Compositions and Methods for Increasing Muscle Mass, Strength, and Functional Performance in the Elderly

Abstract

Compositions and methods for increasing muscle mass, strength, and functional performance in the elderly by delivering a selection of amino acids, carnitine, and carboydrates with a low glycemic index.

1 . A composition of matter comprising:
 an amino acid component, said amino acid component including:
 at least 11 percent by mass leucine; and 
 at least one other essential amino acid; and 
   a carbohydrate component.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said amino acid component comprises: leucine histidine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylanlanine, threonine, glycine and arginine. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said amino acid component comprises: leucine histidine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, glycine and citrullene. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said carbohydrate component comprises about twice the total mass of the amino acid component 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein said carbohydrate component includes ribose. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein said ribose comprises about 10 percent of said carbohydrate component. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said leucine comprises a percentage of said amino acid component by mass less than 40 percent. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said leucine comprises a percentage of said amino acid component by mass less than 25 percent. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said leucine comprises a percentage of said amino acid component by mass less than 20 percent. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising creatine. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition is placed in a liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein said liquid comprises a fruit juice. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said amino acid component includes intact protein. 
     
     
         14 . A composition of matter comprising:
 an amino acid component, said amino acid component including:
 leucine in an amount above that occurring in whey protein; and 
 at least one other amino acid; and 
   a carbohydrate component.   
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein at least one of said at least one other amino acid is selected from the group consisting of: histidine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, arginine, glycine, carnitine, and citrullene. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said amino acid component comprises: leucine histidine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylanlanine, threonine, glycine and arginine. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said amino acid component comprises: leucine histidine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, glycine and citrullene. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said carbohydrate component comprises about twice the total mass of the amino acid component 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said composition is placed in a liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19  wherein said liquid comprises a fruit juice. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said amino acid component includes intact protein.