Water-soluble lipophilic substances and methods of making same

Abstract

A process is provided for improving the water solubility of lipophilic substances by combining lipophilic substances with milk fat globules. A water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance is also provided and made up of a lipophilic substance and a processed milk product. The processed milk product can be milk fat globules from a mammalian source. The processed milk product can contain from 10% by weight to 100% by weight milk fat. Methods of forming water-soluble forms of a lipophilic substances are also provided and can involve mixing together a lipophilic substance and a processed milk product to effect migration of the lipophilic substance into the processed milk product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance, comprising a lipophilic substance and a processed milk product comprising milk fat globules from a mammalian source, wherein the processed milk product comprises from 10% by weight to 100% by weight milk fat, and the lipophilic substance and the processed milk product have been mixed together to form droplets of the lipophilic substance encompassed by the milk fat globules. 
     
     
         2 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the milk fat globules are present in a heterogeneous array of sizes. 
     
     
         3 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the milk fat globules are more uniformly sized and smaller when compared with milk fat globules of the same milk product but that has not been processed. 
     
     
         4 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the processed milk product comprises unhomogenized milk cream containing diverse sets of milk fat globules. 
     
     
         5 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance and the processed milk product have been mixed together to form an emulsion, powder, or paste. 
     
     
         6 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the processed milk product comprises a processed product of raw milk. 
     
     
         7 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the processed milk product comprises a homogenized product of raw milk. 
     
     
         8 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance comprises a fat-soluble vitamin. 
     
     
         9 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance is synthetically prepared. 
     
     
         10 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance comprises an oil extract. 
     
     
         11 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance comprises an oil. 
     
     
         12 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance comprises a water-insoluble material. 
     
     
         13 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the processed milk product comprises half-and-half, whipped cream, or heavy cream. 
     
     
         14 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the processed milk product comprises a powdered form of half-and-half, a powdered form of whipped cream, or a powdered form of heavy cream. 
     
     
         15 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the droplets of the lipophilic substance encompassed by the milk fat globules are distributed in an aqueous phase. 
     
     
         16 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble form of the lipophilic substance comprises the droplets encompassed by the milk fat globules, distributed in an aqueous/milk phase. 
     
     
         17 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the soluble form of the lipophilic substance comprises a stable emulsion that remains stable for six weeks. 
     
     
         18 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance comprises naturally occurring molecules that have been purified from a plant source. 
     
     
         19 . The water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the lipophilic substance has been derived from a genetically engineered plant that is grown either in a field or in a greenhouse. 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming the water-soluble form of a lipophilic substance of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises mixing together the lipophilic substance and the processed milk product to effect migration of the lipophilic substance into the processed milk product. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mixing comprises stirring together at a rate of from about 10 rpm to about 500 rpm. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mixing together the lipophilic substance and the processed milk product comprises forming a mixture and subjecting the mixture to centrifugation to effect migration of the lipophilic substance into the processed milk product. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the processed milk product comprises a powder and the lipophilic substance is mixed directly with the powder. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the lipophilic substance and the processed milk product are mixed together at a respective ratio of from 1:1 to 1:10.