Broccoli Based Nutritional Supplements

Abstract

A nutritional supplement is provided containing two broccoli based components that are combined and, when ingested, react in the intestines to provide sulforaphane. Processes for producing the broccoli components of the nutritional supplement are also provided. The broccoli components are treated separately using supercritical fluid extraction to remove oils. The temperature and pressure of the supercritical extraction processes are controlled to provide broccoli components having the desired properties for the nutritional supplement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nutritional supplement comprising:
 (a) a first deoiled broccoli seed meal, wherein the broccoli seed meal comprises less than 2% by weight oil and wherein substantially all of the myrosinase and ESP in the broccoli seed meal is deactivated;   (b) a second deoiled broccoli seed meal containing active myrosinase and deactivated ESP; and   (c) an ascorbate.   
     
     
         2 . The nutritional supplement of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional supplement comprises between about 100 mg to 1000 mg of the first deoiled broccoli seed meal, between about 100 mg and 1000 mg of the second deoiled broccoli seed meal containing active myrosinase and deactivated ES, and calcium ascorbate. 
     
     
         3 . The nutritional supplement of  claim 2 , wherein the nutritional supplement comprises between about 150 mg to 200 mg of the first deoiled broccoli seed meal and between about 100 mg and 120 mg of the second deoiled broccoli seed meal containing active myrosinase and deactivated ESP. 
     
     
         4 . The nutritional supplement of  claim 3 , further comprising calcium ascorbate. 
     
     
         5 . The nutritional supplement of  claim 4 , wherein the nutritional supplement further comprises an acid resistant capsule. 
     
     
         6 . The nutritional capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the first deoiled broccoli seed meal is deoiled by supercritical fluid extraction using carbon dioxide at a pressure of about 600 bar and a temperature of about 185° F., and the second deoiled broccoli seed meal is deoiled by supercritical fluid extraction using carbon dioxide at a pressure of between about 300 to about 325 bar and a temperature of between about 140° F. to about 163° F.