WO2013148688A1 - Pea protein containing nutritional compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

This present disclosure a nutritional composition in which the protein component comprises from about 1% to about 50% by weight intact pea protein. In a particular embodiment, intact pea protein provides from about 5% to about 25% of the protein component, a milk protein concentrate provides from about 50% to about 65% of the protein component, and a soy protein isolate provides from about 5% to about 35% of the protein component.

Description

PEA PROTEIN CONTAINING NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This disclosure claims priority to and any other benefit of U.S. provisional patent applications serial no. 61/615,624, filed March 26, 2012, and entitled INTACT PEA PROTEIN- CONTAINING NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE, and serial no. 61/615,644, filed March 26, 2012, and entitled NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING INTACT PEA PROTEIN AND METHODS OF USING THE NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS, filed March 26, 2012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Nutrition shakes, i.e., liquid nutritional compositions having the consistency, flavor and overall desirable sensory characteristics of common every-day milk shakes, are widely-available consumer products. Examples include the Ensure^®, Glucerna^®, Myoplex^® and Pediasure^® line of nutrition shakes available from Abbott Nutrition of Columbus, Ohio, the Muscle Milk^® line of nutrition shakes available from CytoSport, Inc. of Benicia, California, and the Resource^® line of health shakes available from Nestle, S.A. of Vevey, Switzerland. Generally, they contain balanced amounts of macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) as well as micronutrients and flavorings, and are made up in the form of oil-in-water emulsions having the consistency of common every-day milk shakes.

[0003] To reduce costs, vegetable proteins may be used as part of the protein component of such compositions. Soy protein is especially preferred, due to its relatively low cost, agreeable texture and faint flavor. However, experience has shown that the amount of vegetable protein in such compositions, as a percentage of total protein, should be limited to a maximum of about 30 wt.%, even if soy protein is used. This is because both flavor and stability, both short term stability and long term (shelf) stability, begin to suffer at higher concentrations. [0004] To reduce costs even further, recently published WO 2010/126362 Al to Hofman et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, indicates that a portion of the protein in certain nutritional compositions can be replaced by pea protein, which is even less expensive than soy protein. Specifically, this application indicates that pea protein can be used as a viable protein source in certain nutritional compositions provided that (a) the pea protein is provided in the form of intact pea protein, (b) the composition being made contains a second intact vegetable protein, and (c) the total amount of intact vegetable protein in the composition, including the intact pea protein, represents >25 to 80 wt.% of the entire amount of protein in the composition.

[0005] Pea protein has been used for years as a partial protein source in liquid nutritional compositions. See, the background section of the '362 published application. However, pea protein is well known to exhibit adverse effects on the desirable properties an oral nutritional composition must exhibit to be commercially successful such as short term stability, long term stability and especially the hedonic properties of flavor, texture, mouth feel, odor, overall liking and so forth. Accordingly, the challenge in using intact pea protein to reduce the cost of making a commercial nutrition shake is not merely replacing a portion of its existing protein content with intact pea protein, but rather doing so in a way which does not adversely affect its other desirable properties including flavor, texture, viscosity, mouthfeel, odor, overall liking, short term stability, long term stability, and so forth.

[0006] The '362 published application mentioned above does not address these issues, since its clear focus is on nutritional compositions which are designed to provide complete nutrition to patients by long term tube feeding. For this purpose, the specific disclosure of this application goes on to say that the animal protein content of its composition should be composed of a mixture of casein and whey protein in which the amount of whey protein is at least as much as and preferably more than the amount of casein. In particular, the specific disclosure indicates that, to achieve a composition in which the combined amount of pea and other vegetable proteins represent 40 wt.% of total protein, the animal protein in the composition should be composed of 35 wt.%) whey protein and only 25 wt.% casein based on total protein content. In other words, the weight ratio of whey protein to casein needs to be 35/25 = 1.4. This means that significant amounts of additional whey protein, typically in the form of whey protein concentrate (WPC) or whey protein isolate (WPI), need to be added to achieve this requirement, since the natural distribution of milk proteins in milk is about 20 wt% whey protein and 80 wt.% casein.

[0007] While this approach may have merit in connection with nutritional compositions administered by tube feeding, it has no relevance to oral nutrition shakes which must have desirable hedonic properties to be commercially successful. Furthermore, whey protein is more expensive than other types of milk proteins, and much more expensive than pea and other vegetable proteins. Therefore, using large amounts of whey protein as taught by this reference defeats the underlying purpose of using pea protein to reduce costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the present disclosure, it has been found that a significant portion of the intact soy protein in a nutrition shake containing both intact soy protein and milk proteins can be replaced by intact pea protein, without adversely affecting its desirable properties, even though the composition contains little or no added whey protein. That is to say, it has been found that it is not necessary to increase the whey protein/casein protein ratio in such nutritional shakes to levels far above those found in nature (20/80) to enable replacement of a significant portion of the intact soy protein without adverse effect.

[0009] Rather, it has been found that such a replacement can be made without adverse effect, even though the nutrition shake contains no added whey protein, provided that in these compositions (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents about 32 to 55 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amount of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 40 to 68 wt.% of total protein, and (d) at least 80 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a natural milk protein concentrate (MPC), i.e., a milk protein concentrate containing about 70 to 90 wt.% milk proteins and a natural distribution of whey protein and casein {i.e., a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 30:70).

[0010] Accordingly, in one embodiment, is provided a nutritional composition comprising a protein component in an amount of from about 1.0% to about 20% by weight, a carbohydrate component in an amount of from about 5.0% to about 65% by weight, and a fat component in an amount of from about 1.0% to about 20% by weight, wherein the protein component comprises from about 1% to about 50% by weight intact pea protein and further wherein the composition achieves an overall liking score which is essentially as good as or even better than an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein when subjected to a standard hedonic test.

[0011] In particular examples of this embodiment, the nutritional composition is formulated from intact pea protein in combination with milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate, and further wherein the intact pea protein provides form about 5% to about 25% of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides from about 50% to about 65% of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides from about 5% to about 35% of the protein component.

[0012] In another embodiment, this invention provides an improved nutrition shake having a viscosity of 80 cps or less at 20° C and a grain factor of < 2, the nutrition shake comprising protein, carbohydrates and fat, wherein the ratio of whey protein to casein in the nutrition shake is 0.375:1 or less, and further wherein the proteins in the nutrition shake are selected so that that, in this composition, (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents about 32 to 55 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amount of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 40 to 68 wt.% of total protein, and (d) at least 80 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a natural milk protein concentrate (MPC) containing about 70 to 90 wt.% milk proteins and a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 30:70.

[0013] In specific examples of this embodiment, this invention provides an improved nutrition shake having a viscosity of 80 cps or less at 20° C and a grain factor of < 2, the nutrition shake comprising protein, carbohydrates and fat, wherein the ratio of whey protein to casein in the nutrition shake is 0.375 : 1 or less, and further wherein the proteins in the nutrition shake are selected so that that, in this composition, (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents about 38 to 52 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amount of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 48 to 62 wt.% of total protein, and (d) at least 90 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a natural milk protein concentrate containing about 75 to 85 wt.% protein and a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80.

