MXPA05011915A - Rumen bypass calcium salts of trans and polyunsaturated fatty acids - Google Patents

Abstract

Free-flowing unsaturated fatty acid calcium salts with a fatty acid content consisting essentially of (a) about 40 to about 95 wt%unsaturated C16-C22 fatty acids;(b) about 5 to about 60 wt%saturated C14-C22 fatty acids;and (c) no more than about 6 wt%moisture, insolubles and unsaponifiables;with no more than about 20 wt%in the form of glycerides;wherein about 40 to about 65 wt%of total product weight is of trans fatty acids and one or more fatty acids selected from C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids and C20-C22 omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Products with about 10 to about 65 wt%of total product weight of CLA's and one or more fatty acids selected from non-conjugated C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids and C20-C22 omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also disclosed.

Description

NON-DEGRADED CALCIUM SALTS IN THE RUMEN OF TRANS-AND POLYINSURED FATTY ACIDS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS The application hereof is a continuation in part of the patent application of E.U.A. No. 10/431, 318 filed on May 6, 2003. This application also claims priority benefit in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of the provisional application of E.U.A. No. 60 / 486,003 filed July 9, 2003. The descriptions of both applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids which are of particular interest as nutritional supplements. The unsaturated fatty acids undergo hydrogenation to saturated fatty acids by microbial action in the rumen and must be fed to ruminants in a protected form. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,143,737 describes the encapsulation of unsaturated fatty acids with non-toxic organic materials to protect unsaturated fatty acids from microbial action in the rumen. The most familiar form in which the basic acids are generally protected from microbial action in the rumen is that the calcium salts of fatty acid described by U.S. Patent No. 4,642,317; 4,826,694; 5,853,233 and 4,909,138. This form of fatty acid protection is widely accepted in the dairy and cattle industries. The unsaturated fatty acids, however, do not readily react to form calcium salts using the methods described by means of the patents listed above. Instead of forming free-flowing granules, a mass develops that hardens into a solid material that resists crushing into fine particles required for consumption by livestock. The resulting material also lacks storage stability. The product tends to self-oxidize through an exothermic reaction which leads to freezing of the product mass from its free flowing granular state to a massive amorphous state, suggesting that significant amounts of unreacted starting materials are present in the final product. To be commercially available, rumen-protected unsaturated fatty acid livestock feed supplements may be in a form acceptable to the livestock industry. Therefore, there is a need for calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acid that are storage stable and easily formed into particles small enough for livestock consumption that also confer a nutritional benefit for the livestock.

A variety of unsaturated fatty acids have been identified as desirable to produce a variety of nutritional and physiological benefits in humans and lower animals, including pets and livestock, and have also attracted attention as nutritional supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, have been discovered to promote animal fertility, and have other nutritional and physiological properties as well. Conjugated linoleic acids (CL) have been discovered to possess a diverse and complex level of biological activity. The anticarcinogenic properties have been well documented, as well as the stimulation of the immune system. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,914,346 describes the use of CLA to improve natural killer lymphocyte function. U.S. Patent No. 5,430,066 describes the effect of CLA in preventing weight loss and anorexia by stimulating the immune system. It has also been found that CLA exerts a profound generalized effect on body composition, in particular, after redirecting the mass division of lean and fatty tissue. The patent of E.U.A. Nos. 5,554,646 and 6,020,378 describe the use of CLA to reduce body fat and increase lean body mass. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,814,663 describes the use of CLA to maintain an existing level of body fat or body weight in humans. The patent of E.U.A. No. 6,034,132 describes the use of CLA to reduce body weight and treat obesity in humans. CLA is also described by the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,804,210 to maintain or improve the mineral content in the bones.

