WO2019195735A1

WO2019195735A1 - Powdered nutritional compositions with hmb and protein system

Info

Publication number: WO2019195735A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/026071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Calvin Huang Chun LEE; Jason Xiang LI; Biye CHEN
Original assignee: Abbott Laboratories
Priority date: 2018-04-06
Filing date: 2019-04-05
Publication date: 2019-10-10
Also published as: AU2019247478A1; PH12020551632A1; SG11202009709PA

Abstract

A nutritional powder composition comprises from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), and from about 10 to about 25 wt % of a protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition. The protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. All or a portion of the sodium caseinate in the protein system may be replaced with potassium caseinate, and/or all or a portion of the intact soy protein may be replaced with intact pea protein, and/or all or a portion of the hydrolyzed soy protein may be replaced with hydrolyzed pea protein.

Description

POWDERED NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITIONS WITH HMB AND PROTEIN SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention is directed to nutritional powder compositions with HMB and a protein system comprising a combination of proteins. The nutritional powder compositions provide advantageous health benefits at a reduced cost as compared with various conventional products. The protein system facilitates easy processing of a liquid slurry into the inventive nutritional powder compositions by spray drying, and the nutritional powder composition is reconstituted to provide a liquid composition for consumption.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a naturally occurring amino acid metabolite that is known for use in a variety of nutritional products and supplements. HMB is commonly used in such products to help build or maintain healthy muscle, especially in the elderly but also in other populations as described in, for example, WO 2011/094549 A1. HMB is a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine and has been shown to modulate protein turnover and inhibit proteolysis. In studies where various kinds of stress were induced in animals, HMB

supplementation increased lean mass. Clinical studies also suggest that HMB has at least two functions in recovery from illness or injury including protection of lean mass from stress-related damage and enhancement of protein synthesis. It has been suggested that HMB may also be useful for enhancing immune function, reducing the incidence or severity of allergy or asthma, reducing total serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and/or increasing the aerobic capacity of muscle, and for other uses.

[0003] Oral nutritional products, including tablets, capsules, reconstitutable powders, and nutritional liquids and emulsions are conveniently used for administering HMB. Reconstitutable powders are particularly useful because such powders are often more shelf-stable than their liquid counterparts for extended periods, even when formulated with multiple ingredients such as minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, and fat. HMB is often conveniently supplied to such compositions in the form of calcium HMB monohydrate (CaHMB).

[0004] HMB, usually in the form of CaHMB, is typically spray-dried (not dry-blended) together with other ingredients such as carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, and fats, from a wet process slurry to provide dry powder products and avoid off-flavors in the reconstituted liquids formed from the powders. Spray drying CaHMB-containing slurries significantly increases the cost of production, however, due to the tendency of CaHMB to interact with protein, which interaction typically causes an increase in viscosity, precipitation, and/or coagulation in the wet slurry. It is important to keep a wet process slurry from developing high viscosity, i.e., greater than about 250 cP, during wet processing, as, otherwise, the manufacturing efficiency suffers, e.g., nozzle chokage resulting in downtime for cleaning, and/or significant losses in yield due to a portion of product not reaching the spray dryer. High viscosity during the evaporation stage also causes fouling in the evaporator, which is also undesirable. In extreme cases, high viscosity may even render the entire product unprocessable. Accordingly, reaction between CaHMB and proteins can seriously impede the powder production process. The impact of addition of CaHMB on the wet slurry’s viscosity can generally be minimized to some extent by incorporation of an efficient chelation system that helps to chelate free Ca ions, thereby minimizing interactions between the protein and CaHMB salt.

[0005] Since HMB is most often administered to individuals to support the development and maintenance of muscle mass and strength, it is often desirable to formulate HMB products with additional nutrients that may also be helpful in promoting healthy muscle. For example, it would be desirable to formulate HMB products with higher levels of protein to further enhance lean muscle development and strength. However, increasing protein content in combination with HMB can further raise the viscosity of the wet process slurry as described above. Conventional chelation systems may not be sufficient to prevent interaction between CaHMB and the protein in a wet slurry, causing the viscosity of a high protein content slurry to increase to such an extent that processing is impaired. Reducing total solids content of wet slurries may reduce their viscosities but also increase the energy required to convert the slurries to dry powders, which undesirably significantly increases manufacturing costs.