[0014] In more specific examples of this embodiment, the pea protein in the inventive nutrition shake is supplied in the form of a pea protein concentrate (PPC) containing 78 to 90 wt.% pea protein, while the soy protein in the inventive protein shake is supplied in the form of a concentrated soy protein product (CSPP) containing 60 to 90 wt.% soy proteins. In these embodiments, the amount of pea protein concentrate used represents 25 to 70 wt.% of the total amount of pea protein concentrate and concentrated soy protein product used to form the inventive nutrition shakes, while the amount of milk protein concentrate plus added casein (if any) used represents about 50 to 65 wt.% of the total amount of milk protein concentrate, casein, pea protein concentrate and concentrated soy protein product used to form these nutrition shakes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] This invention may be more readily understood by reference to the drawings wherein:

[0016] Fig. 1 is a ternary diagram illustrating the preferred formulations for one type of nutritional composition made in accordance with this invention; and

[0017] Figs. 2-8 are charts illustrating the results obtained when certain nutritional compositions of this invention were subjected to hedonic testing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

[0018] For the purposes of this document, the following terms have the following meanings unless context dictates otherwise:

[0019] "Aseptic packaging" refers to the manufacture of a packaged product without reliance upon the above-described retort packaging step, wherein the liquid nutritional composition and package are sterilized separately prior to filling, and then are combined under sterilized or aseptic processing conditions to form a sterilized, aseptically packaged, liquid nutritional product.

[0020] "Fat" and "oil" as used herein are used interchangeably to refer to lipid materials derived or processed from plants or animals. These terms also include synthetic lipid materials so long as such synthetic materials are suitable for oral administration to humans. As well known, such materials are normally composed of mixtures of fatty acid triglycerides, which mixtures may also contain fatty acid diglycerides and monoglycerides and even some free fatty acids.

[0021] "Intact protein" refers to a protein which is unhydrolyzed. [0022] "Intact protein source" or "source of intact protein" refers to a source of proteins which has not been subjected to a specific treatment whose primary purpose is to hydro lyze unhydrolyzed proteins.

[0023] "Retort packaging" and "retort sterilizing" are used interchangeably herein and refer to the common practice of filling a container, most typically a metal can or other similar package, with a liquid nutritional composition and then subjecting the liquid-filled package to the necessary heat sterilization step to form a sterilized, retort packaged, liquid nutritional product.

[0024] "Shelf stable" refers to a liquid nutritional composition that remains commercially stable after being packaged and then stored at 18-24° C for at least 3 months.

[0025] "Total protein" in connection with the amount of protein in a particular composition means all the protein in that composition.

[0026] All percentages, parts and ratios as used herein, are by weight of the total composition, unless otherwise specified. All such weights as they pertain to listed ingredients are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include solvents or by-products that may be included in commercially available materials, unless otherwise specified.

[0027] All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present disclosure shall include the corresponding plural characteristic or limitation, and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

[0028] All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

[0029] The compositions of this disclosure may also be substantially free of any optional or selected ingredient or feature described herein.. In this context, "substantially free" means that the selected nutritional composition contains less than a functional amount of the optional ingredient, typically less than 1%, including less than 0.5%, including less than 0.1 %, and also including zero percent, by weight of such optional or selected ingredient.

[0030] In addition, the compositions of this disclosure may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements, as described herein.

Macronutrient Balance [0031] The present invention can be used to make many different types of nutrition shakes, including those especially formulated for promoting muscle growth, those especially formulated to provide balanced nutritional supplements for normal adults, those especially formulated for diabetic adults and those formulated especially for children (e.g. , ages 1 to 6) both as supplements as well as sole source foodstuffs. Broadly speaking, these nutrition shakes when in a ready to feed condition contain protein in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 20% by weight, carbohydrate in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 35% by weight, and fat in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight, with the particular balance of these macronutrients depending on the specific purpose for which a particular shake is formulated.

[0032] Thus, such compositions when in a ready to use condition typically contain concentrations of these macronutrients as set forth in the following Tables 1 to 4, with the percentages shown being based on the entire weight of each composition:

Table 1

Nutrition Shakes-Muscle Building Formulations

Macronutrient Breakdown

Table 2

Nutrition Shakes-Balanced Adult Supplement

Macronutrient Breakdown

Table 3

Supplement for Diabetics

Macronutrient Breakdown, wt.%

Table 4

Nutrition Shakes-Children's Drink

Macronutrient Breakdown

Carbohydrates

[0033] Any carbohydrate or source thereof that is suitable for use in oral nutritional products and is compatible with the other ingredients of the inventive compositions can be used as the carbohydrate of the inventive nutrition shakes. Specific examples include maltodextrin (and specifically low DE Maltodextrin such as DE10 maltodextrin), corn maltodextrin, sucromalt, maltitol, maltitol powder, glycerine, glucose polymers, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, rice-derived carbohydrates (e.g., tapioca dextrin), isomaltulose, sucrose, extra fine white sugar, glucose, fructose, lactose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar alcohols (e.g., maltitol, erythritol, sorbitol), artificial sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium), natural sweeteners (e.g., stevia, monk fruit), high potency potientiators, fructooligosaccharides, soy fiber, corn fiber, guar gum, konjac flour, poly dextrose, Fibersol, and combinations thereof.

[0034] Normally, the carbohydrate component of the inventive nutritional compositions will contain both starches and sugars. If so, the amount of sugar in nutritional compositions especially formulated for promoting muscle growth in adults may desirably represent about 1% to about 20%, about 3% to about 10%>, or even about 4% to about 8%, by weight, of the total amount of carbohydrates in the composition. Similarly, the amount of sugar in nutritional compositions especially formulated to provide balanced nutritional supplements for normal adults, as well as for diabetic adults, may desirably represent about 10%> to about 35%, about 15%) to about 30%o, or even about 20% to about 25%, by weight, of the total amount of carbohydrates in the composition. In addition, the amount of sugar in nutritional compositions especially formulated for children (e.g., ages 1 to 16), both as supplements as well as sole source foodstuffs, may desirably represent about 30% to about 70%, about 40%> to about 65%, or even about 50% to about 60%, by weight, of the total amount of carbohydrates in the composition. Fat

[0035] Any fat or source thereof that is suitable for use in oral nutritional products and is compatible with the other ingredients of the inventive compositions can be used as the fat of the inventive nutrition shakes. Desirably, a fat source will provide at least one long chain polyunsaturated acid (LC-PUFA) such as DHA, ARA, and/or EPA, although these LC-PUFAs may be optionally added to the nutritional compositions outside of, or in addition to, the fat source.

[0036] Non-limiting examples of suitable fats or sources thereof for use in the nutrition shakes of this invention include coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil, soy oil, corn oil, olive oil, safflower oil, high oleic safflower oil, MCT oil (medium chain triglycerides), sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil, palm and palm kernel oils, palm olein, canola oil, marine oils, cottonseed oils, and combinations thereof.

Intact Pea Protein

[0037] In accordance with this invention, the inventive nutrition shakes contain a substantial amount of intact pea protein. In this context, "intact" in connection with a protein means that the protein is unhydrolyzed. In contrast, "intact" in connection with a protein source means that the protein source has not been subjected to a treatment whose primary purpose is to hydrolyze unhydrolyzed proteins, even though it may contain a significant amount of hydrolyzed proteins.

[0038] In this regard, it is conventional in this industry to refer to a protein source which has been subjected a treatment whose primary purpose is to hydrolyze unhydrolyzed proteins as a source of hydrolyzed proteins, e.g., "hydrolyzed pea protein concentrate." In contrast, when a protein source has not been subjected to such a treatment, it is conventional practice to refer to this product as a source of unhydrolyzed or intact proteins, or more commonly to say nothing about the hydrolysis of its proteins, even though a significant amount of the proteins therein may be in hydrolyzed form. For example, referring to a "pea protein concentrate," without more, connotes that that this source has not been subjected to a treatment whose primary purpose is to hydrolyze its unhydrolyzed proteins, even though it is well known that as many as 50% of the proteins in this source may be in hydrolyzed form. [0039] This conventional practice is followed in this disclosure. So, for example, reference to a milk protein concentrate (MPC), pea protein concentrate (PPC) or soy protein isolate (SPI) in this disclosure connotes that this protein source has not been subjected to a treatment whose primary purpose is to hydrolyze the unhydrolyzed proteins therein, even though it may contain a significant amount of hydrolyzed proteins due to naturally occurring phenomena. In contrast, reference to a protein (as opposed to a protein source) which is intact means that the protein itself is unhydrolyzed.

