Sustained release of nutrients in vivo

Abstract

Nutritional compositions delivered in vivo in a time controlled manner sustainable over long periods of time, provide enhancing athletic performance, increased hand/eye coordination and concentration on the task at hand.

1 . A composition for in vivo consumption comprising:
 nutritional supplements; and,   compounds for time controlled and sustained release of the nutritional supplements in vivo,   wherein carbohydrate release and absorption kinetics of the composition are different than a composition without compounds for time controlled and sustained release of the nutritional supplements in vivo.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate release and absorption kinetics comprise a change in blood glucose concentration. 
     
     
         3 . A method for manufacturing particles for time controlled and sustained release of the nutritional supplements in vivo, comprising:
 (a) heating a solution of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) above a lower critical solution temperature;   (b) crosslinking polymer chains to obtain microparticle hydrogels; and   (c) loading the microparticle hydrogels with one or more carbohydrates,   wherein the particles result in control over a partitioning coefficient and associated particle release and absorption kinetics.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more carbohydrates in (c) is selected from the group consisting of: monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more carbohydrates is selected from the group consisting of: dextrose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, polydextrose, dextrins, corn syrup solids, starch and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer chains are crosslinked with trisodium trimetaphophate (TSTMP). 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a hydrogel. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the hydrogel comprises a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of a thermally responsive polysaccharide, a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide, a pH responsive polysaccharide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the polysaccharide is hydroxypropyl cellulose. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the polysaccharide is sodium alginate. 
     
     
         12 . A composition for in vivo consumption comprising:
 one or more carbohydrates; and,   compounds for time controlled and sustained release of the carbohydrates in vivo.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1  or  12 , wherein the composition comprises hydrogel particles. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrogel particles sequester the carbohydrates. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the carbohydrates are released from the hydrogel particles at a rate determined by diffusion of the carbohydrates inside the hydrogel particles. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrogel particles comprise a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 12 , the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of: a thermally responsive polysaccharide, a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide, a pH responsive polysaccharide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the polysaccharide is hydroxypropyl cellulose. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the polysaccharide is sodium alginate. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrogel particles are coated with a polymer. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the polymer is a pH-responsive polysaccharide. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition can sustain blood glucose concentrations above fasted state levels during rest for a longer duration than an equal volume of the composition without compounds for time controlled and sustained release of the nutritional supplements in vivo. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition can sustain blood glucose concentrations above fasted state levels during low-, moderate-, or high-intensity exercise for a longer duration than an equal volume of the composition without compounds for time controlled and sustained release of the nutritional supplements in vivo. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein in vivo administration of the composition results in a lower insulin response than in vivo administration of the composition without compounds for time controlled and sustained release of nutritional supplements. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein in vivo administration of the composition results in increased utilization of fat stores than in vivo administration of the composition without compounds for time controlled and sustained release of nutritional supplements. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the carbohydrate has a high glycemic index. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional supplements are selected from the group consisting of: carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, electrolytes, and vitamins. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the electrolytes are selected from the group consisting of: sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, calcium, bicarbonate, phosphate, and sulfate. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the partitioning coefficient and associated particle release and absorption kinetics comprise a diffusional barrier at acidic pH for the one or more carbohydrate molecules of (c) within the particles. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the acidic pH is less than pH 3.8.