[0006] In order to obtain consumer acceptance, it is also desirable for a powder product to readily dissolve in a reconstituting liquid, usually water, without a significant amount of undissolved powder or powder grains, and to provide a liquid product having good mouthfeel, without discernable“chalkiness”,“grainy” feel, or other undesirable sensory attributes. Certain proteins can themselves slow dissolution of a powder composition and/or cause undesirable mouthfeel attributes and/or can interact with CaHMB to further impede a good consumer experience. [0007] While certain proteins may be used to avoid undesirably high viscosity, they can contribute to poor mouthfeel, and/or poor dissolution on reconstitution, and/or they are relatively expensive and their use increases product costs. Accordingly, a need exists for a nutritional powder composition which allows incorporation of HMB and a relatively high content of protein and which avoids or reduces viscosity-based, precipitation-based, and/or coagulation-based processing problems. An additional need exists for such a nutritional powder composition which also exhibits good sensory attributes upon reconstitution.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The invention is directed to nutritional powder compositions with HMB and a protein system comprising a combination of proteins which overcome one or more disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a nutritional powder composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % HMB, and from about 10 to about 25 wt % of a protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition, wherein the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. In one embodiment, the protein system comprises less than about 75 wt % total soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

[0010] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of forming a nutritional powder composition. The method comprises spray drying a wet process slurry comprising HMB, a protein system, fat, and carbohydrate, wherein the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system, and wherein the wet process slurry has a viscosity of less than 250 cP at 46% total solids.

[0011] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a protein system comprising from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. In one embodiment, the protein system comprises less than about 75 wt % total soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. [0012] The nutritional powder compositions of the invention are advantageously formed from wet process slurries having relatively low viscosities, so the processing problems encountered with high viscosity wet process slurries are reduced or avoided. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the combination of proteins employed in the protein system of the invention provides a powder that exhibits good dissolution when reconstituted and reconstitutes to a liquid having good mouthfeel and other favorable sensory attributes. Further, the nutritional powder compositions of the invention desirably provide a combination of HMB and a high protein content, at a reduced cost as compared with various conventional products. These and additional advantages of the various embodiments of the invention will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description.

Detailed Description

[0013] While the general inventive concepts are susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, described herein in detail are specific embodiments of the invention with the

understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the general inventive concepts. Accordingly, the general inventive concepts are not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein.

[0014] In one embodiment, the invention is directed to nutritional powder compositions. The term“nutritional powder composition” as used herein, unless otherwise specified, encompasses all forms of powders which may be reconstituted to a liquid form by addition of a liquid, for example, water or juice, and are suitable for oral consumption by a human in reconstituted form.

[0015] 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 byproducts that may be included in commercially available materials, unless otherwise specified.

[0016] The terminology as set forth herein is for description of the embodiments only and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure as a whole. Unless otherwise specified,“a,” “an,”“the,” and“at least one” are used interchangeably. Furthermore, as used in the description and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,”“an,” and“the” are inclusive of their plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. [0017] Throughout this specification, when a range of values is defined with respect to a particular characteristic of the present invention, the present invention relates to and explicitly incorporates every specific subrange therein. Additionally, throughout this specification, when a group of substances is defined with respect to a particular characteristic of the present invention, the present invention relates to and explicitly incorporates every specific subgroup therein. Any specified range or group is to be understood as a shorthand way of referring to every member of a range or group individually as well as every possible subrange and subgroup encompassed therein.

[0018] The various embodiments of the nutritional powder compositions of the present disclosure may also be substantially free of any optional or selected ingredient or feature described herein, provided that the remaining nutritional composition still contains all of the required ingredients or features as described herein. In this context, and unless otherwise specified, the term“substantially free” means that the selected nutritional product 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 essential ingredient.

[0019] The nutritional compositions described herein may comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements of the compositions as described herein, as well as any additional or optional elements described herein or otherwise useful in nutritional product applications.