[0040] As indicated above, the inventive nutrition shakes contain a substantial amount of intact pea protein. Particularly suitable intact pea proteins for use in these shakes include intact pea proteins derived from pisum sativum. Intact pea proteins derived from other species of peas, including green peas, cowpeas, chickpeas and field peas, can also be used.

[0041] Intact pea protein is commercially available in the form of pea protein concentrates (PPC) and pea protein isolates (PPI). For the purposes of this disclosure, PPC will be understood to refer to concentrated pea protein products containing 60 to 90 wt.% pea protein. Meanwhile, PPI will be understood to refer to a PPC which contains 80 to 90 wt.% pea protein. These PPCs and PPIs typically exhibit one or more of the following attributes: (1) poured bulk density, as measured by gravimetry, of about 0.4 Kg/L; (2) a pH in a 10% solution of water of about 7; (3) a residue on a 70 mesh screen as measured by sieving of a maximum of 10%> by weight; (4) a carbohydrate concentration of about 3 grams per 100 grams of intact pea protein; (5) a fat concentration of about 6 grams per 100 grams of intact pea protein; and/or (6) an ash concentration of about 4 grams per 100 grams of intact pea protein.

[0042] One suitable commercially available intact pea protein concentrate that can be used to make the nutritional compositions of this disclosure and which is based on pisum sativum is NUTRALYS® F85F pea protein isolate (about 83% by weight intact pea protein), available from Pvoquette Freres, Lestrem France. Another source for intact pea protein based on pisum sativum is Cosucra Groupe Warcoing of Warcoing, Belgium.

Concentrated Soy Protein Product

[0043] In addition to intact pea protein, the inventive nutrition shakes also contain a substantial amount of intact soy protein.

[0044] Soy protein is a vegetable protein that contains most essential amino acids in a relatively high proportion. Soy protein can be divided into different categories according to its production method. For the purposes of this disclosure, "soy protein concentrate" (SPC) will be understood to be a generic term referring to products which are basically soybean without the water soluble carbohydrates and which contain about 60 to 90 wt.% or more soy protein. More commonly, these products contain 60 to 85 wt.% soy protein, and even more typically 70 to 80 wt.%) soy protein. Meanwhile, "soy protein isolate" (SPI) will be understood to mean a type of SPC which contains about 85 to 90 wt.% protein. SPI is the most refined form of soy protein and is mainly used in meat products to improve texture and eating quality. Textured soy protein (TSP) is made from soy protein concentrate by giving it some texture. TSP is available as dry flakes or chunks. It will keep its structure when hydrated. Hydrated textured soy protein chunks have a texture similar to ground beef. It can be used as a meat replacement or can be added to meat. Textured soy protein contains about 70 wt.% protein.

[0045] Any of these concentration soy protein products can be used to provide the intact soy protein of the inventive nutrition shakes. Soy protein concentrates and isolates containing about 70 to 87 wt.% protein are preferred.

[0046] Several soy protein sources are readily available to the skilled person, for example, from The Solae Company of St. Louis, Mo., USA, and the Arthur Daniels Midland Company of Decatur, Illinois, USA.

[0047] In addition to intact pea protein and intact soy protein, the inventive nutrition shakes can also contain other vegetable proteins, both intact and hydrolyzed, examples of which include wheat protein, rice protein and corn protein. If so, the amount of these additional vegetable proteins preferably represent < 20 wt.%, more preferably < 10 wt.%, or even < 5 wt.%, of the total amount of vegetable protein in the inventive nutrition shakes. Nutrition shakes containing no additional vegetable proteins are especially interesting.

Milk Protein

[0048] The inventive nutrition shakes also contain a substantial amount of milk protein.

[0049] Milk proteins that are useful in this invention can be obtained from the milk of many different mammals including cows, sheep, goats, horses, buffalos, camels, etc. Milk proteins derived from cow's milk are preferred due to availability and cost.

[0050] There are two basic types of milk proteins, casein and whey. They naturally occur in a weight ratio of about 20 wt.% whey and 80 wt.% casein in the milk of most mammals, including cow's milk. [0051] Milk proteins are commercially available in a variety of different forms. Examples include milk protein isolates, concentrates, casemates, whey isolates or concentrates, milk, non-fat dry milk, and condensed skim milk, all of which are useful in this invention. In some forms, the natural distribution of whey and casein is preserved. In other forms, the whey or the casein is concentrated relative to the other.

[0052] Whey protein is commercially available as liquid whey or in powder form as whey protein isolate (WPI) or whey protein concentrate (WPC). All have an elevated whey protein/casein ratio relative to whole milk. WPC is normally produced by membrane filtration. It is rich in whey proteins, but also contains other components such as fat, lactose and glycomacroprotein (GMP), a casein-related non-globular protein. In contrast, WPI consists primarily of whey proteins with minimal amounts of fat and lactose. WPI usually requires a more rigorous separation process such as a combination of microfiltration and ultra-filtration or ion exchange chromatography. It is generally understood that WPI refers to a mixture in which at least 90 weight % of the solids are whey proteins. A WPC is understood as having a percentage of whey proteins between the initial amount in the by-product (about 12 weight %) and a WPI. In particular, sweet whey, obtained as a by-product in the manufacturing of cheese, acid whey, obtained as a by-product in the manufacturing of acid casein, native whey, obtained by milk microfiltration or rennet whey, obtained as a by-product in the manufacturing of rennet casein, may be used alone or in combination as source of globular whey proteins.

[0053] Casein separates from milk when milk is curdled, a process commonly carried out in the manufacturing of cheese, and is commonly called caseinate, having lost its typical micellar

2+ "

structure. Casein is most commonly bound to calcium (Ca ) and sodium (Na ) since all of these

+ 2+

ions are found naturally in milk, or even potassium (K ) or magnesium (Mg ), and tend to stick to the casein during the extraction process. Nutritionally, these compounds are basically interchangeable, as all forms of casein are effective protein sources. Micellar casein refers to casein in the form of native micelles. It is a high quality milk protein and naturally occurring in milk in a concentration of about 2.6 g/100 ml. It is concentrated by a process that does not, or does not substantially denature the casein proteins and it is marketed as Micellar Casein Isolate (MCI). Fresh skim milk is subjected to a microfiltration process, in much the same process used to concentrate whey protein, to produce a pure, substantially undenaturated milk protein with its native structure. The resulting material contains between 90% and 95%, preferably more than 95% by weight of micellar casein, the rest mainly being whey protein and other non-protein nitrogen and other constituents, such as lactose and inorganic salts, in particular calcium phosphate.

[0054] Two milk protein sources in which the natural distribution of whey and casein is essentially preserved are milk protein concentrate (MPC) and milk protein isolate (MPI). MPC and MPI are products in which a substantial amount of the water and fat in whole milk have been removed. MPIs are further characterized in that a significant portion of the lactose has also been removed. As a result, the concentration of milk proteins in an MPI is normally greater than that found in a typical MPC, although this is not always the case.

