Patents Assigned to Virtus Nutrition LLC
  • Patent number: 8278354
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the likelihood of embryonic death in a female ruminant by feeding the ruminant for at least 30 days after conception an effective amount of free-flowing fatty acid calcium salt product comprising from about 1 to 10% by weight of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and from about 1 to about 10% by weight of decosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Virtus Nutrition LLC
    Inventors: George K. Strohmaier, Eiler D. Frederiksen, Nestor Daniel Luchini
  • Patent number: 8093415
    Abstract: Methods for the preparation of a free-flowing, storage-stable fatty acid metal salt product by forming a reactive admixture of (a) an unsaturated fatty acid glyceride feedstock; and (b) from about 1 mol to about 3 mol of at least one monovalent metal hydroxide or at least one divalent metal hydroxide; and heating the admixture to a temperature at which said fatty acid glycerides saponify to form fatty acid metals salts; wherein said monovalent metal is potassium; and wherein said divalent metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc. The fatty acid glycerides are saponified in an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of oxygen has been reduced by an amount effective to provide an improvement in storage stability until a free-flowing, storage-stage product is obtained. Storage stable metal salts of unsaturated fatty acids prepared by the inventive methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Virtus Nutrition LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Nestor Luchini, George K. Strohmaier, Eiler D. Frederiksen, James G. Hawkes, Bob J. Dull
  • Publication number: 20110039932
    Abstract: Methods for the preparation of a free-flowing, storage-stable fatty acid metal salt product by forming a reactive admixture of (a) an unsaturated fatty acid glyceride feedstock; and (b) from about 1 mol to about 3 mol of at least one monovalent metal hydroxide or at least one divalent metal hydroxide; and heating the admixture to a temperature at which said fatty acid glycerides saponify to form fatty acid metals salts; wherein said monovalent metal is potassium; and wherein said divalent metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc. The fatty acid glycerides are saponified in an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of oxygen has been reduced by an amount effective to provide an improvement in storage stability until a free-flowing, storage-stage product is obtained. Storage stable metal salts of unsaturated fatty acids prepared by the inventive methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Virtus Nutrition LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Nestor Luchini, George K. Strohmaier, Eiler D. Frederiksen, James G. Hawkes, Bob J. Dull
  • Patent number: 7820842
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the preparation of a free-flowing, storage-stable fatty acid metal salt product by forming a reactive admixture comprising (a) an unsaturated fatty acid glyceride feedstock; and (b) from about 1 mol to about 3 mol of at least one monovalent metal hydroxide or at least one divalent metal hydroxide; and heating the admixture to a temperature at which said fatty acid glycerides saponify to form fatty acid metals salts; wherein said monovalent metal is potassium; and wherein said divalent metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc. The fatty acid glycerides may be saponified in an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of oxygen has been reduced by an amount effective to provide an improvement in storage stability until a free-flowing, storage-stage product is obtained, or prior to saponification, the fatty acid glycerides may blended with a stabilizing oil that promotes storage stability, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Virtus Nutrition LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Nestor Luchini, George K. Strohmaier, Eiler D. Frederiksen, James G. Hawkes, Bob J. Dull
  • Patent number: 7098352
    Abstract: Methods for the preparation of storage-stable fatty acid calcium salt products by forming a reactive admixture of (a) an unsaturated fatty acid glyceride feedstock; and (b) from about 10% to about 30% of the total admixture weight of calcium hydroxide; and heating the admixture to a temperature at which the fatty acid glycerides saponify to form fatty acid calcium salts in an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of oxygen has been reduced by an amount effective to provide an improvement in storage stability. Storage stable calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids prepared by the inventive method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Virtus Nutrition LLC
    Inventors: George K. Strohmaier, Nestor D. Luchini, Michael A. Varcho, Eiler D. Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 6998496
    Abstract: Free-flowing unsaturated fatty acid calcium salts with a fatty acid content consisting essentially of (a) about 40 to about 95 wt % unsaturated C16–C22 fatty acids; (b) about 5 to about 60 wt % saturated C14–C22 fatty acids; and (c) no more than about 6 wt % moisture, insolubles and unsaponifiables; with no more than about 20 wt % in the form of glycerides; wherein about 40 to about 65 wt % of total product weight is of trans fatty acids and one or more fatty acids selected from C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids and C20–C22 omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Products with about 10 to about 65 wt % of total product weight of CLA's and one or more fatty acids selected from non-conjugated C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids and C20–C22 omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Virtus Nutrition LLC
    Inventors: Nestor Daniel Luchini, George K. Strohmaier, Eiler D. Frederiksen