
   
   
       52 . Use of a composition according to  claim 29  for the preparation of a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or food product for reducing or preventing the development of atherosclerosis.  
   
   
       53 . The use according to  claim 51 , wherein the protein hydrolysate is administrated at a rate of 0.1 to 60 g, preferably 0.5 to 15 g and more preferably 0.8 to 10 g per day, and the plant sterol is administrated at a rate of 0.4 to 5 g, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 g and more preferably 0.8 to 2 g per day calculated as sterol equivalents.  
   
   
       54 . A method for improving serum lipid profile, especially for lowering serum total and/or LDL cholesterol and/or for increasing the ratio of HDL cholesterol to LDL cholesterol and/or for lowering the serum apolipoprotein B level and/or for lowering the serum triglyceride level in a subject, and/or for lowering blood pressure in a subject, comprising orally administering to the subject a composition according to  claim 29 , in an amount effective for improving serum lipid profile and/or for lowering blood pressure.  
   
   
       55 . A method for reducing or preventing the development of atherosclerosis in a subject by dietary means including orally administering to the subject a composition according to  claim 29 , in an amount effective for improving serum lipid profile.  
   
   
       56 . The method according to  claim 54 , wherein the protein hydrolysate is administrated at a rate of 0.1 to 60 g, preferably 0.5 to 15 g and more preferably 0.8 to 10 g per day, and the plant sterol is administrated at a rate of 0.4 to 5 g, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 g and more preferably 0.8 to 2 g per day calculated as sterol equivalents.