MXPA06008544A - Nutritional composiition for improving skin condition and preventing skin diseases - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the use of an ingestable composition containing L-carnitine and at least one component having an anti-oxidative activity for stimulating the lipid metabolism in the skin of an individual, which results in an improvement of the general condition of the skin in particular dry, sensible or reactive skin, and in prevention of the occurrence of skin diseases, such as dermatitis. In addition thereto, the present invention pertains also to the use of such a composition for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition or of a food, in particular a functional food or petfood product, for increasing lipid secretion in sebum, producing a protective sebum layer on the skin.

Description

NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION TO IMPROVE THE SKIN CONDITION AND PREVENT SKIN DISEASES The present invention relates to the use of an ingestible composition containing L-carnitine and- at least one component having an anti-oxidant activity to stimulate the metabolism of lipid in the skin of an individual, which leads to to an improvement of the general condition of the skin, in particular in a dry, sensitive or reactive skin, and in the prevention of the appearance of skin diseases, such as dermatitis. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of such a composition for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition or of a food, in particular a functional food. The skin is the most important organ of the body and serves as a protective shield against environmental influences, such as temperature or physical behavior. The skin also helps regulate body temperature, stores water and fat and prevents the entry of pathogens into the body. Daily life in our industrial society has a detrimental impact on the skin in that environmental factors, such as pollution, or stress in the profession that affect skin conditions, which over time lead to deterioration of the condition of the skin and eventually its performance. In general, to avoid deterioration or even to improve the skin condition and / or performance, two methods are known. The first method is to apply topical formulations directly on the skin, such as creams, ointments or lotions, which may prove effective under certain circumstances. However, these formulations suffer from the disadvantage that the symptoms are treated instead of being the basis of the causes of the deterioration or the disease in the skin. A second method for improving skin conditions includes administration of ingestible compositions designed to act within the body. Several such compositions have been proposed in the art, which, however, frequently contain materials from expensive and unusual items of animal or plant origin. The Jackson Laboratory (USA) has reported that a reduction in fat content in the diet can lead to a reduction in the incidence of a specific skin disease, such as dermatitis in certain strains of mice. The reduction of fat content in the diet, however, only delayed skin disease and did not suppress ulcerative dermatitis. In addition, many of these compositions were concentrated in individuals of a specific age, for example, both young individuals and adults, or only women, and are not suitable for long-term consumption due to the ingredients they contain. In view of the drawbacks of the prior art, the problem of the present invention resides in providing a nutritional composition, which can be used for long-term consumption, and which provides relief to all individuals regardless of their age and / or gender. by improving the condition of the skin and / or by preventing skin diseases. This problem has been solved by the use of an ingestible composition containing a mixture of L-carnitine - at least one compound having an anti-oxidant activity, to stimulate the metabolism of lipid in the skin of an individual. During the work of intensive research oriented to the consequences of varying the caloric supplement to individuals of different ages, the present invention surprisingly pointed out that among the various diets administered, one of these diets surprisingly stimulated lipid metabolism and provided, as a consequence , a protective effect on the condition of the skin (for example, dry, sensitive or reactive skin) while also assisting in the prevention of skin diseases, in particular ulcerative dermatitis. Based on these findings, subsequent studies have been conducted, which lead to the identification of the essential ingredients, which produce the observed effects. Even more surprisingly, this beneficial effect could be observed when a relatively high fat diet was delivered, which is essentially contrary to the general understanding in the art, in the sense that, a significant