It is also known that supplementing the diet of livestock with unsaturated fatty acids will alter the fatty acid profile of livestock, so that, for example, feeding dairy cows and cattle a source of unsaturated fatty acids beneficial to humans will produce dairy products and of meat for human consumption enriched with beneficial unsaturated fatty acids. For example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,143,737 describes that the content of unsaturated fat of milk and meat of ruminant animals can be increased by incorporating the unsaturated fat destined in the ruminant diet. In this way, meat and milk enriched with CLA and other unsaturated fatty acids can be obtained by supplementing the diets of ruminants with unsaturated fatty acids such as CLA. Dairy cows and cattle fed a source of CLA will not only produce low-fat meat and dairy products, the products will be enriched with CLA as well. The nutritional supplementation of dairy cows and cattle with unsaturated fatty acids beneficial to humans can also be used to displace and thus reduce the levels of undesirable unsaturated fatty acids in dairy and meat products. The beneficial effects produced by unsaturated fatty acids are not limited to CLA. Other unsaturated fatty acids are described as being useful for treating diabetes (U.S. Patent No. 4,472,432), heart disease (U.S. Patent No. 4,495,201; ,541, 225 and 5,859,055), prostaglandin deficiencies (U.S. Patent No. ,043,328), malaria (U.S. Patent No. 5,604,258), osteoporosis (U.S. Patent No. 5,618,558 and 5,888,541), cancer (U.S. Patent No. ,763,484), function of the immune system (U.S. Patent No. 5,767,156), Huntington's Korea (U.S. Patent No. 5,837,731) and inflammation (U.S. Patent No. 5,861,433). The descriptions of the above patents are all incorporated by reference. It has also been found that ruminants that are fed a source of trans-C18: 1 fatty acids will have decreased concentrations of milk fat, triacylglycerol hepatic and decreased incidence of sub-clinical ketosis during early postpartum, and that they will feed a source of acids Linoleic fatty acids (C18: 2) during the traction period will increase the synthesis of PGF2a- Linoleic fatty acids in this way accelerate uterine involution and reduce the incidence of clinical and sub-clinical uterine inflammation; which translates to increased fertility. For purposes of the present invention, "trans fatty acids" are defined as C18: 1 trans fatty acids. There is a need for calcium salts of these fatty acids with acceptable storage stabilizers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This need is met by the present invention. It has been found that the storage stable calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids can be produced in the form of fine particles either by using high levels of calcium oxide, or by reducing the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the fatty acid supply material. The preparation of said fatty acids is described in commonly owned and co-pending US Pat. No. 6,559,334, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It has also been found that trans fatty acids, as well as C18: 2 fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), decrease the production of milk fat in ruminants. According to one aspect of the present invention, a freely flowing free fatty acid calcium salt product is provided with a fatty acid content consisting essentially of (a) from about 40 to about 95% by weight of unsaturated C16-C22 fatty acids; (b) from about 5% about 60% by weight of saturated C 14 -C 22 fatty acids; and (c) no more than about 6% by weight moisture, insoluble and unsaponifiable; with no more than about 20% by weight in the form of glycerides; wherein from about 40 to about 65% by weight of the total product weight consists of trans fatty acids, and one or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, C20 omega-3 fatty acids -C22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-C22. C18: 2 fatty acids include all CLA isomers, C18: 2 omega-3 fatty acids and C18: 2 omega-6 fatty acids. The preferred trans fatty acid products according to the present invention contain between about 25 and about 55% by weight of the total product weight of trans fatty acids and about 5 to about 20% by weight of the total product weight of the product. one or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, C20-C22 omega-3 fatty acids, and C20-C22 omega-6 fatty acids. According to another aspect of the present invention, an unsaturated free flowing CLA calcium salt product is provided with a fatty acid content consisting essentially of (a) from about 40 to about 95% by weight of fatty acids of C16-C22 unsaturated; (b) from about 5 to about 60% by weight of saturated C 14 -C 22 fatty acids; and (c) not more than about 6% by weight of moisture and unsaponifiable; with no more than about 20% by weight in the form of glycerides; wherein from about 10 to about 65% by weight of the total product weight consists of CLA and one or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 non-conjugated fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, C20 omega-3 fatty acids C22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-C22. Unconjugated C18: 2 fatty acids include C18: 2 omega-3 fatty acids and C18: 2 omega-6 fatty acids.

The preferred CLA fatty acid products according to the present invention contain between about 7.5 and about 40% by weight of the total product weight of CLA and between about 7.5 and about 15% by weight of the total product weight of one. or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 non-conjugated fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, C20-C22 omega-3 fatty acids and C20-C22 omega-6 fatty acids. The present invention also includes nutritional supplements and pet food products containing the calcium salts of fatty acid of the present invention. The above features and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention employs a process by means of which highly unsaturated fatty acid supply materials can be converted to non-degraded food supplements in the calcium salt rumen of granular fatty acid or free flowing powder. The use of highly unsaturated fatty acid supply materials represents an important advance of conventional processes for the manufacture of fatty acid calcium salt food supplements.