[0055] For the purposes of this disclosure, therefore, MPC will be understood to be a generic term, which includes MPI as a specie thereof. Thus, MPC will be understood to refer to a milk protein product in which greater than 55% of the non-fat solids in the product are milk proteins, with the ratio of whey proteins to casein in the product being between 2:98 and 50:50. More commonly, more than 75 wt.% of the non-fat solids in the product are milk proteins, with the ratio of casein to whey proteins to casein being between 10:90 and 30:70, even most typically between 10:90 and 20:80.

[0056] Milk protein isolates (MPIs) will be understood to mean a type of MCP in which at least 85 wt.% of the non-fat solids in the product are milk proteins, the lactose content is 5 wt.%) or less, the fat content is less than 3 wt.%, the ash content is 8 wt.% or less, and the water content is less than 6 wt.%. Commercially available MPIs typically contain about 85-90 wt.% (or more) protein, about 2-5 wt.% lactose, minimal fat (i.e., 1-3 wt.%) and about 5-6 wt.% water.

[0057] In accordance with embodiments of this invention, a conventional milk protein concentrate (MPC), i.e., milk protein concentrate containing about 70 to 90 wt.% milk proteins and a natural distribution of whey and casein (i.e. whey protein/casein ratios between about 10:90 and 30:70), is used to supply most or even all of the milk proteins in the inventive nutrition shakes. Preferably, the natural milk protein concentrate contains about 75 to 85 wt.% protein and has a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80. These milk protein sources are preferred, because they are relatively inexpensive, readily available, have a preferred flavor profile, and exhibit a beneficial effect on product stability. In addition, they already exhibits a natural distribution of whey protein and casein, e.g., about 20/80 on a weight basis. [0058] Finally, it should be appreciated that sources of hydrolyzed proteins can also be used to supply some of the proteins in the inventive nutrition shakes. If so, the type and amount of such hydrolyzed protein sources should be such that the amount of hydrolyzed proteins in the inventive nutrition shakes ultimately obtained is < 30 wt.%, more commonly < 20 wt.%, < 10 wt.%, or even < 5 wt.%, of total protein.

Free Amino Acids

[0059] In addition to the above proteins, the inventive nutrition shakes can also contain free amino acids, if desired. Examples include L-arginine, L-cysteine, L-glutamine, L-leucine, L-proline, valine, isoleucine, and L-tryptophan. Particularly suitable free amino acids include L- arginine and L-glutamine. Desirable branched chain amino acids include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. leucine, isoleucine, glutamine, arginine and the like.

[0060] These free amino acids may also be present in salt form (e.g., L-arginine hydrochloride), peptide -bound form (e.g., L-alanyl-L-glutamine), and protein-bound form (e.g., bovine beta-lactoglobulin, which includes 2/85 wt% arginine, 7.18 wt% glutamine and 15.76 wt% leucine). Although all of these forms are suitable and within the scope of this invention, the free form is particularly suitable as it is the most concentrated and the addition rate of the free acids into the nutritional composition can be easily controlled.

[0061] The total amounts of these free amino acids in the inventive nutrition shakes should not exceed 5 grams/100 ml. More desirably, the amount of free amino acids in the inventive nutrition shakes is < 2 grams/100 ml., more desirably < 1 gram/100 ml. or even < 0.5 gram/100 ml.

Optional Ingredients

[0062] The inventive nutrition shakes may further comprise other optional ingredients that may modify their physical, chemical, hedonic or processing characteristics or serve as pharmaceutical or additional nutritional components when used in the targeted population. Many such optional ingredients are known or otherwise suitable for use in other nutritional compositions and may also be used in the nutritional compositions described herein, provided that such optional ingredients are safe and effective for oral administration and are compatible with the essential and other ingredients in the selected product form.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the nutritional compositions including the intact pea protein additionally comprise HMB, and preferably calcium HMB, which means that the nutritional compositions are either formulated with the addition of calcium HMB, most typically as a monohydrate, or are otherwise prepared so as to contain HMB in the finished composition. Any source of HMB is suitable for use herein provided that the finished product contains HMB, although such a source is preferably calcium HMB and is most typically added as such to the nutritional compositions during formulation.

[0064] Although calcium HMB monohydrate is the generally preferred source of HMB for use in the nutritional compositions disclosed herein, other suitable sources may include HMB as the free acid, a salt, an anhydrous salt, an ester, a lactone, or other product forms that otherwise provide a bioavailable form of HMB from the nutritional compositions. Non- limiting examples of suitable salts of HMB for use herein include HMB salts, hydrated or anhydrous, of sodium, potassium, magnesium, chromium, calcium, or other non-toxic salt form. Calcium HMB monohydrate is preferred and is commercially available from Technical Sourcing International (TSI) of Salt Lake City, Utah.

[0065] The concentration of HMB in the nutritional compositions may range up to 20%, including from about 0.01% to about 10%>, including from about 0.01% to about 8%, and also including from about 0.08%> to about 5.0%, and also including from about 0.08%> to about 3%, and also including from about 0.1% to about 2.5%, by weight of the nutritional composition. In some specific embodiments, the nutritional compositions include about 0.38%> or about 0.71%, by weight HMB.

[0066] The nutritional compositions of the present disclosure desirably include sufficient HMB to provide an individual with from about 0.1 grams to about 10 grams, including from about 0.5 grams to about 10 grams, including from about 1 gram to about 8 grams, including from about 2 grams to about 7 grams, and also including from about 3 grams to about 6 grams, per day of HMB. In one specific embodiment, the daily intake of HMB by the individual is about 3 grams. The total daily HMB may be contained in one, two, three, or more servings of the nutritional composition.

[0067] Further non-limiting examples of optional ingredients include preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifying agents, buffers, pharmaceutical actives, additional nutrients as described herein, colorants, flavors, thickeners (e.g., induced viscosity fibers), additional stabilizers, cereal beta-glucans (barley beta-glucan), probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (DR20)), prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, inulin, oligofructose), Salacia extract, and so forth.

[0068] The inventive nutrition shakes may further comprise vitamins or related nutrients, non-limiting examples of which include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, vitamin B12, carotenoids, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin C, choline, inositol, salts, and derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

[0069] The products may further comprise minerals, non-limiting examples of which include phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, sodium, potassium, molybdenum, chromium, selenium, chloride, and combinations thereof.

[0070] The inventive nutrition shakes may also include one or more flavoring or masking agents. Suitable flavoring or masking agents include natural and artificial sweeteners, sodium sources such as sodium chloride, and hydrocolloids, and combinations thereof. Nutrition shakes which are made with vanilla, chocolate or strawberry flavoring agents, and particularly chocolate, are especially preferred.

[0071] The inventive nutrition shakes may also include fish oil masking agents to mask "fishy" type flavors/aroma notes that commonly occur with the presence of fish/marine oil. For example, in some embodiments, the inventive nutrition shakes may include the lipid-amylose complex described above. Specifically, the combination of monoglycerides and low DE glucose polymers, such as DE-1 maltodextrin, form a lipid-amylose complex that can bind to oxidation products such as the fatty acid chain of aldehydes or ketones formed during oxidation of marine oils.

Methods of Manufacture

[0072] The inventive nutrition shakes may be manufactured by any known or otherwise suitable method. They may either be suitably sterilized by aseptic sterilization or by retort sterilization. The inventive nutrition shakes may be prepared, for example, by any of the well known methods of formulating nutritional liquids by way of retort, aseptic packaging, or hot fill processing methods. Such methods are well known in the nutrition formulation and manufacturing arts.