improvement of the skin condition can be obtained by the reduction of the fat content in the diet of the individuals. This trait seems to be rather favorable, since the normal diet in Western societies contains a high amount of fat. Lipid metabolism stimulates activity as observed when the ingestible composition is used and may be accompanied by an increase in lipids in the sebum. These effects can lead to an overall improvement of the skin condition and prevent the onset / incidence of a skin disease, such as dermatitis, in particular ulcerative dermatitis, ulcer associated with diabetes, disturbance of the circulation, mechanical trauma , noxious agent or physical, chemical or microbial eczema. The ingestible composition is also intended for the reduction of itching. Additionally, when the present composition is used, an improvement of the skin condition of individuals, who have a decreasing lipid secretion in sebum, one of the several causes frequently referred to as "dry skin" or "sensitive skin" can be observed. " The term "ingestible composition", as used in the present application, comprises any composition that is acceptable from the nutritional point of view. The term "improving the condition of the skin and preventing skin diseases" includes not only the improvement of skin conditions and the prevention of skin diseases, but also a balance of the process that occurs in the dermis. . A nutritional composition according to the present invention stimulates lipid metabolism and in particular increases the secretion of lipid in tallow, and thus helps to produce a protective sebum layer of the skin. As is well known, sebum is a complex mixture of fats, cells, free acids, whose mixture is secreted by the sebaceous glands and protects the skin from external influences. Without wishing to be limited to any theory, it can be assumed, therefore, that in order to increase the lipid secretion in sebum, several different and interactive metabolic processes have to be influenced in the body. The term "L-carnitine" as used in the present application comprises both, the amino acid L-carnitine as occurs naturally, as well as also acyl derivatives of L-carnitine, such as, for example, the acetyl derivative of L -carnitine or L-carnitine propionyl. Such compounds can be isolated from natural sources, or they can be chemically synthesized. The naturally-occurring amino acid L-carnitine is the preferred ingredient. The term "component having an anti-oxidant activity" or "anti-oxidant component" comprises any food-acceptable component having an anti-oxidant activity, such as vitamin C, vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) ) and derivatives thereof, such as, for example, vitamin E acetate, carotenoids (carotenes, lycopenes, lutein, zeaxanthin), ubiquinones (for example CoQlO), tea catechin (for example, epigallocatechin gállate), coffee extracts containing polyphenols and / or diterpenes (eg, kawheol and cafestol), ginkgo biloba extract, grapes or grape seed extracts rich in proanthocyanidins, spice extracts (eg, rosemary), soy extracts containing isoflavones, phytoestrogens, compounds that favor the defense of antioxidant cells (for example, ursodeoxycholic acid for increased glutathione S-transferase, ursolic acid for increased catalase, ginseng and gingenosides for increased superoxide dismutase and a natural source of IGS themselves, such as herbal medicines), compounds that are sources of thiols , such as, for example, lipoic acid, cysteine, cystine, methionine, S-adenosyl-methionine, taurine, glutathione, natural sources thereof, or compounds that promote their biosynthesis in vivo, as well as mixtures of anti-oxidant components , such as, for example, mixtures of the anti-oxidant components mentioned above. The amount of L-carnitine to be administered daily to an individual is at least 1 mg per kilo of body weight per day, and is preferably in the range from 1 mg to lg per kilo of body weight per day, and more preferably in the range from 5 mg to 250 mg per kilo of body weight per day. Especially for humans, L-carnitine can be chosen in an amount of 7 to 70 mg per kilo of body weight per day, in particular 29 to 31 mg per kilo of body weight per day. For pets, such as dogs and cats, L-carnitine can be chosen in an amount of 21 to 210 mg per kilo of body weight per day, in particular from 19 to 21 mg per kilo of body weight per day. In the case of Iqs derived from L-carnitine, the corresponding amounts are varied based on the molecular weight of the compound. A complete nutritional composition of a food for a human or mammal in essentially dry form may comprise, for example, 1800 to 2200 ppm (parts per million) of L-carnitine or a derivative thereof, more preferably up to 750 ppm of L-carnitine. carnitine or a derivative thereof, preferably from 510 to 750 ppm of L-carnitine or a derivative thereof.