[0020] Unless otherwise indicated herein, all exemplary embodiments, sub-embodiments, specific embodiments and optional embodiments are respective exemplary embodiments, sub embodiments, specific embodiments and optional embodiments to all embodiments described herein.

[0021] In a first embodiment, the invention is directed to a nutritional powder composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % HMB, and from about 10 to about 25 wt % of a protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition.

[0022] HMB is a naturally occurring amino acid metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine. Suitable sources of HMB 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 in the nutritional powder. Non-limiting examples of suitable salts of HMB for use herein include HMB salts, hydrated or anhydrous, of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, or other non-toxic salt form. In a specific embodiment, the source of HMB is calcium HMB monohydrate (CaHMB), which provides about 0.8 g HMB per g of CaHMB.

[0023] HMB is included in the nutritional powder compositions in an amount in a range of about 0.1 to about 3 wt %, based on the weight of the powder composition. In specific embodiments, the nutritional powder compositions comprise from about 0.1 to about 2.5 wt %, from about 0.5 to about 2.5 wt %, from about 0.1 to about 2.0 wt %, from about 0.5 to about 2.0 wt %, from about 0.1 to about 1.3 wt %, or from about 0.5 to about 1.3 wt %, based on the weight of the powder composition.

[0024] The nutritional powder compositions comprise from about from about 10 to about 25 wt % of the protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition. In specific embodiments, the nutritional powder compositions comprise from about from about 15 to about 20 wt %, from about 15 to about 25 wt % or from about 20 to about 25 wt % of the protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the nutritional powder compositions comprise a relatively high amount of protein, which together with HMB, is advantageous for maintaining, developing and/or strengthening muscle.

[0025] The protein system comprises a novel combination of sodium caseinate, optionally whey protein concentrate, intact soy protein, and hydrolyzed soy protein. This combination of proteins, in the defined amounts, surprisingly provides, in combination with HMB, a wet process slurry having a sufficiently low viscosity at a total solids content of 46 wt % or less for efficient spray drying and other processing. For example, such wet process slurries have a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, or more specifically, less than about 200 cP, which facilitates processing of the slurry and spray drying in an efficient and economical manner. Additionally, this combination of proteins, in the defined amounts, provides a nutritional powder composition which is easily reconstituted with water or other liquid to provide a liquid nutritional product with good mouthfeel and grain (a measure of the ability of the powder to reconstitute into a liquid in the form of a smooth, creamy emulsion), providing a positive consumer experience. The desirable low viscosities of wet process slurries including a protein system of the invention allow the use of carbohydrate-deficient slurries, if desired, as discussed in further detail below.

[0026] Sodium caseinate is well known for use in nutritional compositions and, specifically, is known as a high protein source which provides good emulsification in a wet process slurry. However, sodium caseinate was found to unacceptably increase the viscosity of the wet slurry when used in combination with HMB, particularly when used in higher amounts to provide a high protein content.

[0027] Accordingly, the protein system of the invention includes additional protein components. In a specific embodiment, the protein system further includes whey protein (WP), such as whey protein concentrate (WPC) for whey protein isolate (WPI). Whey protein contains a relatively high amount of amino acids and therefore is high in nutritional value. When used in combination with the remaining proteins in the inventive system, the content of WP can be relatively low, while still providing an overall high protein content and nutritional value in the nutritional powder composition. Certain embodiments of the invention however omit whey protein from the protein system.

[0028] In order to avoid undesirably high viscosity in the wet process slurry, the protein system further includes a combination of intact soy protein and hydrolyzed soy protein. Soy protein is generally a less expensive protein source as compared with sodium caseinate and whey protein concentrate. The soy protein may be a soy protein isolate, a soy protein concentrate, or a combination thereof. Hydrolyzed soy protein has been previously disclosed to decrease viscosity in milk and vegetable protein systems. However, it was surprisingly discovered that when combined with HMB and a high level of protein, hydrolyzed soy protein causes a significant increase in the viscosity of a wet process slurry. On the other hand, intact soy protein is known to impart an unappealing chalky taste to liquid compositions. It has been discovered however that a combination of intact soy protein and hydrolyzed soy protein with HMB, sodium caseinate and, optionally, whey protein, provides a wet process slurry having a desirably low viscosity which enables efficient processing, including spray drying. Moreover, in certain embodiments, despite the inclusion of the intact soy protein, the protein system may be spray dried to form a powder which is reconstituted to a liquid composition having good mouthfeel and grain. The features and benefits of the protein system and nutritional powder compositions of the invention will be more fully illustrated in the Examples.