[0073] In one suitable manufacturing process, for example, at least three separate slurries are prepared, including a protein-in-fat (PIF) slurry, a carbohydrate-mineral (CHO-MIN) slurry, and a protein-in-water (PIW) slurry. The PIF slurry is formed by heating and mixing the oil (e.g., canola oil, corn oil, etc.) and then adding an emulsifier (e.g., lecithin), fat soluble vitamins, and a portion of the total protein (e.g., intact pea protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, etc.) with continued heat and agitation. The CHO-MIN slurry is formed by adding with heated agitation to water: minerals (e.g., potassium citrate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium citrate, etc.), trace and ultra trace minerals (TM/UTM premix), thickening or suspending agent. The resulting CHO-MIN slurry is held for 10 minutes with continued heat and agitation before adding additional minerals (e.g., potassium chloride, magnesium carbonate, potassium iodide, etc.), and/or carbohydrates (e.g., HMOs, fructooligosaccharide, sucrose, corn syrup, etc.). The PIW slurry is then formed by mixing with heat and agitation the remaining protein, if any.

[0074] The resulting slurries are then blended together with heated agitation and the pH adjusted to 6.6-7.0, after which the composition is subjected to high-temperature short-time (HTST) processing during which the composition is heat treated, emulsified and homogenized, and then allowed to cool. Water soluble vitamins and ascorbic acid are added, the pH is adjusted to the desired range if necessary, flavors are added, and water is added to achieve the desired total solid level. The composition is then aseptically packaged to form an aseptically packaged nutritional emulsion. This emulsion can then be further diluted, heat-treated, and packaged to form a ready-to-feed or concentrated liquid.

Desirable Properties

[0075] The existing nutrition shakes this invention is intended to improve are commercially attractive because they exhibit a combination of desirable properties including flavor, odor, viscosity, texture, short term stability, long term (shelf) stability and cost. Some of these properties like viscosity, short term stability and long term stability are objective in nature and can be measured by suitable objective analytical tests. Other of these properties such as flavor, odor and texture are more subjective in nature. Nonetheless, they still can be objectively measured by means of art-recognized hedonic or other testing.

[0076] In accordance with this invention, a significant portion of the soy or other vegetable protein in existing nutrition shakes that already exhibit a favorable combination of hedonic and other properties is replaced by intact pea protein in a manner which (1) preserves these desirable properties, (2) enables the total amount of vegetable proteins in the composition to be increased to 40 wt.% or more, and (3) is accomplished without increasing the whey protein content of the compositions being modified in any significant way. In particular, in accordance with this invention, a substantial portion of the existing protein in these existing nutrition shakes is replaced with intact pea protein in a manner which reduces their overall cost of manufacture, preferably by as much as 1.5 φ per 8 ounce serving (1.5 U.S. cents per 236.6 ml), while simultaneously retaining a viscosity of < 80 cps at 20°C, a graininess factor of < 2 and an overall likeability of > 6, all without increasing the whey protein content of the compositions being modified in any significant way. The net result is that the cost of manufacturing these products can be significantly reduced without compromising their commercial attractiveness and without increasing their whey protein content.

[0077] Viscosity is a well known property of liquid compositions. The viscosities of the inventive nutrition shakes can be easily determined using a Brookfield viscometer, No. 1 Spindle. In accordance with this invention, the inventive nutrition shakes are formulated to have essentially the same viscosities as the commercial shakes being modified by the technology of this invention. A few of these commercial nutrition shakes have viscosities as high as 80 cps at 20°C. Most, however, have viscosities of < 50 cps, at 20°C. Accordingly, the inventive shakes are normally formulated in such a way that they exhibit viscosities of < 80 cps at 20°C, more commonly < 50 cps, < 40 cps, or even < 30 cps, at 20°C.

[0078] When proteins from different sources are included in the same nutritional composition, they tend to agglomerate over time. When a nutrition shake is used, this agglomeration manifests itself as small, distinct grains or particles which deposit on the side of a glass from which the nutrition shake is poured. To measure the degree or extent to which this phenomenon occurs, an analytical test has been developed in which a solid 1/16 inch diameter wire is formed into a loop measuring 1 inch in diameter. The loop is then dipped into the sample to be tested to form a flat film of product across the loop. The loop is then held up to a light source and visually rated for amount of protein particles present in the film, using a rating scale of 1 (best) to 6 (worst). In accordance with this invention, the inventive nutrition shakes are formulated in such a way that they exhibit a graininess factor when measured by this analytical test of < 2. Preferably, the inventive nutrition shakes exhibit a graininess factor of < 1.5, or even < 1.

[0079] Hedonic testing is a well known method of evaluating nutritional compositions for overall desirability. In a typical hedonic test, a group of subjects is asked to independently evaluate different samples for aroma, color, flavor, sweetness, thickness, mouthfeel, aftertaste, and overall liking. Each subject is then asked to rate each of these properties on the following 9 point Hedonic scale: 1 = Dislike Extremely; 5 = Neither Like or Dislike; 6 = Like Slightly; 7 = Like Slight to Moderately; 8 = Like Moderately; 9 = Like Extremely. The mean score for each property is then determined, which can provides an accurate assessment of the particular property being assessed. Depending on the number subjects used in the test, the property being assessed although subjective in nature can be objectively determined with a reasonable level of confidence. For example, in a hedonic evaluation carried out with a group of 100 subjects, the subjective properties mentioned above can be determined with a 95% confidence level.

[0080] In accordance with this invention, the inventive nutrition shakes are formulated in such a way that they exhibit an overall liking score of > 5, at a confidence level of at least 95%. In the context of this invention, this indicates that these nutrition shakes should be regarded by the vast majority of the consuming public as exhibiting a neutral overall desirability. Preferably, the inventive nutrition shakes are formulated to exhibit an overall liking score of > 6, at a confidence level of at least 95%. In the context of this invention, this means that these nutrition shakes should be regarded by the vast majority of the consuming public as being more desirable than not.

[0081] As indicated above, the purpose of this invention is to provide a method for reducing manufacturing costs of commercially-attractive nutrition shakes without adversely affecting their other desirable properties. This is illustrated more thoroughly in the following working examples in which improved nutrition shakes of this invention were compared with otherwise identical commercial nutrition shakes not containing pea protein in extensive hedonic testing. In some of these comparisons, both the inventive and the commercial nutrition shakes received the same overall liking score. This reflects the fact that the inventive nutrition shakes were at least as desirable, hedonically, as the commercial shakes against which they compared. In other of these comparisons, the inventive nutrition shakes received an overall liking score which as much as one point higher than the commercial shakes. This indicates that the inventive nutrition shakes were noticeably more desirable, hedonically, than the commercial shakes against which they were compared..

[0082] Regarding cost issues, replacing some of the existing proteins found in a commercially attractive nutrition shake with intact pea protein in accordance with this invention leads to a reduction in overall manufacturing costs of as much as 1.5 φ per 8 ounce serving (1.5 U.S. cents per 236.6 ml). In some instances, depending on the particular commercial nutrition shake being modified, this reduction in cost can be > 0.20, > 0.40, > 0.60, > 0.80, > 10, > 1.20, and even > 1.40 or more, per 8 ounce serving. This reduction in cost is due in part to the fact that pea protein has been less expensive than soy protein. In addition, this result is further due to the fact that, because of the particular way the inventive nutrition shakes are formulated, the total amount of less expensive vegetable proteins (pea plus soy) in these shakes can be increased to levels as high as 40 wt.% or more of total protein without adversely affecting their desirable hedonic properties and without using excessive amounts of whey protein. This level of vegetable protein is considerably higher than found in current commercial nutrition shakes, which level is generally limited to a maximum of about 30 wt.% of total protein.