The procedure is used either as a batch or continuous process. In a typical procedure, the fatty acid supply materials are added to a production vessel. The mixing should be carried out in a boiler designed in such a way that an intense and intimate contact between the calcium oxide and the fat mixture occurs so that a homogeneous dispersion of the calcium oxide particles results. The boilers can be vertical or horizontal in configuration, and there is no need to cover for the purpose of heat input since the unit operates adiabatically (no external heat input or output). The types of internal mixing elements encompass a wide space but may include those with propellers, turbine, blades with chopper blades, or preferably Cowles type mixing blades as examples, but others may be applied. These same devices are also suitable for dispersing and homogenising the fraction of water in the mixture of fat and calcium oxide. The unsaturated fatty acid supply materials are employed which contain from about 40 to about 95% by weight of unsaturated C 16 -C 22 fatty acids. The supply materials should contain no more than about 6% by weight of moisture, insoluble and unsaponifiable and no more than about 20% by weight of fatty acids should be in the form of glyceride. In general, unsaturated fatty acids having 16-22 carbon atoms and one to six double bonds are suitable for use with the present invention.

The term "glyceride" as used herein includes monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides, and any mixture thereof. Essentially, any source of unsaturated fatty acids can be used, including sources of fatty acid of animal, vegetable or marine origin and by-products thereof. These include lard, bait, vegetable oils such as canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, canola oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, olive oil, corn oil, and the like, and by-products thereof, as well as fish oils and by-products thereof. Examples of sources of marine oil include species of shad, herring, mackerel, caplan, tilapia, tuna, sardine, Pacific saurel, krill, salmon, anchovies, skate, whale, seal, crab, shrimp, lobster, eel, mollusk, and Similar. Vegetable oils also include oils derived from marine vegetation such as algae, seaweed and the like. Pretreatment procedures may be necessary to reduce humidity, insoluble, insusceptible, and glycerides below 10% by weight. The level of glycerides, which include monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides can be reduced by hydrolysis or saponification. Examples of oily by-products include acidic oils and acidic soap materials. The unsaturated fatty acid supply materials are selected based on trans fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acid content. The fatty acid supply materials high in trans fatty acids (about 50% by weight and above, and typically between about 50 and about 75% by weight) are obtained from the soybean oil using partial hydrogenation methods. The fatty acid supply materials high in C18: 2 content (about 50% by weight and above, and typically between about 50 and about 75% by weight) are obtained from the safflower oil, also using partial hydrogenation processes. The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are typically obtained from vegetable and marine oil sources. C18: 3 fatty acids are typically obtained from vegetable oil sources. Any suitable source of either or both fatty acids can be used with the invention. The partial hydrogenation processes produce oils with high polyunsaturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid contents. Some sources of untreated oil also have high contents of C18: 2, C18: 3, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The calcium salts of fatty acid according to the present invention can be produced from said oils by diluting the oils with a neutral oil source such as palm distillate fatty acid (PFAD). When the amount of calcium oxide falls below 1.75 equivalents relative to the amount of fatty acid, the amount of saturated fatty acids in the supply material must be at a level of 25% by weight or more. The sourcing materials having less than 25 wt% saturated fatty acids must be mixed with another fatty acid sourcing material having more than 25 wt% saturated fatty acids in an effective amount to produce at least 25 wt% of saturated fatty acids in the resulting mixture. A preferred source of saturated fatty acids is PFAD. The fatty acid supply material with higher levels of saturated fatty acids may be present in a mixture at a level of up to about 5 and about 60% by weight, and preferably between about 5 and about 30% by weight. Said mixtures can be reacted with more than 1.75 equivalents of calcium oxide, although said calcium oxide levels are not necessarily to produce an acceptable commercial product when the saturated fatty acid levels exceed 25% by weight. Saturated fatty acids have higher melting points than unsaturated fatty acids. Likewise, it may be necessary to heat the unsaturated fatty acid supply material to form a uniform liquid mixture with the second fatty acid supply material having a combined saturated fatty acid content of 25% by weight or greater. A temperature of up to about 80 ° C is suitable, with a temperature between about 50 and about 60 ° C being preferred. Additional heat is not necessary for the hydrolysis reaction to occur. The calcium oxide is added to the fatty acid supply material in the range of about 1.0 to about 2.5 equivalents relative to the fatty acid supply material. A calcium oxide level above about 1.4 equivalents is preferred, with 1.75 equivalents being more preferred, so that the highly unsaturated fatty acid supply materials can be employed. A calcium oxide level between about 2.0 and 2.3 equivalents is more preferred. Water is then added to hydrate the calcium oxide to its hydroxide form, creating a large amount of exothermic heat. The heat that is emitted is sufficient for the fatty acid neutralization reaction to proceed, so that it is not necessary to supply heat to the reaction mixture from external sources from this point onwards. Between about two and about five equivalents of water relative to the calcium oxide are added to the reaction mixture, with between about 2.5 and about 3.5 equivalents being preferred. The calcium hydroxide can be substituted for equivalent amounts of calcium oxide and water. Excess water is converted to steam by the exothermic heat generated, which boils rapidly. The reaction may be carried out under atmospheric pressure, or under vacuum to distill off steam. The amount of time required for the reaction is typically between about 5 and about 60 minutes, and typically between about 6 and about 10 minutes. The reaction is easily identified by transforming the mixture into a solid granular mass. After further agitation, the mass is further transformed into a free flowing granular material which, after being transferred from the reaction vessel, can be easily processed into freely flowing particles. The calcium salt product of the present invention can also be prepared from fatty acid containing materials with higher glyceride content by the saponification processes described by the patent application of E.U.A. Common property and co-pending No. 10 / 716,292 filed on November 18, 2003, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. The products according to one aspect of the present invention will have from about 40 to about 65% by weight based on the weight of the total product of trans fatty acids and one or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 fatty acids, fatty acids. C18: 3, omega-3 fatty acids of C20-C22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-C22. Particularly preferred products have a total fatty acid content of about 80 to about 85% by weight based on the weight of the total product. The trans fatty acids are present in an amount between about 25 and about 55% by weight based on the weight of the total product in combination with between about 5 and about 20% by weight based on the total product weight of