CA1243611A - Method and compositions for sodium selenite administration - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method for the administration of sodium selenite as a mineral supplement in the diet as a flavored drink containing ascorbic acid and citric acid in novel compositions is described. The method and compositions are used to maintain the health of mammals particularly humans.

Description

36~
Bankit 4 METHOD AND COMPOSITIONS FOR
SODIU~ SELENITE ADMINISTRATIO~

BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
~1) Field of the Invention - The present invention relates to a method and composition ~or the oral administration of sodium selenite s to mammals, particularly humans. In particular the present inventlon relates to a Elavored aqueous solution oE sodium selenite con`taining edible acids, preferably citric and ascorbic acids in amounts which do not impair the ef~ectiveness of the sodium selenite.

(2) Prior Art .
Selenium compounds, both organic and inorganic, as mineral supplements with vitamins have been used for years to ~aintain good health. Recently it has been ~ound that sodium selenite in dosages '~etwean ~bout 200 and 300 micrograms per day ia particularly effective in inhibiting the occurrence of tumors in healthy mammal3 ~Selenium in Biology and ~edicine, A~I Publishing Company~ Inc.~ pages ~8 to 102 ~19al)). ~sentially the ccmQoun~ is used i~ a pr¢phylactic amount for this purposeO
Sodium selenite has been found to be inactivated by acids in a composition with a pH of less than about pH
2.75. ~he acidity of the composition plus the high ac;dity of the stomach o pH 1.2 to 1.5 retar~s the absorption of the sodium selenite into the blood stream. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C3 has been ~ound to ~ask the af fects of sodium selenite (~iscovery of the ~ole of Selenium in Glutathione Peroxidase, AVI Publishing Compan~, page 1~ (1981)).
. T~e problem has been to formulate a palatable flavored fruit drink, particularly cltrus flavored in the presence of citric acid and ascorbic acid, which are desirable ~lavor contributing ingredients, such that the drink has a pH of not less than about 2.75~ A ~ormal fruit ,. ~ .

...... ..

~Z~3611 drink has a ~H o~ about 2.5 or less. 80th ascorbic acid and citric acid are also re~arded as being important for good health and are preferred.
Objects It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flavored drink including sodium selenite and containing an edible acid particularly c.itric acid and ascorbic acid in amounts which do not impair the - effectiveness of sodium selenite. Further it i~ an object of the present invention to provide a composition which is palatahle. These and o.ther objects will become increasingly apparent by reference to the following - ~escription~
General Description The present invention relates to a method for maintaining the health of a mammal with sodiùm selenite which comprises orally feeding the mammal an efEective amount of a flavored aqueous solution including sodium selenite admixed with an edible acid in an amount which retains the health maintaining 2ffectiveness of the ~odium selenit~ without the acid such t'nat the health oF the mammal is maintained.
- ~lso the present invention relates to a sodium selenite composition for maintaining the health o a mammal which comprises in an aquëous solution: sodium selenite; an edible acid; and flavoring, wherein the composition contains '~etween about 1 and 3 x 10-4 percent by weight ..
sodium seienite and b~tween about 0.3 and ~.6 percent by weight acid, such that the pH is not less tnan pH 2.75.
In particular t'ne present invention relates to a method ~or maintaining the health of a mammal ~ith sodium selenite which comprises: orally ~eeding the mammal an ~f~ective amount of a`flavor-d aqueous solution including so~ium seLenite admixed with citric and ascoroic acids in

3~ ~mounts which retain the health maintaining effectiveness of the so~ium selenite witho~t the acids such that the health of the mammal is maintained. Further the present .

, , lZ~3~

invention relates to a sodium selenite composition for maintaining the health o~ a mammal which comprises in an aqueous solution: sodium selenite; citric acid and ascorbic acid; and flavoring, wherein the composition contains between about l and 3 x 10-4 percent b~ weight sodium selen;te and between about 0.3 and 0.6 percen~ by weigh~ acid, such that the pH is not less than pH 2./5~
The tenm "flavor" includes taste and olEactory sens~tion contributing ingredients such as flavor oils.
In particular the present invention relates to a mildl~ acidic, citrus Elavored drink including sodium selenite and including (1) citrus pulpwash solids and ci~rus Elavorings w'nich provide signiicant amounts of ascoroic acid and (2) citric acid. The resulting composition is palatable and is useful for maintaining the health of the mammal, particularly humans.
Specific Vescription Table l sets forth the ormulation o a concentrate which is diluted with water ~5 volumes of water to one volume of the so'lution) for administration to the ~ammal. The ingredients are shown in decreasing percents by volume~ The principal ingredients are sodium selenite, citric acid, ascorbic acid and flavorings. In addition~
citrus pulpwash, a source of small amounts of.ascorbic -25 'acid, is included as well as various well known stabilizers or emulsi~iers and shelf life extenders (spoilage inhi~itorsl such as potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.
The citric acid is added to achieve the desired pH in the diluted product taking into consideration the ascorbic acid 3Q pre'sent in the pulpwash solids and in the citrus concentrates~ The concentrate can be stored and shipped without`separation of the ingredients. The concentrate has a shelf li~e oE at least three to ~our months ~hen packaged in contain2rs which,do not allow transpiration of oxygen from the atmosphere.