Nutritional compositions comprising an amount of the anti-oxidant component or components, in an amount of, for example, at least 0.025 mg per kilo of body weight per day, preferably from 0.025 mg to 250 mg per kilo of body weight per day, They provide good results. An example for a combination of anti-oxidant components is for example, a combination of vitamin E (or derivatives thereof) with at least one additional anti-oxidant component, preferably an anti-oxidant component having a higher water solubility in comparison with vitamin E, such as a combination of vitamin E and at least one, preferably two or three of the antioxidant components selected from the group consisting of vitamin C or derivatives thereof, grape seed extract, and cysteine An example for vitamin E or a derivative thereof for use in a nutritional composition according to the present invention is for example, alpha-tocopheryl acetate, in particular the configuration (all rae), which is commercially available. Vitamin E or said derivative, may be present in an amount corresponding to 2 to 6 times, preferably 4.5 to 5.5 times recommended as the daily dose by AFFCO. Without wishing to be limited to any theory, sebum seems to be the main physiological route for the secretion of vitamin E in human facial skin and it is assumed that the vitamin E supplement can act as a protection against lipid oxidation, in particular in tallow. '? < • 'Vitamin C can be chosen in an amount of ia 4 times the amount of vitamin E, preferably 1.5 to 3 times the amount of vitamin E, more preferably 1.7 to 2.3 times the amount of vitamin E, more preferably 2 times the amount of vitamin E. An example for vitamin C or a derivative thereof for use in a nutritional composition according to the present invention is, for example, the stabilized vitamin C commercially available through Roche. An example for extracts of grape or grape seeds rich in proanthocyanidins for use in a nutritional composition according to the present invention are proanthocyanidin extracts from Grape seeds (GSPE) comprising monomers and polymers of catechins and tannins, which are commercially available for example, under the name of Grapemax (Burgundy Botanical extract) or Gravinol (Kikkoman). Grapemax contains, for example, 25% of catechins, 45% of oligomeres (2 to 6) and 35% of tannins. The GSPE can be included for example, in an amount of 0.02 to 100 mg per kilo of body weight, more preferably 2.5 to 40 mg per kilo of body weight as a daily dose in a nutritional composition according to the present invention. Especially for humans of 2.5 to 10 mg of GSPE per kilo of body weight, and especially for pets, for example, cats and dogs, 7.5 to 30 mg per kilo of body weight can be used as a daily dose. The nutritional compositions wherein the molar ratio of L-carnitine and / or acyl derivatives thereof with respect to the anti-oxidant component (s), ie, the amount of L-carnitine and / or derivatives thereof in [mol] ) / amount of anti-oxidant components in [mol]) is in the range of 2: 1 to 100: 1, more preferably in the range of 4: 1 to 50: 1, more preferably in the range of 5: 1 and 10: 1 provide, in particular, good properties. The term "fat source" as used in the present application comprises any fat or fats and / or oil or oils acceptable from a food standpoint regardless of their consistency at room temperature, ie, regardless of whether said "source" of fat "is present in essentially fluid form, such as, for example *, soybean oil, or in an essentially solid form such as, for example, sebum. Thus, in the context of the present invention the term "fats" and "oils" may be used in an interchangeable form. The term "unsaturated fatty acids" as used herein comprises monounsaturated fatty acids, ie, fatty acids having a C-C double bond, as well as fatty acids having more than one C-C double bond. The nutritional compositions according to the present invention may comprise fats of animal and / or vegetable origin. For example, vegetable oils such as corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, olive oil, borage oil, black currant seed oil, peanut oil may be used. , rice bran oil, and animal oils, such as tallow, in particular beef tallow, and fish oil. More preferably, the fat source may comprise unsaturated fatty acids, or is enriched with a fat comprising unsaturated fatty acids. The source of fat (both in its natural form or after enrichment) can comprise at least 30% by weight of unsaturated fatty acids (including the unsaturated fatty acids attached as glycerin esters, free unsaturated fatty acids, or unsaturated fatty acids bound together. any other form) each based on the total content of fatty acids present in said fat source. The source of fat may also comprise essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and linoleic acid) and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as gamma linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentanoic acid, and docosahexanoic acid. Fish oils are a suitable source of eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, while borage oil, black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil are adequate sources of gamma linoleic acid. Rapeseed oil, soybean oil, flaxseed oil and common nut oil are adequate sources of alpha-linoleic acid. Safflower oils, sunflower oils, corn oils, and soybean oils are suitable sources of linoleic acid. Olive oil, rapeseed oil (canola) of highly oleic safflower and sunflower, peanut oil, rice bran oil are suitable sources of monounsaturated fatty acids. Preferred fats that can form the basis for a source of fat and can be used for the preparation of a nutritional composition according to the present invention are tallow, in particular tallow of beef and soybean oil. In particular, said fat source may also comprise fatty acids belonging to the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid family, and in particular alpha-linoleic acid. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, for example, alpha-linoleic acid is considered as a precursor substance in the metabolism of mammals for the formation of eicosapentanoic acid, prostaglandins of series 3 and leukotrienes of series 5 and is supposed to provide beneficial effects on the human body and on human skin. In a preferred embodiment, if the fat source used for the preparation of a nutritional composition according to the present invention is soybean oil, then the composition may comprise at least 1% by weight, and up to about 7% by weight of fatty acids in the formula n-3, for example. Advantageously, said n-3 fatty acids are present in a weight ratio of (fatty acids n-6), a (fatty acids n-3) from 3: 1 to 10: 1, more preferably from 4: 1 to 8. :1. If necessary, different animal or vegetable oils can be combined in order to obtain a desired composition of the fat source, for example, fats rich in n-3 fatty acids can be added to the fat or fat composition that has a lower content of n-3 fatty acids. Depending on the formulation intended for the nutritional composition, the fat content may vary. In the case of a nutritional formula intended to provide a complete meal or snack or in the case of a nutritional supplement to be consumed with the food having a relatively low fat content, the nutritional composition may comprise up to 40% by weight, preferably from 6 to 25% by weight, more preferably from 10 to 12% by weight of a fat source based on the total weight of the nutritional composition. In the case of u? Nutritional supplement intended for consumption with a 1 nutrition having a relatively high fat content, the nutritional composition may comprise said fat source in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of the nutritional composition. The nutritional composition according to the present invention can be further supplemented with a source of carbohydrate that is nutritionally acceptable and / or a source of protein, amino acids, and / or peptides. For example, the carbohydrate source can be flour, grains or starches, for example, rice, barley, sorghum, millet, oats > corn. Sugars can also be used, in particular the di and oligosaccharides, such as, for example, sucrose, glucose and corn syrups. Additionally, appropriate fibers can be added. The amount of carbohydrates provided by the carbohydrate source can be selected as desired. For example, the food may contain up to about 65% by weight of carbohydrates, more preferably 45 to 60% by weight of carbohydrates, based on the total weight of the nutritional composition. Suitable protein sources for the nutritional composition according to the present invention may be selected from a suitable animal or vegetable protein source, eg, muscle or skeletal meat, bone meal and food, chicken meal, fish meal, milk proteins, corn gluten, wheat gluten, soybean meal, soy protein concentrates, isolated soy protein, egg protein, dietary proteins, such as whey, casein, gluten and the like. The amount of protein, peptides, and amino acids (without considering the amount of L-carnitine) can be selected as desired. For example, the nutritional composition may contain from about 12% by weight to about 70% by weight of protein based on the total dry weight of the composition. The choice of sources of carbohydrates, protein, peptide, amino acids can be selected based on the nutritional needs of your consumer, pleasant taste considerations, and the type of product produced. Furthermore, various other ingredients, for example, salts, spices, condiments, vitamins, minerals, flavoring agents, gums, prebiotics and probiotic microorganisms can also be incorporated into the nutritional composition as desired. Prebiotics can be provided in an appropriate manner. For example, the prebiotic can be provided in the form of a plant material, which contains the prebiotic. Suitable plant materials are for example, asparagus, artichokes, onions, wheat, yacon or chicory, or residues of these plant materials. Alternatively, the prebiotic can be provided as an inulin extract or its hydrolysis products commonly known as fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides or oligo-derivatives of starch. Chicory extracts are particularly suitable. The maximum level of prebiotic in the nutritional composition is preferably about 20% by weight, especially about 10% by weight. For example, the prebiotic can comprise about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the nutritional composition. For the nutritional composition using chicory co or the prebiotic, the chicory can be included to comprise about 0.5% by weight to about 10% by weight of the nutritional composition, more preferably about 1% by weight to about 5%. in weight, each based on the dry weight of the total composition.

