Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of an active pharmaceutical compound or nutritional ingredient with one or more buffering agents between a pH of 1.0 and 6.0, preferably 2.0 and 4.0. The buffering agents are constituted to maintain or reduce the pH of the duodenal fluid in the proximal, mid and distal duodenum. The present invention further relates to methods of improving the absorption of an iron compound or an active pharmaceutical compound within the small intestine. The present compositions and methods improve absorption or bioavailability of the administered compositions.

Abstract: Mixed amino acid/mineral compounds can include at least two amino acids bound to a central mineral atom. The combination of amino acids can be tailored to provide improved solubility, absorption, and/or bioavailability of the mineral. Optionally, organic acids can be bound to the mineral or combined with the chelate in order to further improve solubility, absorption, and/or bioavailability. Compositions including one or more mixed amino acid/mineral compounds can be included in therapeutic regimens for indications in which the mineral may treat and/or prevent a condition or symptom.

Abstract: Mixed amino acid/mineral compounds can include at least two amino acids bound to a central mineral atom. The combination of amino acids can be tailored to provide improved solubility, absorption, and/or bioavailability of the mineral. Optionally, organic acids can be bound to the mineral or combined with the chelate in order to further improve solubility, absorption, and/or bioavailability. Compositions including one or more mixed amino acid/mineral compounds can be included in therapeutic regimens for indications in which the mineral may treat and/or prevent a condition or symptom.

Abstract: Mixed amino acid/mineral compounds can include at least two amino acids bound to a central mineral atom. The combination of amino acids can be tailored to provide improved solubility, absorption, and/or bioavailability of the mineral. Optionally, organic acids can be bound to the mineral or combined with the chelate in order to further improve solubility, absorption, and/or bioavailability. Compositions including one or more mixed amino acid/mineral compounds can be included in therapeutic regimens for indications in which the mineral may treat and/or prevent a condition or symptom.

Abstract: Metal carnitine chelates comprising carnitine chelated to a nutritionally relevant metal can be used for general nutrition as well as well as to treat a variety of health related problems and symptoms. For example, metal carnitine chelates can be used to maintain good cardiovascular health, increase male fertility, enhance weight loss, provide mineral and/or carnitine supplements for mineral- and/or carnitine-deficient subjects, and reduce alcohol dependency and associated symptoms. Nutritionally relevant metals that can be used include copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, chromium, and manganese, to name a few.

Abstract: Hypoallergenic metal amino acid chelate compositions, hypoallergenic formulations containing hypoallergenic metal amino acid chelates, methods of preparing hypoallergenic metal amino acid chelate, and methods of administering hypoallergenic metal amino acid chelates are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides metal amino acid chelates that are substantially free of allergens such that administration of the metal amino acid chelates to a subject in an effective amount to cause a medicinal or nutritional result does not produce a discernable adverse allergic reaction. The metal amino acid chelates can include chelates having a naturally occurring amino acid to metal molar ratio of from about 1:1 to 4:1.

Abstract: A mineral fortified food matrix can comprise a dimetalhydroxy malate composition and a food matrix fortified with the dimetalhydroxy malate composition. Additionally, a method of administering a mineral in a bioavailable form to a warm-blooded animal can comprise steps of fortifying a food matrix with a dimetalhydroxy malate composition and orally administering the food matrix to a warm-blooded animal. In one embodiment, the mineral can be calcium and the method of administering calcium in a bioavailable form can comprise fortifying a food matrix with a dicalciumhydroxy malate composition.

Abstract: Described are cereal grain kernels fortified with iron and calcium. Also described is a process for making cereal grain kernels fortified with iron and calcium, the process comprising providing cereal grain kernels and mixing said kernels with a composition comprising an iron source and a calcium source.

Abstract: A mineral fortified food matrix can comprise a dimetalhydroxy malate composition and a food matrix fortified with the dimetalhydroxy malate composition. Additionally, a method of administering a mineral in a bioavailable form to a warm-blooded animal can comprise steps of fortifying a food matrix with a dimetalhydroxy malate composition and orally administering the food matrix to a warm-blooded animal. In one embodiment, the mineral can be calcium and the method of administering calcium in a bioavailable form can comprise fortifying a food matrix with a dicalciumhydroxy malate composition.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the solubility of iron amino acid chelates and iron proteinates is disclosed. This is accomplished by mixing an effective amount of an organic acid solubilizing agent into existing iron amino acid chelates or iron proteinates. The iron amino acid chelates and iron proteinates may have a ligand to metal molar ratio from about 1:1 to 4:1, preferably 2:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: A composition and method of preparing amino acid chelates and complexes free of interfering ions by blending an amino acid ligand, a calcium oxide and/or hydroxide, and a hydrated metal sulfate salt, placing the blend in a closed environment, heating the blend, and allowing the blend to react is disclosed and described. By heating at low to moderate temperatures in an enclosed environment, the waters of hydration of the metal salt are retained in the enclosed environment and serve to provide the moisture necessary to enable a bonding reaction to take place between the electron rich functional groups of the ligand and the metal ion of the hydrated metal sulfate salt. Additionally, calcium sulfate is formed which can be maintained in the final product.