[0083] In any event, the notion that a reduction in overall manufacturing costs of as much as 1.50 per 8 ounce can be achieved by this invention is based on the assumption that the difference in cost between the pea protein source and the milk protein source used to formulate these compositions is approximately $1.40 per pound protein, while the difference in cost between the pea protein source and the soy protein source used to formulate these compositions is approximately 15 0 per pound protein.

Ingredient Proportions

[0084] In accordance with this invention, a significant portion of the existing proteins in commercially-attractive nutrition shakes is replaced with intact pea protein in a manner which reduces their overall cost of manufacture by as much as 1.4 ø per 8 ounce serving (1.4 U.S. cents per 236.6 ml) or more, while simultaneously retaining a viscosity of < 80 cps at 20°C, a graininess factor of < 2 and an overall likeability of > 5, preferably > 6. Moreover, these results are accomplished without increasing the amount of whey protein in these compositions to any significant degree, which is necessary in accordance with the technology of WO 2010/126362 Al to Hofman et al.

[0085] These advantageous results are accomplished in accordance with some embodiments of this invention by formulating the inventive nutrition shakes so that in these compositions (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents about 32 to 55 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amounts of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 40 to 68 wt.% of total protein, (d) at least 80 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a milk protein concentrate (MPC) containing about 70 to 90 wt.% milk proteins and a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 30:70, and (e) the whey protein/casein ratio in the shake is 0.375: 1 or less on a weight basis.

[0086] In some embodiments, the combined amounts of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents at least 35 wt.% of total protein, while the amount of milk protein represents no more than 65 wt.% of total protein. In other embodiments, the combined amounts of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents at least 38 wt.% of total protein, while the amount of milk protein represents no more than 62 wt.% of total protein. In still other embodiments, the combined amounts of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents at least 40 wt.% of total protein, while the amount of milk protein represents no more than 60 wt.% of total protein.

[0087] Preferably, (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents about 38 to 52 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amount of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 48 to 62 wt.% of total protein, (d) at least 90 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a milk protein concentrate containing about 75 to 85 wt.% protein and a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80, and (e) the whey protein/casein protein ratio in the shake is 0.375: 1 or less on a weight basis.

[0088] As indicated above, the primary source of milk proteins in the inventive nutrition shakes is milk protein concentrate (MPC), i.e., a product which has an average protein content of about 70 to 90 wt.% and which has a natural whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 30:70. Normally, these products are available in the form of a powder prepared by ultrafiltration Preferred milk protein concentrates have an average protein content of about 75 to 85 wt.%, and a natural whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80. MPC is a preferred source of milk protein because it is relatively inexpensive, readily available, has a preferred flavor profile, and exhibits a beneficial effect on product stability. In addition, it already exhibits a natural distribution of whey protein and casein, e.g., about 20/80 on a weight basis.

[0089] Although other sources of milk proteins can also be used in these embodiments, the total amount of these other milk protein sources is desirably < 20 wt.%, more preferably < 10 wt.%, or even < 5 wt.%, of the total amount of MPC in the composition. In some embodiments, no additional source of milk protein is used. In any event, regardless of the type and amount of additional milk protein sources used, if any, care must be taken to insure that the ratio of whey protein to casein in the inventive nutrition shakes ultimately obtained does not exceed 0.375: 1, as indicated above.

[0090] Normally, the vegetable proteins in the inventive nutrition shakes will be composed of intact pea protein and intact soy protein. However, other vegetable proteins (both intact and hydrolyzed) can also be used. If so, the total amount of these other vegetable proteins is desirably < 20 wt.%, more preferably < 10 wt.%, or even < 5 wt.%, of the total amount of vegetable protein in the inventive nutrition shakes. In some embodiments, no additional intact vegetable proteins are used, and in still other embodiments no additional vegetable proteins whether intact or hydrolyzed are used.

[0091] In certain embodiments of the invention, the pea protein in the inventive nutrition shakes is supplied in the form of a pea protein concentrate (PPC) containing 78 to 90 wt.% pea protein, the soy protein in the inventive nutrition shakes is supplied in the form of a concentrated soy protein product (CSPP) containing 70 to 90 wt.% soy proteins, and the milk protein in the inventive nutrition shakes is supplied in the form of a milk protein concentrate (MPC) having an average protein content of about 75 to 85 wt.% and a natural whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80. In these embodiments, the amount of pea protein concentrate used represents about 25 to 70 wt.% of the total amount of pea protein concentrate and concentrated soy protein product used to form the inventive nutrition shakes, while the amount of milk protein concentrate plus added casein (if any) used represents about 50 to 65 wt.% of the total amount of milk protein concentrate, casein, pea protein concentrate and concentrated soy protein product used to form these nutrition shakes.

[0092] In this regard, please see attached Fig. 1, which is a ternary diagram summarizing the amounts of certain preferred protein sources that can be used to make nutrition shakes in accordance with this invention to achieve the combination of properties mentioned above, i.e., a viscosity of < 50 cps at 20°C, a graininess factor of < 2, an overall likeability of > 6, a cost reduction of at least 1.5 φ per 8 ounce serving, and a whey protein/casein ratio of 0.375 : 1 or less. These particular protein sources are a milk protein concentrate (MPC) containing 80 wt.% milk protein, a soy protein isolate (SPI) containing 87 wt.% soy protein, and a pea protein concentrate (PPC) containing 83 wt.% pea protein.

[0093] As can be seen, this diagram identifies a region or "sweet spot" which is designated MD (Most Desirable) in the figure. By selecting the relative amounts of the above preferred protein sources to fall within this sweet spot, nutrition shakes exhibiting all of these properties can be produced.

[0094] As can further be seen from Fig. 1, sweet spot MD can be regarded as being defined by the following three coordinates: (a) 50% MPC, 13% CSPP and 37% PPC, (b) 54% MPC, 5% CSPP and 41% PPC, and (c) 62.5% MPC, 32% CSPP and 5.5% PPC. This group of coordinates, in turn, corresponds with compositions in which (a) the amount of milk protein represents about 48 to 62 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of soy protein represents about 5 to 35 wt.% of total protein, (c) the amount of pea proteins represents about 5 to 42 wt.% of total protein, and (d) the amount of pea proteins represents about 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amounts of pea protein and soy protein.

[0095] In other embodiments, the inventive nutrition shakes are formulated from intact pea protein in combination with milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate. In these embodiments, the intact pea protein provides form about 5% to about 25% of the protein component of the nutrition shake, the milk protein concentrate provides from about 50% to about 65%o of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides from about 5% to about 35% of the protein component.

[0096] In one specific example of this type, the intact pea protein is an intact pea protein concentrate and provides about 14% by weight of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides about 60% by weight of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides about 26% by weight of the protein component.

[0097] In another specific example of this type, the intact pea protein is an intact pea protein concentrate and provides about 10% by weight of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides about 65% by weight of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides about 25% by weight of the protein component.

[0098] In still another specific example of this type, the intact pea protein is an intact pea protein concentrate and provides from about 15% to about 25% by weight of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides from about 60% to about 65% by weight of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides about 15% to about 25% by weight of the protein component. WORKING EXAMPLES

[0099] In order to more thoroughly describe this invention, the following working examples are provided.