The probiotic microorganism can be selected from one or more microorganisms suitable for human consumption and / or for consumption by mammals and which is capable of improving the microbial balance in the intestine. Examples of suitable probiotic microorganisms include yeasts such as Saccharomyces, Deharomyces, Candida, Pichia and Torulopsis, molds such as Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Mucor, and Penicillium and Torulopsis and bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Fusobacterium, Melissococcus, Propionibacterium, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Staphylococcus, Peptostrepococcus, Bacillus, Pediococcus, Micrococcus, Leuconostoc, Weissella, Aerococcus, Oenococcus and Lactobacillus. Specific examples of suitable probiotic microorganisms are: Saccharomyces cereviseae, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis', Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium infanti ?, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus alimentarius, Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei,. Lactobacillus casei Shirota, Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus delbruckii subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus farciminus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lactobacillus GG), Lactobacillus sake, Lactococcus lactis, Micrococcus varians, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus halophilus, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Staphylococcus carnosus, and Staphylococcus xylosus. The probiotic microorganisms can be in powder, in dry form, especially in the form of a spore for microorganisms that form spores. In addition, if desired, the probiotic microorganism can be encapsulated to further increase the feasibility of survival, for example, in a sugar matrix, a fat matrix or a polysaccharide matrix. If a probiotic microorganism is used, the nutritional composition preferably contains about 10 to about 10 10 cells of the probiotic microorganisms per gram of the nutritional composition, more preferably about 10 6 to about 10 8 cells of the probiotic microorganism per gram. The nutritional composition may contain about 0.5% by weight to about 20% by weight of the mixture of the probiotic microorganism, preferably about 1% by weight "to about 6% by weight, eg, about 3% by weight. to about 6% by weight, each based on the dry weight of the total composition.One or more food-grade emulsifiers can be incorporated into the nutritional composition, if desired, for example, monocyclic diacetyl tartaric acid esters. and di-glycerides, lecithin and mono- and di-glycerides Similarly, salts and stabilizers may be included The nutritional composition can be used in humans and / or mammals, in particular pets, such as cats and dogs, and will be adapted to the specific nutritional requirements of the respective target mammal, said composition can be administered to the respective individual as a supplement to the normal diet or as a component of a nutritional food. Complete nutrition The food composition can also be a nutritionally balanced and complete food. In one embodiment, the nutritionally complete food or pet food can be prepared. The nutritionally complete food or pet food can be in a suitable form, for example, in a dry form, in semi-moist form or in wet form, it can be a pet food product stable to storage or refrigerated. Pet foods can be produced in a conventional manner Apart from the nutritional composition according to the present invention, these foods or pet foods can include any of one or more sources of carbohydrates, a source of protein and a source of lipids. For dry food or dry pet food an adequate procedure is extrusion cooking, although baking and other suitable processes can be used.When pet food is cooked by extrusion, dry pet food is usually provided in The shape of a shredded .If a prebiotic is used, the prebiotic can be mixed with other ingredients. ntes of dry food or pet food before processing. A suitable method is described, for example, in the patent application EP A 0850 569. If a probiotic microorganism is used, the organism is coated or filled into the dry pet food. A suitable process is described in the patent application EP A 0862863.

For moist food or wet pet food, the procedure described in US Patent 4,781,939 and US 5, 132, 137 can be used. It can be used to produce simulated meat products. Other methods for producing chunk-like products can be used, for example, by cooking in a steam oven. Alternatively, bar-like products can be produced by emulsifying a suitable meat material to produce a meat emulsion, adding a suitable gelling agent, and heating the meat emulsion before filling in the cans or other containers. The nutritional compositions for human consumption can be for example, a complete nutritional formula, a dairy product, a chilled beverage or storage, a soup, a dietary supplement, a meal replacement, and a nutritional bar or a confection. The nutritional composition can be administrable in whole, for example, in the form of a powder, a concentrated liquid, or a ready-to-drink beverage. If it is desired to produce a powdered nutritional formula, the homogenized mixture is transferred to a suitable drying apparatus such as a spray dryer or a lyophilizer and converted to powder. Additionally, a usual food product, such as for example, a fermented milk, a yogurt, a fresh cheese, a curdled milk, a confectionery bar, breakfast cereal in flakes or bars, beverages, milk powder-., Products with soy-based, non-fermented milk products) nutritional supplements for clinical nutrition can also be enriched with a nutritional composition according to the present invention. Preferably, the amount of food composition to be consumed by humans and / or mammals to obtain a beneficial effect will depend on their size, type, and age and should be chosen in accordance with general knowledge in the art by a person. expert The nutritional composition according to the present invention can be expected to be highly accepted by consumers as it provides a beneficial effect on the skin without requiring a restriction of the fat content of the diet. In this way, the present invention overcomes a prejudice present in the art, since previously it has been assumed that such effects can be achieved only on the basis of a diet relatively low in fat. It should be appreciated that the components of the nutritional composition according to the present invention provide therein a synergistic activity that exceeds and / or is different from the activity of the respective component when used alone. The following examples are given by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the subject matter of the present application. All percentages are given by weight unless otherwise indicated. These are preceded by a brief description of the figure. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the lipid amounts in the tallow of the hair measured by HPLC, in diets supplied A to E to male C57BL / 6J mice as described in example 1 and a diet F. Tallow lipids They were grouped into 3 classes: Cholesterol + diglycerides and in triglycerides and cholesterol and wax esters.