Abstract: Dimetalhydroxy malate compositions as well as methods of administering and making such bioavailable compositions are provided. The metal used can be any nutritionally relevant divalent metal such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron. The composition can be prepared by reacting malic acid with a divalent metal oxide or hydroxide at a 1:2 molar ratio. The composition can be administered to a warm-blooded animal by any of a number of known delivery routes, including oral delivery.

Abstract: A method for reducing alcohol desire or dependency in a human can comprise the steps of administering a chelate or a combination of chelates to a human having alcohol dependency symptoms or an unwanted desire for alcohol. Ligands that can be used include carnitine, naturally occurring amino acids, and various thiamine molecules. Metals that can be used include nutritionally relevant metals, including copper, zinc, and manganese, to name a few.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of metal amino acid chelate present in various chelate compositions. FT-IR is used to determine the amount of free amino acid present. The bound amino acids may be in the form of an amino acid complex or an amino acid chelate. A total metal analysis and measurement of ligand quantity is then performed, from which the percent of metal amino acid chelate in the sample is calculated.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of preparing amino acid chelates and complexes are disclosed and described. Specifically, by (a) combining a hydrated metal sulfate salt with an amino acid ligand to form a particulate blend, (b) placing the particulate blend in an enclosed environment; and (c) applying heat to the particulate blend in the enclosed environment causing the waters of hydration of the metal sulfate salt to be released into the enclosed environment causing a reaction resulting in the formation of an amino acid chelate or complex by effecting the reaction between functional electron rich groups of the amino acid ligand and a metal ion of the metal sulfate salt. The waters of hydration serve to provide the water necessary to enable a bonding reaction to take place between the electron rich functional groups of the amino acid ligand and the metal ion of the hydrated metal sulfate salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of preparing amino acid chelates that are essentially free of interfering ions. The composition is prepared by reacting in an aqueous solution, a calcium oxide and/or hydroxide, an amino acid, and a soluble metal sulfate salt at a ratio sufficient to allow substantially all of the ions present in solution to react forming a positively charged metal amino acid chelate having a hydroxide counter-ion, and calcium sulfate, and wherein the metal amino acid chelate has a ligand to metal molar ratio from 1:1 to 2:1.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of preparing amino acid chelates and complexes are disclosed and described. Specifically, by (a) blending hydrated metal sulfate salts, amino acid ligands, and reaction modifiers; (b) confining the particulate blend in an enclosed environment; and (c) applying heat to the particulate blend in the enclosed environment causing the waters of hydration of the metal sulfate salt to be released into the enclosed environment causing a reaction resulting in the formation of a granular amino acid chelate or complex by effecting the reaction between functional electron rich groups of the amino acid ligand and a metal ion of the metal sulfate salt. The waters of hydration serve to provide the water necessary to enable a bonding reaction to take place between the electron rich functional groups of the amino acid ligand and the metal ion of the hydrated metal sulfate salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of preparing amino acid chelates that are electrically neutral and free of interfering ions. The composition is prepared by reacting in an aqueous solution a calcium oxide and/or hydroxide, an amino acid, and a soluble metal sulfate salt at a ratio sufficient to allow substantially all of the ions present in solution to react forming a metal amino acid chelate and an essentially inert calcium sulfate, and wherein the metal amino acid chelate has a ligand to metal molar ratio from 2:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: Calcium amino acid chelate complexes for fortification of dairy products and oleaginous foods, dairy products and oleaginous foods fortified with calcium amino acid chelate complexes, and methods of preparing calcium amino acid chelate complexes are disclosed and described. The calcium amino acid chelate complexes of the present invention are stable, palatable, and bioavailable. Preparation steps include reacting a calcium compound, an amino acid ligand, a pH adjuster, and, optionally, a stabilizing/suspending agent in an aqueous environment.

Abstract: A calcium amino acid malic acid chelate complex for fortification of oleagnious foods which is stable, bioavailable, and palatable is disclosed. Further, oleaginous foods fortified with the calcium amino acid malic acid chelate complexes of the present invention are also disclosed. The calcium amino acid malic acid chelate complex is prepared by reacting a calcium source, an amino acid ligand, and malic acid in an aqueous environment.