[0029] In a specific embodiment, the protein system, and the powder composition, is free of calcium caseinate. While calcium caseinate has been previously disclosed to decrease viscosity in milk and vegetable protein systems, it was surprisingly discovered that replacing a portion of sodium caseinate with calcium caseinate in combination with HMB and at a relatively high level of protein causes a significant increase in the viscosity of a wet process slurry. [0030] In order to achieve the desired low viscosity in a wet process slurry while also providing a nutritional powder composition having HMB and a high protein content, the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. In specific embodiments, the protein system comprises less than about 75 wt % total soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system, and the nutritional powder composition additionally exhibits good reconstitution properties and good mouthfeel attributes. In additional embodiments, the protein system comprises from about 30 to about 50 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 0 to about 20 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 20 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 25 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. In additional embodiments, the protein system comprises from about 30 to about 50 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 5 to about 15 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 15 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 25 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. In further embodiments, the protein system comprises from about 40 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 15 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 25 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system. In yet further embodiments, the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 40 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 15 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 40 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, and, in a more specific embodiment, less than about 75 wt % total soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

[0031] In yet further embodiments, the content of intact soy protein in the nutritional powder compositions is limited to not more than about 3.4 g, more specifically, not more than about 3.0 g, or not more than 2.6 g, per 100 g of the nutritional powder compositions, in order to ensure that liquid nutritional compositions formed by reconstituting the nutritional powder compositions with water have a good combination of sensory attributes.

[0032] In additional embodiments of the invention, all or a portion of the sodium caseinate in the protein system as disclosed herein may be replaced with potassium caseinate.

[0033] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the nutritional powder composition comprises a protein system which comprises 60 wt % or less of sodium caseinate and/or potassium caseinate, and a balance of intact soy protein and hydrolyzed soy protein, with the content of intact soy protein being in a range of about 1 to about 3 g per 100 g of the nutritional powder composition. In a more specific embodiment, the nutritional powder composition comprises from about 10 to about 25 wt % of such a protein system, based on the wt of the nutritional powder.

In a more specific embodiment, such a nutritional powder composition comprises from about 0.1 to about 2.0 wt % CaHMB, based on the wt of the nutritional powder.

[0034] In another specific embodiment, the nutritional powder composition comprises a protein system which comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % of sodium caseinate and/or potassium caseinate, and a balance of intact soy protein and hydrolyzed soy protein, with the content of intact soy protein being in a range of about 1 to about 3.4 g per 100 g of the nutritional powder composition. In a more specific embodiment, the nutritional powder composition comprises from about 10 to about 25 wt % of such a protein system, based on the wt of the nutritional powder.

In a more specific embodiment, such a nutritional powder composition comprises from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % CaHMB, based on the wt of the nutritional powder.

[0035] In other embodiments of the invention, the intact soy protein component of the described protein system may be replaced, all or in part, with another intact vegetable protein, for example, intact rice, wheat, potato or pea protein, and/or the hydrolyzed soy protein component of the described protein system may be replaced, all or in part, with another hydrolyzed vegetable protein, for example, hydrolyzed rice, wheat, potato or pea protein. In a specific embodiment, the intact soy protein component of the described protein system may be replaced, all or in part, with intact pea protein, and/or the hydrolyzed soy protein component of the described protein system may be replaced, all or in part, with hydrolyzed pea protein.

[0036] The nutritional powder compositions further include conventional nutritional powder ingredients such as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, flavorings and the like. In a specific embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions further comprise carbohydrate and fat. In a more specific embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions comprise from about 45% to about 75 wt % carbohydrate and from about 5 to about 30 wt % fat, based on the weight of the powder composition.