:. .

:

::

:~ :

~243~
.~ _ % Volume % tlolume Water 14 . 510 Reliotropine ~Flavor)0.018 Fructose aqueous solu- Gum Arablc S tion 62 Brix 54.600 (S'cabilizer) 0.()18 orange Pulp Wash Solid Benza}d~hyde (Includes ascorbic (Stabilizer) 0~018 acld) 9.460 I.emon Oil lX
10 Pineapple Concentrate ~Flavor ) 0. 013 (F lavor ) 9 . 460 Vanillin lFlavor) 0.01 Grapef ruit Concentrate (Fla~or, includes lQgFthyl Vanillin 0.011 by wt.ascorbic acid)4.730 Raspberry Juice *Citric Acid ~cid) Concentrate (Tangy Flavor) 2.270~Flavor) 0.011 Pass;on Fruit Con- Ethyl Valerate centrate. (Flavor) 1.820~Stabilizer~ 0.00g Lime Concentrate Propy lene Glycol (Flavor, includes (5'~.abilizer) 0.011 10% by wt~ ascorbic acid) 1.820Aldehyde C-14 ~5 *Sodium Benzoate (Shelf (Flavor) 0.009 ~ life extender) . 0.182 Oenanthic Ether (Flavor) 0.009 *Xanthan gum ~Stabilizer) 0.182Allyl Caproate . - (Flavor) 0.009 Sodium Selenita (1%
by weight solution ) 0 .150 Californîa orange Oil Distilled 1ime Oil . lX (Flavor) 0.009 (FLavor) . 0.064 Ethyl 3utyrate -Firmenich~ Apple -(Stabilizer) 0.009 ~50.047/A (Flavor) 0.064 Retone 18 (Flavor) 0.055 Potassium Sorbate.
- (Shelf Lifè
Amyl ~utyrate (Flavor) 0.051Extender3 0.009 4Q 1inalyl Formate Grapefruit Oil 5Z
(Stabilizer for ~Flavor~ 0.009 oils) 0.046 Florida Orange Oil Grapefruit Oil lX 5X (Flavor~ a.oog (Flavor) 0.036 Aldehyde C-22~Flavor)0O006 Grenadine Aldehyde (Flavor) 0.027Oil of Bitter Almond (Flavor) 0.004 ~Z43~

Aldehyde C-l~ (Flavor) 0.027 . Imitation Rose Oil Ester Gum 8 B.~. ~Flavor~ 0.006 (Stabilizer) 0.027 Genuine Oil o Cognac Imitation Neroli oil (Flavor) 0,004 ~Fla~r) 0.027 F D & C Red ~40 Amyl Valerate (Flavor) 0.027 (Coloring) o.ao4 Citral ~lavorj 0.027 Firmenich~ Orange Oil #59.432/T(~lavor) 0.002 Florida Vrange Oil lX ~Flavor) 0.026 Aldehyde C-l9 (Flavor ) 0 . 002 Paramethyl Benzyl Amyl Acetate Anthranilite (Stabilizer) 0.002 (St~bilizer) 0O024 Ethyl Vanillin Ethyl Alcohol (Flavor) 0.022 (Flavor~ 0.002 100. 00%
Ethyl Acetate (Flavor) 0.020 * As solids by Orange Terpenes (Flavor ) 0 . 018Bulk Volume Table 2 shows the percent by weîght oE the principal ingredie~ts in the (5:1) final product which is the diluted concentrate (5:1).
Table 2 . ~ by Weight Water and sweetener about 90 to ~5 .
Sodium selenite 1 to 3 x 10-4 - Pulp Wash Solids about 1 to 2 Citric Acid 0.3 to 0.6 Citric Concentrates 1.5 to 2.5 Flavorings 2 to 5 Stabilizers and Preservatives 0.1 to 0.2 .
The fruit drink was prepared using conventional mixing techniques. The ingredients which form the smallest proportions of the mix were combined. Assuming a total o 100 gallons (378.5 liters) is being prepared, those ingredients forming less than 0.064 percent by volume~ were combine~ with sodium benzoate, sodium selenite and xanthan gum and then in turn combinea in a ~lending tank with wa~er, pulp wash solids, pineapple concentrate, grape~ruit , ~ , , .