[00100] In these examples, extensive hedonic testing of nutrition shakes made in accordance with this invention was carried out across the United States. In some of these tests, three different compositions were compared with one another, a base-line or control composition and two prototype compositions made in accordance with this invention. In other tests, only one prototype representing this invention was used. The control composition for each test was an actual commercial version of the particular type of composition being tested. Thus, an Ensure^®, Ensure Plus^®, Glucerna^® or Pediasure^® brand nutrition shake available from Abbott Nutrition of Columbus, Ohio, was used to represent nutrition shakes formulated for healthy adults (Ensure^® and Ensure Plus^®), diabetic adults (Glucerna^®) and children (Pediasure^®).

[00101] The prototype compositions in each test used for representing this invention were formulated in the same way as these commercial control compositions, except that (a) the amount of milk protein in each compositions was reduced from a level of about 70 wt.% of total protein to about 60 wt.% of total protein or less and (b) pea protein was added to produce prototypes containing about 10 to 14 wt.% pea protein based on total protein (Prototype 1) and about 5 to 6 wt.% pea protein based on total protein (Prototype 2). The nutrition shakes representing this invention also correspond with the "sweet spot" of Fig. 1.

Example 1-Nutrition Shakes for Healthy Adults (Ensure^® and Ensure Plus^®)

[00102] Individual subjects who all regularly drink nutrition shakes (of any brand) and who all had graduated from high school were asked to evaluate Prototypes 1 and 2 representing this invention as well as the corresponding control commercial composition (Ensure^® or Ensure Plus^®) with respect to aroma, color, flavor, sweetness, thickness, mouthfeel, aftertaste, and overall liking in accordance with a standard hedonic test. These evaluations were carried out in New York City, Miami, Florida, and Cincinnati, Ohio by a total of 314 individual subjects, who were essentially equally divided between these cities.

[00103] In each test, each subject was given a 4 ounce serving of the product being tested chilled to 35 to 38° F. The identities of the individual products were not revealed. Each subject was then asked to rate each of the above properties on the following 9 point Hedonic scale: 1 = Dislike Extremely; 5 = Neither Like or Dislike; 6 = Like Slightly; 7 = Like Slight to Moderately; 8 = Like Moderately; 9 = Like Extremely. The mean score for each property was then determined. 189 subjects evaluated the nutrition shakes with a normal protein content (Ensure^®), while 125 subjects evaluated the nutrition shakes with an elevated protein content (Ensure Plus^®).

[00104] In every instance, the over all liking score as well as the flavor liking score received by the two prototypes representing this invention were at least as good as the overall liking score and the flavor liking score received by the control commercial composition. Moreover, in many instances, the over all liking score as well as the flavor liking score received by these two prototypes were better than the scores received by the commercial control composition.

[00105] In this regard, please see Fig. 2 which is a chart summarizing the results obtained from the hedonic test carried out comparing the chocolate flavored commercial Ensure^® nutrition shake with the corresponding nutrition shakes of this invention. These inventive shakes contained 14 wt.% and 6 wt.% pea protein, respectively, based on total protein. In particular, based on total protein, Prototype I contained 14 wt.% pea protein, 26 wt.% soy protein and 60 wt.% milk proteins, all of which had been supplied in the form of a commercially available milk protein concentrate in which the whey protein/casein ratio was 0.2/0.8. Based on total protein, Prototype II contained 6 wt.% pea protein, 26 wt.% soy protein and 68 wt.% milk proteins, all of which had been supplied in the form of a commercially available milk protein concentrate in which the whey protein/casein ratio was 0.2/0.8. In addition, the flavoring agents in Prototypes I and II were altered slightly from those of the commercial control so that the flavoring agents used in these prototypes were optimized for these particular compositions in the same way the flavoring agents in the commercial control had been optimized for its particular composition.

[00106] As can be seen from this chart, both nutrition shakes of this invention scored better than the commercial control composition by a full point. This indicates a clear preference by the consumer for these inventive nutrition shakes as compared with their commercial counterpart, even though these inventive shakes contained a substantial amount of pea protein and reduced amounts of milk protein.

[00107] Please also see Fig. 3, which is a chart summarizing the results when the same hedonic testing was done comparing the inventive nutrition shakes with the chocolate flavored commercial Ensure Plus^® nutrition shake. In particular, based on total protein, Prototype I contained 10 wt.% pea protein, 25 wt.% soy protein and 65 wt.% milk proteins, all of which had been supplied in the form of a commercially available milk protein concentrate in which the whey protein/casein ratio was 0.2/0.8. Based on total protein, Prototype II contained 5 wt.%) pea protein, 25 wt.% soy protein and 70 wt.% milk proteins, all of which had been supplied in the form of a commercially available milk protein concentrate in which the whey protein/casein ratio was 0.2/0.8. In addition, the flavoring agents in Prototypes I and II were altered slightly from those of the commercial control so that the flavoring agents used in these prototypes were optimized for these particular compositions in the same way the flavoring agents in the commercial control had been optimized for its particular composition. As can be seen, essentially the same results were obtained as shown in Fig. 2, again indicating a clear preference by the consumer for the inventive nutrition shakes as compared with their commercial counterpart.

[00108] The above evaluations were also carried out on the five other compositions also being tested, i.e., vanilla flavored Ensure^®, strawberry flavored Ensure^®, vanilla flavored Ensure Pus^®, and strawberry flavored Ensure Plus^®. In every instance, both the over all liking score and the flavor liking score received by the two prototypes representing this invention were at least as good as the scores received by the corresponding commercial control. Thus, the two prototypes can be considered to have an overall liking score that is even better than an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein when subjected to a standard hedonic test. (As used herein, the phrase otherwise identical control composition can be understood to refer to a composition that contains the same or about the same amount of overall protein, with no pea protein and having the pea protein replaced by milk protein or a combination of milk protein and soy protein.) Moreover, in most instances, the over all liking and the flavor liking scores received by the prototypes representing this invention were about 0.4 to 0.7 point better than those received by the corresponding controls. This indicates a slight yet still discernable preference for the inventive nutrition shakes relative to their conventional commercial counterparts with respect to both overall liking and flavor liking.

Example 2-Nutrition Shakes for Diabetic Adults (Glucerna^®)

[00109] Example 1 was repeated, except that (a) the testing occurred in Miami

Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Detroit, Michigan and Washington, D.C., and (b) only one prototype composition representing this invention was tested and compared with the conventional commercial control. For Example 2, the prototype composition was formulated for use with diabetic adults (and contained 14 wt% pea protein) and the conventional commercial control was a commercial version of Glucerna® (and contained no pea protein).

[00110] The results obtained were similar to that obtained in Example 1 in that, in all of these tests, the prototype representing this invention received an overall liking score and a flavor liking score which was 0.2 to 0.4 points higher than those received the conventional commercial control. This indicates a slight yet still discernable preference for the inventive nutrition shakes relative to their corresponding commercial controls. Thus, the prototype can be considered to have an overall liking score that is even better than an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein when subjected to a standard hedonic test. The results are summarized in Figures 4 to 6.

Example 3-Nutrition Shakes for Children (Pediasure^®)

[00111] Example 2 was repeated, except that (a) the testing occurred in New York

City, Miami Florida, Chicago, Illinois and Seattle, Washington., (b) 219 boys and girls ages 4 to 6 and 97 boys and girls ages 7 to 10 did the evaluations, (c) a five point hedonic scale was used rather than the nine point hedonic scale of Examples 1 and 2, and (d) a comparison between the inventive nutrition shake and a corresponding commercial control was not made for the chocolate flavored products. For Example 3, the prototype composition was formulated for use with children (and contained 14 wt% pea protein) and the conventional commercial control was a commercial version of Pediasure® (and contained no pea protein).

