GB692334A - Improvements in or relating to vitamin preparation - Google Patents

Abstract

A stable, substantially anhydrous (not more than 1, and preferably 0.5, per cent water), homogeneous liquid polyvitamin preparation comprises both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins in a vehicle consisting essentially of propylene glycol and a water-soluble polyoxy-alkylene oxide derivative of a fatty acid (not less than 12 C atoms) partial ester of a hexitan, said vehicle constituting the major proportion, preferably at least 80 per cent by weight, of the preparation, the propylene glycol being 0.5 to 2 parts by weight per part of the hexitan derivative. Polyoxyalkylene derivatives of sorbitan with acids such as lauric, stearic, palmitic and oleic, where the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, present as 16 to 25 oxide groupings, e.g. "Tweens" (Registered Trade Mark), are preferred. The "Tween" is preferably dried in vacuo. One or more fat soluble vitamins are dissolved in the "Tween," the water-soluble vitamins are dissolved in the propylene glycol, and the solutions so formed are mixed, the operations being carried out in the presence of an inert gas e.g. nitrogen or CO2. If the propylene glycol has not been previously dried, the vitamin preparation is dried over an agent insoluble in propylene glycol e.g. anhydrous sodium sulphate, anhydrous calcium sulphate or activated alumina. In one example, vitamin A, vitamin D2, oil of limes and d-pantothenyl alcohol are dissolved in polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate at 50 DEG C. under CO2. To this is added a solution of urea, nicotinamide, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin HCl and saccharin at 50 DEG C. Other specified vitamins are vitamin A palmitate, vitamin A acetate, thiamine mono-nitrate and a -tocopherol acetate. The multi-vitamin preparation may be mixed with orange juice, milk, cereals, strained or chopped meats, vegetables, fruits, puddings, soups and other foods. Specification 588,298 is referred to.