GB993139A - Stabilized vitamin compositions and a process for preparing them - Google Patents

Abstract

A stable composition of vitamin in a gelatin-urea medium is obtained by blending gelatin, urea and water at 0 DEG C. to 80 DEG C. until a uniform dispersion is obtained, admixing said dispersion with said vitamin and homogenizing, if desired, the resulting mixture until a uniform emulsion is obtained. (By the term "vitamin" used herein is meant any or all of the well-known oil-soluble vitamins and their vitamin-active, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and esters, whether prepared synthetically or obtained from natural sources.) The obtained emulsion may be dehydrated by heating at 40 DEG C. to 100 DEG C. under reduced pressure and the resulting solid reduced to any desired particle size. Alternatively, the emulsion may be blended at 0 DEG C. to 90 DEG C. with an inert, adsorbent carrier until granules are obtained to form a free-flowing, water-dispersible, oxygen-stable, dry adsorbate of vitamin. Suitable adsorbents include soy flour, corn flour, rice flour, wheat flour, gelatin, lactose, mannitol and diatomaceous earth. In the preparation of the emulsion, it is preferable to remove the materials employed from contact with oxygen, and when it is desired to convert the emulsion to the dehydrated or adsorbate form it is advantageous to add a plasticizer to the emulsion, e.g. glucose, corn syrup, propylene glycol or honey. Bacteriostats, e.g. zinc sulphate; yeast and mould inhibitors, e.g. sorbic acid; antirancidity and chelating agents, e.g. citric acid; and anti-oxidants may also be added to the emulsion. The dehydrated and adsorbed emulsions may be treated according to the method described in Specification 993,138 to render them insoluble in water and gastric juice but soluble in intestinal fluid. This may be achieved by adding to the emulsion a substance such as formaldehyde, glyoxal, dihydroxy-acetone or acetaldehyde. Specified vitamins for use in the invention are Vitamin A, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin A acetate and Vitamins D, E and K. The stable vitamin preparations of the invention may be employed in the preparation of stable multi-vitamin compositions, e.g. by combining with water-soluble vitamins and minerals, or may be incorporated in foods and animal feeds.ALSO:In food or animal feed is incorporated a stable vitamin composition in which the vitamin is dispersed in a gelatin-urea medium. ("Vitamin" is any or all of the oil-soluble vitamins and their vitamin-active, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and esters, synthetic or from natural sources. Specified are Vitamin A, Vitamin A palmitate, Vitamin A acetate and Vitamins D, E and K). The compositions in emulsion form may be granulated by drying and comminuting or by mixing with a carrier such as a cereal flour, soy flour, lactose or diatomaceous earth. A plasticizer for gelatin, e.g. glucose, corn syrup, honey or propylene glycol may be incorporated in the composition. Specification 993,138 is referred to.