Compositions including ginger for the amelioration or prevention of inflammatory conditions

Abstract

The invention encompasses pet food compositions for a companion animal that include ginger and methods for enhancing the quality of life of an animal by administering such pet food compositions in the diet of the animal.

1 . A method for treating or preventing inflammation or an inflammatory disorder in a companion animal in need thereof comprising, administering to the animal a pet food composition comprising an effective amount of ginger to treat or prevent inflammation or an inflammatory disorder in the companion animal, wherein the amount of ginger is from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition, and wherein the inflammation or inflammatory disorder is a gastrointestinal disorder. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the companion animal is a dog or a cat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises protein, and wherein the amount of protein is about 5 wt. % to about 70 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises fat, and wherein the amount of fat is about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises fiber, and wherein the amount of fiber is about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises carbohydrate, and wherein the amount of carbohydrate is about 5 wt. % to about 90 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of corn, poultry meal, palatability enhancer, potassium chloride, iodized salt, calcium carbonate, choline chloride, mineral premix, preservatives, vitamins, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises L-tryptophan. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises any of the following: vitamin E, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), other n-3 fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids, crude fiber and mixtures thereof 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ginger is present at about 1% by weight. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ginger is present at about 1.5% by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ginger is present at about 2% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the companion animal is a senior animal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory disorder is arthritis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is inflammatory bowel disorder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is chronic diarrhea. 
     
     
         17 . A pet food composition comprising 1% ginger root powder, 7.63% Moisture, 25.02% protein, 48.95% carbohydrate, 13.06% fat, 1.2% crude fiber, 1.3% soluble fiber, 5.8% insoluble fiber,<0.0-1% docosahexaenoic-acid,<0.01-% eicosapentaenoic acid, 0.2% total omega-3, 2.53% total omega-6, 82.3 IU total tocopherols,20 pg/g ascorbate, 0.72% calcium, 0.38% chloride-soluble, 0.29% cysteine, 0.088% magnesium, 0.67% methionine, 0.72% phosphorus, and 0.55% potassium. 
     
     
         18 . A pet food composition comprising 1% ginger root powder, 7.5% Moisture, 19.8% protein, 58.2% carbohydrate, 8.2% fat, 2.5% crude fiber, 1.6% soluble fiber, 8.6% insoluble fiber, 0.01% docosohexaenoic acid, 0.01% eicosapentaenoic acid, 64 N total tocopherols, 81 pg/g ascorbate, 0.68% calcium, 0.41% chloride-soluble, 0.26% cysteine, 0.1% magnesium, 0.44% methionine, 0.6% phosphorus, and 0.6% potassium. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a nutritionally complete diet. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises a nutritionally complete diet.