Example 1 Observations in a murine model Study design and diets Male C57BL / 6J mice were obtained from Iffa credo (France) at 9 weeks of age. When the mice arrived, they were housed in groups of 6 animals. After 3 weeks of adaptation, the mice (12 weeks old) were randomly distributed into 5 groups (Á to E) of 1-2 mice each and housed individually. The mice had free access to the water and were subjected to 12-hour cycles of light and dark. Dietary intervention in adult mice occurred at 3 months feeding from 12 to 15 months of age. The intervention Dietary in old mice was a diet of 21 to 24 months or a long-term diet of about 21 months (from 3 to 24 months of age). All groups of animals were fed at will (Ad libidum) except for the group of mice restricted in calories which were fed with 67% of the daily food consumed by the control group at will. The weight of the animals was weighted once a week. The control diet (diet A) composed of 18% protein (soy and milk serum), 11% fat (soybean oil), 59% carbohydrates (starch + sucrose) and 10% cellulose was supplemented with either a cocktail of antioxidants comprising vitamin C, vitamin E, uva seed extract and cysteine (diet C) and / or L-carnitine (diet D and: -E respectively). For caloric restriction (diet B) fat, starch and sucrose were reduced to provide 67% of the daily caloric intake of the control group at will while providing 100% protein, minerals and vitamins. These diets are as follows: Diet A Control: 18% protein (soy and milk serum), 11% fat, 59% carbohydrate, 5% cellulose; 'AL Control Diet: long-term administration of Diet A over 24 months; Diet B Caloric restriction: 18% of proteins (soy and milk serum), 7.7% of fat, 32.5% of carbohydrates, 5% of cellulose; BL Control Diet: long-term administration of the Diet B over 24 months; Diet C Antioxidant cocktail: Diet A + 0.19% vitamin C, 0.03% vitamin E: 0.075% grape seed extract, 0.4% cysteine; Diet D: Diet A + 0.3% L-carnitine + antioxidant cocktail of diet C; Diet DL Control: long-term administration of Diet D over 24 months; Diet E: Diet A. + 0.3% L-carnitine; Diet F: Diet A + 0.3% L-carnitine. As mentioned above, the study as described in the present invention was among all originally aimed at determining the effects of caloric restrictions on the mortality of mice, for which purpose Diet B was administered to animals. It has been noted that one of the dietary comparative diets D had a protective activity with respect to the inflammatory diseases of the skin and helped to prevent dermatitis, in particular ulcerative dermatitis, and increased lipid secretion in the sebum.

