Means for weaning people off smoking and alcohol

Abstract

The invention relates to a means for weaning people off smoking or alcohol, said means containing alpha-Ketoglutaric acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, preferably in a mass ratio of between 2:1 and 12:1. Preferably, said means is in the form of a drink containing the following constituents per litre: between 4 and 8 g of alpha-Keloglutaric acid; between 0.2 and 0.6 g of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural; between 20 and 40 g of saccharose; between 2.5 and 5 g of sodium carbonate; between 0.3 and 0.8 g of sorbic acid; and optionally up to 0.5 g of citric acid. The pH value is equal to between 4 and 5.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a composition for weaning a subject from smoking or from alcohol.

STATE OF THE ART

From Austrian patent document AT 393221 B it is known that alpha-ketoglutaric acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural have a destructive effect on malignant tumors.

It has now been surprisingly found that the composition is highly effective for weaning a subject from smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. It is especially to be noted that this agent has practically no undesirable effects other than producing an increased desire to urinate.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is therefore the use of alpha-ketoglutaric acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to produce a composition for weaning a subject from smoking or for weaning a subject from alcohol.

Preferably the mass or weight ratio of alpha-ketoglutaric acid to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is 2:1 to 12:1.

According to Austrian patent document AT 393221 B, an agent [comprising alpha-ketoglutaric acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural] was used in the form of an infusion. For weaning a subject from smoking or from excessive alcohol consumption the formulation is provided as a beverage. The subject of the invention is thus a beverage which contains the following components per liter:

4-8 g alpha-ketoglutaric acid

0.2-0.6 g 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

20-40 saccharose

2.5-5 g sodium bicarbonate

0.3-0.8 g sorbic acid

optionally up to 0.5 g citric acid.

The pH preferably amounts to 4 to 5.

This beverage has a good taste as a refreshing beverage. A favorable characteristic of the beverage is the mood-boosting effect of the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The beverage is thus appropriate for regular consumption which has a decisive significance with respect to the results obtained. The alpha-ketoglutaric acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural are free radical catchers, a possible source of the effects for the purposes of the invention. This property is not known from the Austrian patent document AT 393221 B. Radicals have previously been associated with the growth of malignant tumors. In the case of smoking one can reckon with 10¹⁴ free radicals per draw on the cigarette. Excessive alcohol consumption also supplies radicals. It is conceivable that because of the radical capture effect the desire for cigarettes or alcohol can be reduced because these effects of cigarettes or alcohol (production of free radicals) are eliminated.

BEST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The following beverage was given to various test subjects all of whom were smokers (20 to 40 cigarettes per day) (all values given with respect to one liter of the beverage):

5 g alpha-ketoglutaric acid

0.5 g 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

30 g saccharose

3.66 g sodium bicarbonate

0.5 g sorbic acid

0.5 g citric acid.

The pH value was about 4.5.

The test subjects consumed the drink in significant quantities. They drank 1 liter per day uniformly divided over 12 hours, always on an empty stomach. After one week the following results were found:

about 25%: no effect on smoking

about 25%: less desire to smoke but unaltered cigarette consumption

about 25%: less desire to smoke, cigarette consumption reduced to less than one-half (but always still present)

about 25%: no further cigarette consumption.

The following beverage was also tested:

6 g alpha-ketoglutaric acid

0.4 g 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

40 g saccharose

4.2 g sodium bicarbonate

0.6 g sorbic acid

0.2 g citric acid.

The pH value was about 4.5.

The effect was similar, both beverages had only a somewhat different taste.

Claims

1. The use of alpha-ketoglutaric acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural for producing a composition for weaning a subject from smoking or alcohol.

2. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that the mass ratio of alpha-ketoglutaric acid to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural amounts to 2:1 to 12:1.

3. A beverage characterized in that it contains the following components per liter:

4-8 g alpha-ketoglutaric acid

0.2-0.6 g 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

20-40 g saccharose

2.5-5 g sodium bicarbonate

0.3-0.8 g sorbic acid

optionally up to 0.5 g citric acid.

4. A beverage according to claim 4, characterized in that it has a pH value of 4-5.