[0037] Any suitable carbohydrate may be included in the compositions. Suitable carbohydrates include, but are not limited to, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed or modified starch, hydrolyzed or modified cornstarch, glucose polymers such as polydextrose and dextrins, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, rice-derived carbohydrates such as rice maltodextrin, brown rice mild powder and brown rice syrup, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, sugar alcohols ( e.g ., maltitol, erythritol, sorbitol), isomaltulose, sucromalt, pullulan, potato starch, corn starch, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, oat fiber, soy fiber, gum arabic, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, guar gum, gellan gum, locust bean gum, konjac flour, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, tragacanth gum, karaya gum, gum acacia, chitosan,

arabinoglactins, glucomannan, xanthan gum, alginate, pectin, low methoxy pectin, high methoxy pectin, cereal beta-glucans, carrageenan, psyllium, Fibersol™, fruit puree, vegetable puree, isomalto-oligosaccharides, monosaccharides, disaccharides, tapioca-derived carbohydrates, inulin, other resistant starches, and artificial sweeteners, and combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions comprise one or more carbohydrates selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, hydrolyzed or modified starch or cornstarch, glucose polymers, com syrup, com syrup solids, rice-derived carbohydrates, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, high fructose com syrup, honey, sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. In a more specific embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions comprise maltodextrin, optionally in combination with at least one additional carbohydrate, for example, sucrose.

[0038] Any suitable fat may be included in the compositions. Suitable fats include, but are not limited to, algal oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil, borage oil, safflower oil, high oleic safflower oil, high gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) safflower oil, corn oil, soy oil, sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil, medium chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, palm olein, and combinations thereof. In a specific embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions comprise one or more fats selected from the group consisting of coconut oils, fractionated coconut oils, soy oils, corn oils, olive oils, safflower oils, high oleic safflower oils, medium chain triglycerides (MCT oils), sunflower oils, high oleic sunflower oils, palm oils, palm kernel oils, palm oleins, canola oils, marine oils, and cottonseed oils. In a more specific embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions comprise corn oil, optionally in combination with at least one additional fat.

[0039] In additional embodiments, the nutritional powder compositions further comprise one or more additional components that may modify the physical, chemical, aesthetic, or processing characteristics of the composition or serve as additional nutritional components. Non-limiting examples of additional components include chelating agents, preservatives, emulsifying agents (e.g., lecithin), buffers, sweeteners including artificial sweeteners (e.g., saccharine, aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose), colorants, flavorants, thickening agents, stabilizers, and so forth. [0040] In one embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions further include one or more chelators, more specifically, one or more chelators for chelating free calcium, for example, in the wet process slurry. Suitable chelators include citrates, for example, potassium citrate and/or sodium citrate, and/or phosphates, for example, potassium phosphate dibasic, and

combinations thereof.

[0041] In one embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions further include vitamins or related nutrients, non-limiting examples of which include vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, choline, inositol, salts and derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. The water soluble vitamins may be added to the wet process slurry in the form of a water-soluble vitamin (WSV) premix and/or oil-soluble vitamins may be added in one or more oil carriers as desired.

[0042] In one embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions further include minerals, non limiting examples of which include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, manganese, sodium, potassium, molybdenum, chromium, chloride, and combinations thereof.

[0043] In one embodiment, the nutritional powder compositions include at least one antioxidant, examples of which include but are not limited to, ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl palmitate, tocopherols, ascorbate salts, carotenoids, oil-soluble rosemary extract, water-soluble rosemary extract, and combinations thereof. Tocopherols suitable for use in the liquid nutritional composition may be natural or synthetic and include, but are not limited to, alpha- tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol (RRR-alpha-tocopherol), beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, delta- tocopherol, d,l-alpha-tocopherol (All-rac-alpha-tocopherol), tocopherol acetate, and combinations thereof. The term“tocopherol” as used herein, unless otherwise specified, also includes tocotrienols. Carotenoids suitable for use in the liquid nutritional composition include, but are not limited to, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and combinations thereof.

