Abstract: A medical food and/or nutritional supplement for oral administration by mammals includes ?-lipoic acid, linolenic acid complex, biotin, and coenzyme Q-10. A preferred method of manufacturing the medical food or nutritional supplement is by separate microencapsulation of one or more of the components followed by encapsulation of the individual components, for oral administration. Other methods of delivery include packaging in impermeable, disposable packets and mixing the formulations with food or a cold liquid.

Abstract: A medical food and/or nutritional supplement for oral administration by mammals includes ?-lipoic acid, linolenic acid complex, biotin, and coenzyme Q-10. A preferred method of manufacturing the medical food or nutritional supplement is by separate microencapsulation of one or more of the components followed by encapsulation of the individual components, for oral administration. Other methods of delivery include packaging in impermeable, disposable packets and mixing the formulations with food or a cold liquid.

Abstract: A combination of constituents for oral administration by women with polycystic ovarian syndrome includes ?-lipoic acid, linolenic acid complex, biotin, and coenzyme Q-10. A preferred method of manufacture is by separate microencapsulation of one or more of the components followed by encapsulation of the individual components, for oral administration. Other methods of delivery include packaging in impermeable, disposable packets and mixing the formulations with food or a cold liquid. A combination of constituents for administration by either men or women to encourage increase in brain insulin levels and/or brain insulin receptor functionality also includes ?-lipoic acid, linolenic acid complex, biotin, and coenzyme Q-10.

Abstract: A medical food and/or nutritional supplement for oral administration by mammals includes ?-lipoic acid, linolenic acid complex, biotin, and coenzyme Q-10. A preferred method of manufacturing the medical food or nutritional supplement is by separate microencapsulation of one or more of the components followed by encapsulation of the individual components, for oral administration. Other methods of delivery include packaging in impermeable, disposable packets and mixing the formulations with food or a cold liquid.

Abstract: Methods of treating and forming biocompatible microcapsules that contain living cells are provided, to improve the function of the microcapsules. In particular, methods of treating islet cells or microcapsules containing islet cells are provided. Culture of isolated islet cells prior to encapsulation, culture of encapsulated cells, and cryopreservation of islet cells prior to encapsulation, are described. Methods for harvesting viable islets that incorporates an anti-oxidant in the digestion medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of treating and forming biocompatible microcapsules that contain living cells are provided, to improve the function of the microcapsules. In particular, methods of treating islet cells or microcapsules containing islet cells are provided. Culture of isolated islet cells prior to encapsulation, culture of encapsulated cells, and cryopreservation of islet cells prior to encapsulation, are described. Methods for harvesting viable islets that incorporates an anti-oxidant in the digestion medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: Cells, preferably isolated pancreatic islet cells, are treated with a compound or a combination of compounds selected from an antioxidant, an anti-cytokine, an anti-endotoxin and an antibiotic. The compound or combination of compounds is in a medium for culturing the cells before microencapsulation, in a medium for cryopreserving the cells by freezing followed by thawing and microencapsulation, in a medium for culturing the cells after microencapsulation, or in a medium for culturing the cells before microencapsulation and in a medium for culturing the cells after microencapsulation. Microcapsules containing cells may be incubated with a physiologically acceptable salt to increase durability of the microcapsules. In a preferred method, isolated pancreatic islet cells are cultured for about 12 to about 36 hours in a medium containing an antioxidant as the compound, cryopreserved by freezing in a medium containing the compound or combination of compounds, thawed and microencapsulated.

Abstract: Cells, preferably isolated pancreatic islet cells, are treated with a compound or a combination of compounds selected from an antioxidant, an anti-cytokine, an anti-endotoxin and an antibiotic. The compound or combination of compounds is in a medium for culturing the cells before microencapsulation, in a medium for cryopreserving the cells by freezing followed by thawing and microencapsulation, in a medium for culturing the cells after microencapsulation, or in a medium for culturing the cells before microencapsulation and in a medium for culturing the cells after microencapsulation. In a preferred method, isolated pancreatic islet cells are cultured for about 12 to about 36 hours in a medium containing an antioxidant as the compound, cryopreserved by freezing in a medium containing the compound or combination of compounds, thawed and microencapsulated. The microcapsule contains a hydrogel core such gelled alginate and a semipermeable outer membrane such as formed with polylysine.