one. or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, C20-C22 omega-3 fatty acids, and C20-C22 omega-6 fatty acids. A trans fatty acid content between about 30 and about 50% by weight based on the weight of the total product is more preferred, the content between 35 and about 45% by weight based on the total product weight being preferred. The products according to another aspect of the present invention will have from about 10 to about 40% by weight of CLA of the weight of the total product and one or more fatty acids selected from the non-conjugated C18: 2 fatty acids, C18 fatty acid: 3, omega-3 fatty acids of C20-C22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-C22. Particularly preferred products also have a total fatty acid content of about 80 to about 85% by weight based on the weight of the total product. Between about 7.5 and about 15% by weight based on the total product weight of one or more fatty acids selected from C18: 2 fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, C20-C22 omega-3 fatty acids, and fatty acids omega-6 of C20-C22 are preferred, with between about 10 and about 12.5% by weight being preferred based on the weight of the total product. The preferred amount of CLA is also between about 7.5 and about 15% by weight based on the total product weight, with between about 10 and about 12.5% by weight being preferred based on the weight of the total product. Preferred CLA isomers include, 12 and 9,11 isomers, specific examples of which include the trans 10, trans 12 isomers; trans 10; cis 12; cis 10; trans 12; cis 10, cis 12; trans 9, trans 11; trans 9, cis 11; cis 9, trans 11 and cis 9, cis 11. The trans fatty acid isomers that have utility as food supplements for cattle include C18: 1 isomers such as trans-9 octadecenoic acid. Preferred omega-3 fatty acids include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and linoleic acid (LNA). Preferred omega-6 fatty acids include arachidonic acid and linoleic acid. A biologically active material can be included as an optional ingredient in the process of the invention. The term "biologically active material" means any substance capable of being administered orally in a food composition. The preferred biologically active materials are susceptible to inactivation in the rumen by microbes and digestive juices, and are thus protected therefrom by incorporation into calcium salts of the fatty acid of the present invention. The biologically active material can be selected from a wide variety of nutrients and medications, either as a single component or a mixture of components, which are illustrated by the following list of active molecular species: 1. Sugars and complex carbohydrates that include both soluble monosaccharides in water as insoluble in water, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Particularly preferred carbohydrates include cane molasses and sugar beet byproducts. 2. Amino acid ingredients, either individually or in combination, which include arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, ethyl tyrosine HCl, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, sodium glutamate , potassium glutamate, glycine, proline, serine, ethyl cystine HCl, and the like; and analogs and salts thereof. 3. Vitamin ingredients, either individually or in combination, include thiamine HC1, riboflavin, pyridoxine HCI, niacin, inositol, choline chloride, calcium pantothenate, biotin, folic acid, ascorbic acid, vitamin B, p-acid aminobenzoic acid, vitamin A acetate, vitamin K, vitamin B, vitamin E and the like. 4. Trace element ingredients, either individually or in combination, include compounds of cobalt, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, tin, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, iodine, chlorine, silicon, vanadium, selenium, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. 5. Protein ingredients obtained from sources such as cottonseed meal, soybean meal, colsa seed meal, sunflower seed meal, canola meal, safflower meal, dehydrated alfalfa, wheat gluten meal, wheat flour concentrate, soy protein, potato protein, fish meal, protein isolates from poultry and fish, crab protein concentrate, powdered or liquid egg, whey, egg albumin, casein, fish solubles, cell cream, waste beer and the like. 6. Medicament ingredients, either individually or in combination, which include promazine hydrochloride, chlormedmonate acetate, chlorotetracycline, sulfamethazine, monensin, sodium monensin, poloxalm, oxytetracycline, BOVATEC, and the like. 7. Antioxidants, including butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, tertiary butylhydroquinone, tocopherols, propylgalate and ethoxyquin, and preservatives, including sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, propionic acid, oc-hydroxybutylene acid, and the like. The biologically active material is present at a level of up to about 20% by weight relative to the fatty acid. The non-degraded food supplements in the calcium salt rumen of the unsaturated fatty acid of the present invention can conveniently be fed to a ruminant mixed with a conventional ruminant feed. Feeds are typically edible plant materials by ruminants, such as leguminous hay, grass hay, corn silage, grass silage, leguminous silage, corn grain, oats, barley, distiller grain, beer grain, soybean meal and cottonseed meal. There is no particular lower limit of calcium salt to be added to the ruminant feed, although in practice, the calcium salt amounts below about 0.2% of the dry solids content of the feed are too low to provide benefits important Although the calcium salts of the present invention can be used as rumen inert food supplements for ruminants such as cattle, the calcium salts are also generally useful as a nutritional supplement for humans and other mammals, including companion animals such as dogs and cats, and non-mammals including birds and fish. Calcium salt supplements of beneficial unsaturated fatty acid calcium can also be fed to livestock to produce meat, dairy and poultry products enriched with calcium salt fatty acids. For this reason the calcium salts of the present invention can be used as nutritional supplements for humans, other mammals, and non-mammals, including birds and fish. Thus, the methods according to the present invention add an effective amount of calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acid of the present invention to a food product including pet food products such as cat food and dog food. Effective amounts include amounts that will provide a food product with a beneficial unsaturated fatty acid content between about 0.05 and about 1.5% by weight. A beneficial unsaturated fatty acid content between about 0.1% and about 0.5% by weight is preferred. The "beneficial" unsaturated fatty acids are defined as the unsaturated fatty acids of the present invention that have a nutritional or therapeutic effect in the animal intended to consume the product. For example, trans fatty acids are beneficial for ruminants, but not humans. Therefore, the present invention includes food supplements for ruminants containing trans fatty acids, but nutritional supplements intended for humans may not contain trans fatty acids. The present invention in this manner includes food products containing the beneficial unsaturated fatty acid calcium salts of the present invention within the described ranges, including pet food products such as cat food and dog food. Cat food and dog food include dry, semi-moist and moist dog and cat food prepared by conventionally conventional conventional formulating methods that incorporate conventional pet food ingredients. The calcium salts of omega-3 fatty acid of the present invention, and particularly those containing one or more omega-3 fatty acids selected from DHA. EPA and LNA may be used in fertility improvement methods described in U.S. Patent No. 6,576,667, which are incorporated herein by reference. The following non-limiting example illustrates certain aspects of the invention. All parts and percentages are by weight, and all temperatures are in degrees Celsius.