- -6- ~Z~36~
concentrate~ citric acid, passion fruit concentrate, and lime co~centrate. The resulting mixture was then combined at room te~perature with warm (55F (12.8C) or warme~) fruc~ose solution.
The concentrated mixture was combined with 500 gallons (1892.5 liters) of water to produce the diluted concentrate as final product Eor administration~ The ~ater was tested to make certain there is no selenium as an impurity, This prevents the accidental inclusion of more than the desired amount o~ selenium in the Einal product.
Six gallons of the final product is used to ~repare 192 servings of 4 oz each in automatic bottling machinery. Six ~6) gallons of the diluted concentrate weighs 23,B38.5 grams and thus has a density of about 1.05 1~ gm/cc. The sodium selenite is preferably present in an amount of 8 mg per gallon which calculates to 2 x 10-4 per~ent and is preferably included in an amount between 1 and 3 x 10-4 percent. The citric acid and ascorbic acid combine~ are present in an amount of 103.2 grams per gallon of diluted concentrate. This calculates to 2.59 percent by weight of the acids. The lime and grapefruit conce~trates are the principal sources of ascorbic acid.
The pulp wash constitutes bet~een about 1 and 2 percent by volume oE the diluted concentrate. When diluted, the solution requires refrigeration below 5C (41F) and above - freezing if stored for periods longer than 15 days unless ~ packaged in non-permeable containers. 'rhe product is served in single-use, non-permeab~e packages which do not require refrigeration after opening.`~
The diluted concentrate is designed to deliver between about 200 to 300 micrograms of sodium selenite per four ounce (118 cc) serving as a daily dosage unit and has a pH between about pH 2.75 and pH 3.25. The dilute composition contains between about 1.8 to 2.5 microgratns per ml of sodium selenite and between ahout 0.3 and 0.6 percent by weight of citric ana ascorbic acids.

, - ~243~1~

The dilute composition was tested in animals and found to be non-toxic in mice and rabbits. The formation of spontaneous ma~mory tumors was inhibited in C3H mice.
The composition has been ta~en by human volunteers without S ill effect.
Other edible acids, such as lactic acid, phosphoric acid and ace~ic acid might be used ~or flavoring in the method and compositions of the present invention.
Citric acid is preEerred.

.

, ............................................................. .

- . .. . . . .

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A sodium selenite composition for maintaining the health of a mammal which comprises in an aqueous solution:
(a) sodium selenite;
(b) citric acid and ascorbic acid; and (c) flavoring, wherein the composition contains between about 1 and 3 x 10-4 percent by weight sodium selenite and between about 0.3 and 0.6 percent by weight acid, such that the pH is not less than pH 2.75.

2. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the flavoring is derived from citrus oils and wherein the composition contains washed orange pulp in an amount between about l and 2 percent by volume.

3. The composition of Claim 2 containing about 2 x 10-4 percent by weight of the sodium selenite and about 2.59 percent by weight acid.

4. The composition of Claim 2 wherein the composition includes stabilizers to maintain the citrus oils in solution, a coloring agent and a sweetener.

5. The composition of Claim 4 wherein the sweetener includes fructose.

6. A sodium selenite concentrate composition adapted to be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 part concentrate to 5 parts water which comprises in an aqueous solution:
(a) sodium selenite;
(b) citric acid and ascorbic acid;
(c) flavoring; and (d) shelf life extenders which prevent spoilage, wherein the concentrate when diluted contains between about 1 and 3 x 10-4 percent by weight sodium selenite and between about 0.3 and 0.6 percent by weight acid such that the pH is not less than pH 2.75.

7. The concentrate composition of Claim 6 including citrus pulp wash solids in an amount between about 8 and 11 percent by volume.

8. The concentrate composition of Claim 6 wherein the ascorbic acid is present in a citrus concentrates.

9. A sodium selenite composition for maintaining the health of a mammal which comprises in an aqueous solution:
(a) sodium selenite;
(b) an edible acid; and (c) flavoring, wherein the composition contains between about 1 and 3 x 10-4 percent by weight sodium selenite and between about 0.3 and 0.6 percent by weight acid, such that the pH is not less than pH 2.75.

10. The composition of Claim 9 wherein the edible acid includes ascorbic acid and another edible acid for flavor.