Abstract: An equilibrium solution, such as a beverage product, containing a calcium salt of a sequestrant (such as calcium hexametaphosphate), coordinated compound of a calcium sequestrant and a sequestrant allows the delivery of bio-available calcium while maintaining the preservative qualities of the sequestrant (such as sodium hexametaphosphate). In one embodiment, the reaction of a salt such as calcium hydroxide and a sequestrant such as sodium potassium hexametaphosphate (sodium potassium polyphosphate) yields such an equilibrium solution in a beverage matrix. Calcium hexametaphosphate having a relatively short phosphate chain is disclosed, as well as the method of making that material, and beverage compositions containing the material together with a sequestrant preservative, such as SHMP.

Abstract: An improved method of purifying bean extract alpha-amylase inhibitor protein material is described. The materials purified by this process provide significantly more amylase inhibition than materials purified by other processes. In this process: (a) bean extract-derived alpha-amylase inhibitor is suspended in an aqueous solution having a pH of from about 3.0 to about 3.5; (b) a preservative is added to the solution; (c) the solution is heated to about 175 to about 195 F for about 10 to about 120 seconds; (d) the solution is cooled to about 65 to about 85 F and allowed to sit, in a non-agitated state, for about 3 to about 24 hours, such that bean extract particles settle out of solution; and (e) the supernatant, which contains the purified amylase inhibiting protein, is separated from the particles.