EXAMPLE 6. 2 kg of calcium oxide were added to a vertical mixer with Cowles-type mixing blades containing 35.46 kg of a mixture of free fatty acids from a combination of soybean oil (hydrogenated to provide a trans fatty acid content of 60%). % by weight) mixed with safflower oil. The respective amounts of the two oils were selected to provide 60% by weight of the total product of trans fatty acid and C18: 2 fatty acid in a 70:30 ratio of C18.1 trans fatty acid to C18: 2 fatty acid. The oils had a concentration of 95% by weight of free fatty acid. The total unsaturated fatty acid content was 90% or by weight. Before adding calcium oxide, the oil mixture was heated to a temperature of 60 ° C. After the calcium oxide was uniformly dispersed, 4.8 kg of water was added, and the temperature of the mixture rose to 120 ° C. Stirring continued until a homogeneous, uniform mixture was obtained, which was emptied from the container into a tray, where the reaction was terminated and the product was cooled. The milling of the finished product produced a free-flowing granule that was not powdery with a total fat content of about 83% by weight. The present invention thus provides a method whereby the rumen-protected fatty acid calcium salts high in unsaturated fatty acid content can be prepared in a familiar form for and accepted by the dairy and cattle industry for complementation of livestock diets to improve the fertility of cows. The above examples and description of the preferred embodiment should be taken as illustrative, rather than limiting of the present invention as defined by the claims. As will be readily appreciated, numerous variations and combinations of features set forth above can be used without departing from the present invention as set forth in the claims. Said variations are not contemplated as a deviation from the spirit and scope of the invention, and said modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (21)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A calcium salt of free-flowing unsaturated fatty acid comprising a content of fatty acid consisting essentially of (a) from about 40 to about 95% by weight of unsaturated C 16 -C 22 fatty acids; (b) from about 5 to about 60% by weight of saturated C 14 -C 22 fatty acids; and (c) not more than about 6% by weight moisture, insoluble, and unsaponifiable; with no more than about 20% by weight in the form of glycerides; wherein from about 40 to about 65% by weight of the total product weight consists of trans fatty acids and one or more fatty acids selected from the group consisting of C18: 2 fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, 3 of C20-22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-22.

2. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that said trans fatty acids are present in an amount between about 25 and about 55% by weight of the weight of the total product.

3. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises from about 5 to about 20% by weight of one or more fatty acids selected from the group consisting of C18: 2 fatty acids, acids C18 fatty acids: 3, omega-3 fatty acids of C20-22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-22.

4. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises one or more C18: 2 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of CLA, C18: 2 omega-3 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. 6 C18: 2.

5. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises one or both of DHA and EPA.

6. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises one or more fatty acids C18: 3.

7. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises one or more omega-6 fatty acids.

8. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises from about 0.1 to about 1.5 equivalents of calcium hydroxide with respect to the content of fatty acid.

9. A nutritional supplement composition comprising the calcium salt of fatty acid of claim 1.

10. A pet food product comprising the calcium salt of fatty acid of claim 1.

11. - A calcium salt of free-flowing unsaturated fatty acid comprising a content of fatty acid consisting essentially of (a) from about 40 to about 95% by weight of unsaturated C 16-22 fatty acids; (b) from about 5 to about 60% by weight of saturated C 14 -C 22 fatty acids; and (c) not more than about 6% by weight of moisture, insolubie and unsaponifiable; with no more than about 20% by weight being in the form of glycerides; wherein from about 10 to about 65% by weight of the total product weight consists of CLA and one or more fatty acids selected from the group consisting of non-conjugated C18: 2 fatty acids, C18: 3 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids 3 of C20-C22 and omega-6 of C20-C22.

12. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that said CLA are present in an amount between 7.5 and about 40% by weight of the weight of the total product.

13. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that it comprises between about 7.5 and about 15% by weight of one or more fatty acids selected from the group consisting of non-conjugated C18: 2 fatty acids , C18: 3 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids of C20-C22 and omega-6 fatty acids of C20-C22.

14. - The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that it comprises one or more non-conjugated C18: 2 fatty acids selected from the group consisting of C18: 2 omega-3 fatty acids and C18: 2 omega-6 fatty acids.

15. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that it comprises one or both of DHA and EPA.

16. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that it comprises one or more fatty acids C18: 3.

17. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that it comprises one or more omega-6 fatty acids.

18. The calcium salt of fatty acid according to claim 11, further characterized in that it comprises from about 0.1 to about 1.5 equivalents of calcium hydroxide with respect to the content of fatty acid.

19. A composition of nutritional supplement comprising the calcium salt of fatty acid of claim 11.

20. The composition of the nutritional supplement according to claim 19, further characterized in that said supplement is intended for human consumption.

21. - A pet food product comprising the calcium salt of fatty acid of claim 11.