Ulcerative dermatitis in C57BL / 6J Overeating, alopecia and dermatitis are characteristic of C57BL / 6J mice, inbred and can occur as early as 2-4 months of age. Table 1 shows below the incidence of dermatitis in the various diets groups. Table 1 The mice that received the diet comprising a composition according to the present invention (Diet D) had a significantly lower incidence of dermatitis than in the other diet groups. Many of the mice belonging to the control group (AL group) developed in the half-life (12 to 18 months of age) ulcerative dermatitis that leads to extensive skin damage, skin infections and significant weight loss. In particular, mice with the control diet experienced a high incidence of mortality due to skin disorders. The mice fed the control diet were more prone to skin disorders than the mice belonging to the other diet groups. There were few skin lesions in the DL and BL groups at the end of the study (2 for BL, 2 for DL). In this way, a diet with caloric restriction (B, BL) and diet D (DL, D) seem to have a protective effect. Additionally, in the present study it has been noted that mice of control group A developed dermatitis at 12 months of age, that is, later than those previously reported by Jackson Laboratory (USA). Thus, the control diet, in itself, seems to provide a protective factor, and additional studies indicated that this protective factor corresponds to the relatively high content of alpha-linoleic acid in the soybean oil that has been administered during the study. The - Table 2 shows the content of alpha linoleic acid and linoleic acid of soybean oil compared to corn oil.

Table 2 Results superior to standard diets with respect to the stimulation of lipid metabolism were also obtained when a diet comprising L-carnitine and two of the following anti-oxidants were used: vitamin C, vitamin E, grape seed extract and cysteine .

Example 2: Lipid measurements in the sebum of hair in adult and old mice Lipids in the sebum of the hair of the mice C57BL / 6J of Example 1, fed with diets A, B, C, D and E as described in Example 1, were measured by HPLC. The tallow lipids were grouped into 3 classes: (1) polar lipids: diglycerides, fatty acid and cholesterol (2) triglycerides and (3) non-polar lipids: cholesterol and wax esters. Lipid measurements in the sebum of hair in adult mice (15 months of age). The results shown in Tables 3 and 4 show that the total amount of lipids in the tallow of hair, non-polar lipids (cholesterol and wax esters) and polar lipids (diglycerides and fatty acids) were increased in adult mice fed with diet D (Table 3, gray box). The lipid balance, however, was not significantly modified in diet D (Table 4, light box). On the contrary, the mice fed with caloric restriction had a significantly reduced amount of the total lipids, as well as of the non-polar lipids and triglycerides in the tallow (Table 3, gray box). In addition, the lipid balance was modified in the calorically restricted mice (Table 4, light box) with a decrease in the proportion of triglycerides and an increase in the proportion of polar lipids.

Amount of total lipids in the sebum (in the gray box) and lipid balance. (in the clear box) of adult mice fed with different diets as in example 1.

The values are expressed as micrograms of lipids per milligrams of hair.

Table 4 Statistical analysis of total lipids and lipid balance in the sebum of adult mice. Significantly different values of the control are indicated by * with a p < 0.05. NS = not significant. Measurements of the lipid in the sebum of hair in old mice (24 months): Tables 5 and 6 represent the results of dietary supplementation as established in example 1 for old mice. The amount of total lipid in the tallow of the hair of the mice fed the diets C, D and E was significantly increased, contrary to the mice restricted in calories, which show a total decrease in the lipid of the sebum of the hair. The lipid balance was modified in the B, BL, C and D diets in a similar manner, with an increased proportion of cholesterol and wax esters and a decreasing proportion of cholesterol, diglycerides and lipid fatty acid classes. In addition, short-term caloric restriction shows a decrease in triglycerides as observed in adult mice.

Table 5 The amount of lipid in the tallow of the hair (in the gray box) and the lipid balance (clear locker) of old mice of 24 months. BL and DL represent long-term feeding of mice with diet B and D respectively.

Statistical analysis of total lipids and lipid balance in the sebum of the hair of old mice. Values significantly different from the control values * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, NS = not significant.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS 1. Use of L-carnitine and at least one component, characterized in that it has an anti-oxidant activity to make an ingestible composition for the stimulation of lipid metabolism in the skin of an animal or of a human being for treatment of dermatitis .
2. 2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that it increases the secretion of lipid in the sebum and / or to produce a protective layer of sebum in the skin.
3. 3. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that for the treatment of ulcerative dermatitis.
4. 4. Use of L-carnitine and at least one component, characterized in that it has an anti-oxidant activity for the preparation of a medicament for the stimulation of lipid metabolism in the skin of an animal or a human being to prevent the onset or incidence of ulcers associated with diabetes, disturbance of circulation, noxious agent or physical, chemical or microbial eczema, such medication being an ingestible composition.