[00112] The results obtained in this example were somewhat different from those obtained in Examples 1 and 2. In most instances, the overall liking and flavor liking scores received by the inventive compositions were 0.1 point lower than the scores received by the controls. (The exemplary inventive composition can be considered to have an overall liking score which is essentially as good as an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein.) Moreover, in one particular comparison, i.e., the comparison by boys of the vanilla flavored products on the basis of overall liking, the score received by the inventive composition was 0.2 point lower than the control. (The exemplary inventive composition can be considered to have an overall liking score which is essentially as good as an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein.) However, the lowest score received by all of the inventive compositions was 3.8, which is significantly above the neutral score of 3.0. Accordingly, while this test may indicate a very slight preference for the commercial control composition relative to the inventive composition, at least by boys for vanilla flavored products, it also indicates that both of these compositions are far more liked than disliked in terms of overall desirability. The results are summarized in Figures 7 and 8.

[00113] From the foregoing, it can be seen that nutrition shakes at least as desirable as, and in many instances more desirable than, their commercial counterparts can be obtained even though they contain a substantial amount of pea protein and a reduced amount of milk protein relative to current commercial practice, and even though all of their milk protein is supplied by commercially available milk protein concentrates having a whey protein/casein ratio essentially the same as whole milk, about 0.2/0.8. This is especially surprising in light of WO 2010/126362 Al, which wholly fails to address hedonic properties, which expresses a clear preference for supplying its whey protein and casein components in the form of separate powders, and which teaches that substantially elevated whey protein/casein ratios of 1.0 and more are needed to accommodate vegetable protein concentrations exceeding 30% of total protein.

[00114] Although only a few embodiments have been described above, it should be appreciated that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, which is to limited only by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A nutritional composition comprising a protein component in an amount of from about 1.0% to about 20% by weight, a carbohydrate component in an amount of from about 5.0% to about 65% by weight, and a fat component in an amount of from about 1.0% to about 20%) by weight, wherein the protein component comprises from about 1% to about 50%> by weight intact pea protein and further wherein the composition achieves an overall liking score which is essentially as good as or even better than an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein when subjected to a standard hedonic test.

2. The nutritional composition of claim 1, wherein the composition achieves an overall liking score which is higher than an otherwise identical control composition made without pea protein.

3. The nutritional composition of claims 1 or 2, wherein the nutritional composition is an improved nutrition shake having a viscosity of 80 cps or less at 20° C, the nutrition shake comprising protein, carbohydrates and fat, wherein the ratio of whey protein to casein in the nutrition shake is 0.375:1 or less, and further wherein the proteins in the nutrition shake are selected so that that, in this nutrition shake, (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents 32 to 55 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amount of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 40 to 68 wt.% of total protein, and (d) at least 80 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a natural milk protein concentrate (MPC) containing about 70 to 90 wt.% milk proteins and a whey protein/casein protein ratio between about 10:90 and 30:70.

4. The nutrition shake of claim 3, wherein (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents at least about 35 wt.% of total protein, and (c) the amount of milk protein represents no more than about 65 wt.% of total protein.

5. The nutrition shake of claim 4, wherein (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents at least about 38 wt.% of total protein, and (c) the amount of milk protein represents no more than about 62 wt.% of total protein.

6. The nutrition shake of claim 5, wherein (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents at least about 40 wt.% of total protein, and (c) the amount of milk protein represents no more than about 60 wt.% of total protein.

7. The nutrition shake of claim 3, wherein the proteins in the nutrition shake are selected so that that, in this nutrition shake, (a) the combined amount of intact pea protein and intact soy protein represents about 38 to 52 wt.% of total protein, (b) the amount of intact pea protein represents 14 to 90 wt.% of the combined amount of intact soy protein and intact pea protein, (c) the amount of milk protein represents about 48 to 62 wt.% of total protein, and (d) at least 90 wt.% of the milk protein is supplied in the form of a natural milk protein concentrate containing about 75 to 83 wt.% protein and a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80.

8. The nutrition shake of any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the nutrition shake exhibits a grain factor of < 2.

9. The nutrition shake of any of claims 3 to 7, wherein the pea protein in the nutrition shake is supplied in the form of a pea protein concentrate (PPC) containing 78 to 90 wt.% pea protein, the soy protein in the nutrition shake is supplied in the form of a concentrated soy protein product (CSPP) containing 60 to 90 wt.% soy protein.

10. The nutrition shake of claim 9, wherein the amount of pea protein concentrate used to form the nutrition shake represents 25 to 70 wt.% of the combined total amount of pea protein concentrate and concentrated soy protein product used to form the nutrition shake, while the amount of milk protein concentrate plus added casein (if any) used to form the nutrition shake represents about 50 to 65 wt.% of the combined total amount of milk protein concentrate, casein (if any), pea protein concentrate and concentrated soy protein product used to form the nutrition shake.

11. The nutrition shake of claim 10, wherein the natural milk protein concentrate (MPC) used to formulate the nutrition shake contains 75 to 85 wt.% milk protein having a whey protein/casein ratio between about 10:90 and 20:80, and further wherein the relative amounts of natural milk protein concentrate (MPC), concentrated soy protein product (CSPP) and pea protein concentrate (PPC) used to formulate the nutrition shake fall within the region in Fig. 1 defined by the following coordinates: (a) 50% MPC, 13% CSPP and 37% PPC, (b) 54% MPC, 5% CSPP and 41% PPC, and (c) 62.5% MPC, 32% CSPP and 5.5% PPC.

12. The nutrition shake of any one of claims 3 to 7, 11 and 12, wherein the nutrition shake has a viscosity of 80 cps or less at 20° C.

13. The nutritional composition of claim 1, wherein the nutritional composition is formulated from intact pea protein in combination with milk protein concentrate and soy protein isolate, and further wherein the intact pea protein provides from about 5% to about 25% of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides from about 50% to about 65% of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides from about 5% to about 35% of the protein component.

14. The nutritional composition of claim 13, wherein at least 32 wt.% of the protein in the nutrition composition is provided by the intact pea protein and the soy protein isolate.

15. The nutritional composition of claim 14, wherein at least 35 wt.% of the protein in the nutrition composition is provided by the intact pea protein and the soy protein isolate.

16. The nutritional composition of claim 15, wherein at least 38 wt.% of the protein in the nutrition composition is provided by the intact pea protein and the soy protein isolate.

17. The nutritional composition of claim 5, wherein at least 40 wt.% of the protein in the nutrition composition is provided by the intact pea protein and the soy protein isolate.

18. The nutritional composition of claim 16, wherein the intact pea protein is an intact pea protein concentrate which provides about 14% by weight of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides about 60% by weight of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides about 26% by weight of the protein component.

19 The nutritional composition of claim 13, wherein the intact pea protein is an intact pea protein concentrate which provides about 10% by weight of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides about 65% by weight of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides about 25% by weight of the protein component.

20. The nutritional composition of claim 13, wherein the intact pea protein is an intact pea protein concentrate and provides from about 15% to about 25% by weight of the protein component, the milk protein concentrate provides from about 60% to about 65% by weight of the protein component, and the soy protein isolate provides about 15% to about 25% by weight of the protein component.

21. A nutritional composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for use as a medicament.

22. A nutritional composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for use in the treatment of diabetes.

23. A nutritional composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for use in the treatment of a disease associated with muscle degeneration and/or a wasting disease.

24. The nutritional composition according to claim 23 for use in the treatment of a wasting disease, wherein the wasting disease is cachexia.

25. Non-therapeutical use of a nutritional composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20 for promoting muscle growth.

26. Use of a nutritional composition according to any one of claims 1 to 20 as a balanced nutritional supplement for normal adults.