Nutritional Intervention for Improving Muscular Function and Strength

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition comprising HMB and Vitamin D. Methods of administering HMB and Vitamin D to an animal are also described. Vitamin D and HMB are administered to increase muscle mass, strength, and functionality. The combination of Vitamin D and HMB together has a synergistic effect, which results in a surprising and unexpected level of improvement in muscle mass, strength and functionality.

1 . A composition comprising a synergistic combination of from about 0.5 g to about 30 g of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) and from about 400 IU to 3995 IU Vitamin D. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said HMB is selected from the group consisting of its free acid form, its salt, its ester, and its lactone. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of a sodium salt, a potassium salt, a magnesium salt, a chromium salt, and a calcium salt. 
     
     
         4 . A composition comprising a synergistic combination of from 1.2 g to about 30 g of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) and from about 400 IU to about 100,000 IU Vitamin D. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein said HMB is selected from the group consisting of its free acid form, its salt, its ester, and its lactone. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of a sodium salt, a potassium salt, a magnesium salt, a chromium salt, and a calcium salt. 
     
     
         7 . A method of improving the efficacy of a nutritional composition containing HMB, comprising administering to a person in need thereof a composition of HMB and vitamin D in synergistic effective amounts. 
     
     
         8 . A composition comprising a synergistic combination of from about 0.5 g to about 30 g of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) and from about 400 IU to about 100,000 IU Vitamin D, wherein the HMB and Vitamin D are administered to a person in need thereof within a single delivery form. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein said HMB is selected from the group consisting of its free acid form, its salt, its ester, and its lactone. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of a sodium salt, a potassium salt, a magnesium salt, a chromium salt, and a calcium salt. 
     
     
         11 . A method for supplementing the nutrition of a person, comprising feeding the person the composition of  claim 1 ,  claim 4  or  claim 8 . 
     
     
         12 . A method of improving the efficacy of HMB in a nutritional supplement comprising adding HMB and vitamin D to the supplement in synergistic effective amounts. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein nutritional supplement contains from about 0.5 g to about 30 g of HMB and from about 400 IU to about 100,000 IU Vitamin D. 
     
     
         14 . A method of improving the efficacy of HMB comprising the steps of administering to a person in need thereof HMB and vitamin D wherein the combination of HMB and vitamin D has a synergistic effect. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein HMB is administered in an amount from about 0.5 g to about 30 g of HMB and the Vitamin D is administered in an amount from about 400 IU to about 100,000 IU Vitamin D.