5. 5. Use of L-carnitine and at least one component, characterized in that it has an anti-oxidant activity for the preparation of a medicament for the stimulation of lipid metabolism in the skin of an animal or a human being being for a reduction of the itching and improving a condition of skin dryness or sensitive skin condition, such medication being an ingestible composition.
6. 6. Use of L-carnitine and at least one component, characterized in that it has an anti-oxidant activity to manufacture an ingestible composition for the stimulation of lipid metabolism in the skin of an animal or a human being, such stimulation of the metabolism of lipid comprising an increase in lipid secretion in tallow.
7. 7. Use according to claim 4, 5 and 6, characterized in that it produces a protective sebum layer on the skin.
8. 8. Use according to one of claim 4, 5, 6 and 7, characterized in that it reduces the dryness of the skin or itching.
9. 9. Use according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component exhibiting an anti-oxidant activity is selected from the group consisting of vitamin E; vitamin C; carotenoids; ubiquinones; Tea catechins; coffee extracts containing polyphenols and / or diterpenes; ginkgo biloba extract; extracts of seeds of grapes or grapes rich in proanthocyanidins; spice extracts; soy extracts containing isoflavones, phytoestrogens; ursodeoxycholic acid, ursolic acid; ginseng and gingenosides and natural sources thereof; a source of thiols, preferably lipoic acid, cysteine, cystine, methionine, S-adenosyl-methionine, taurine, glutathione or natural sources thereof; or mixtures of these.
10. 10. Use according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount of L-carnitine administered daily is from 1 mg to 1 g per kg of body weight / day, preferably from 5 mg to 250 mg per kilo of weight body / day
11. 11. Use according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount of the component having an anti-oxidant activity is from 0.025 mg to 250 mg per kilo of body weight / day.
12. 12. Use according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ingestible composition contains a source of fat, which comprises unsaturated fatty acids or is enriched with unsaturated fatty acids.
13. 13. Use according to claim 12, characterized in that the unsaturated fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid.
14. 14. Use according to any of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the source of fat is selected from the group consisting of an animal fat, preferably tallow or fish oil, more preferably tallow of beef, or a vegetable fat, preferably corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, rape seed oil, soybean oil, olive oil, borage oil, black currant seed oil.
15. 15, Use according to claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the amount of said fat sources in the composition is at least 0.1% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
16. 16. Use according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ingestible composition is a medicine, a food or a functional food, a nutritionally complete food for pets or humans or a dietary supplement.
17. 17. Use of L-carnitine and at least one component, characterized in that it has an anti-oxidant activity and is selected from the group consisting of ubiquinones; Tea catechins; coffee extracts containing polyphenols and / or diterpenes; ginkgo biloba extract; extracts of seeds of grapes or grapes rich in proanthocyanidins; spice extracts; soy extracts containing isoflavones, phytoestrogens; ursodeoxycholic acid, ursolic acid; ginseng and gingenosides and natural sources thereof; cysteine, cystine, methionine, S-adenosyl-methionine, taurine, or natural sources thereof; or mixtures of these; or by being selected from the group of vitamin E mixtures or derivatives thereof with two or three of vitamin C or derivatives thereof; grape seed extract; and cysteine, to make an ingestible composition.
18. 18. Ingetable composition characterized in that it is selected from a medicament, a food, a functional food, a nutritionally complete food for pets or humans, and a dietitian comprising L-carnitine and at least one component having an anti-inflammatory activity. -oxidant and is selected from the group consisting of ubiquinones; Tea catechins; coffee extracts containing polyphenols and / or diterpenes; ginkgo biloba extract; extracts of seeds of grapes or grapes rich in proanthocyanidins; spice extracts; soy extracts containing isoflavones, phytoestrogens; ursodeoxycholic acid, ursolic acid; ginseng and gingenosides and natural sources thereof; cysteine, cystine, methionine, S-adenosyl-methionine, taurine, or natural sources thereof; or mixtures of these; or by being selected from the group of vitamin E mixtures or derivatives thereof with two or three of vitamin C or derivatives thereof; grape seed extract; and cysteine.