[0044] Generally, the nutritional powder compositions are formed by spray drying a wet process slurry. At least a portion of liquid in the slurry may be removed by evaporation prior to spray drying. While the wet process slurry may be formed by any suitable combination of steps, in one embodiment, the wet process slurry is formed by (a) preparing an aqueous solution comprising protein and carbohydrate, (b) preparing an oil blend comprising a fat and other oil soluble or dispersible ingredients, and (c) mixing together the aqueous solution and the oil blend to form the wet process slurry. pH adjustment may be made as desired. In a specific embodiment, the wet process slurry has a pH in a range of about 6-8, more specifically, in a range of about 6.2- 7.8, prior to spray drying. pH adjustment may be made by any means known in the art.

[0045] The wet process slurry advantageously has a viscosity which enables efficient processing of the slurry through the spray drying step. In specific embodiments, the wet process slurry has a solids content of at least 44 wt %, more specifically, at least 45 wt %, at least 46 wt %, or at least 47 wt %. In certain embodiments, the wet process slurry has a solids content of at least 44 wt %, more specifically, at least 45 wt %, at least 46 wt %, or at least 47 wt %, prior to its introduction into a spray dryer. In specific embodiments, the slurry has a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, more specifically, less than about 200 cP, or less than about 175 cP. In further embodiments, the slurry has a solids content of at least 44 wt % and a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, more specifically, less than about 200 cP, or less than about 175 cP, or the slurry has a solids content of at least 45 wt % and a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, more specifically, less than about 200 cP, or less than about 175 cP, or the slurry has a solids content of at least 46 wt % and a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, more specifically, less than about 200 cP, or less than about 175 cP, or the slurry has a solids content of at least 47 wt % and a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, more specifically, less than about 200 cP, or less than about 175 cP. One skilled in the art will appreciate that even a 1 wt % difference in total solids of a wet process slurry significantly effects the processing costs for forming a dry powder product as lower wt % total solids require greater energy, for example in the evaporation and/or spray drying steps. Accordingly, a wet process slurry having a processable viscosity at a higher wt % total solids content provides a significant manufacturing advantage. In a specific embodiment, the slurry has a total solids content of about 46 wt % and a viscosity of less than about 250 cP, or less than about 200cP, or less than about 175 cP.

[0046] In certain embodiments, one or more components of the nutritional powder composition may be omitted from the wet process slurry and, instead, dry blended in powder form with the dry powder which results from the spray drying of the wet process slurry. Therefore, the nutritional powder composition may further comprise an additional dry powder component which is dry blended with the spray dried powder comprising the protein system. The additional component may comprise protein, fat and/or carbohydrate, and/or any other element of the composition as desired. In a specific embodiment, an additional protein component is dry blended with the spray dried powder formed from the wet process slurry, i.e. the spray dried powder containing the inventive protein system. The additional protein component in dry powder form may comprise any desired protein component including, but not limited to, sodium caseinate, whey protein concentrate, and/or skim milk powder.

[0047] In a specific embodiment, the wet slurry is prepared as carbohydrate deficient. That is, a portion of the carbohydrate component of the nutritional powder composition is provided in dry powder form and dry blended with the spray dried powder formed from the wet process slurry.

By reducing the amount of carbohydrate in the wet process slurry, the amount of water employed in the slurry and the volume of the slurry are reduced, whereby energy and other costs associated with the spray drying process are reduced. By reducing the amount of carbohydrate in the wet slurry, the relative concentrations of remaining components, including the protein system, are increased. Normally, as the weight percent of the protein system increases, the slurry viscosity increases, particularly in HMB-containing compositions. However, the novel protein systems of the invention can reduce or avoid such viscosity increases incurred in carbohydrate-deficient slurries. In more specific embodiments, the wet slurry contains 95 wt %, 90 wt %, or 80 wt % of the carbohydrate component of the nutritional powder composition, with the remainder of the carbohydrate component being dry blended with the spray dried product.

[0048] The nutritional powder compositions may be administered in any desired serving size. In one embodiment, about 60.6 g of the nutritional powder composition is mixed with 185 ml liquid, for example, water, to provide a serving of from about 6 to about 15 g protein per serving.

[0049] Various embodiments and advantages of the invention are illustrated in the following Examples.

Example 1

[0050] In this Example, nutritional powder compositions A-G with various protein systems are formed. The protein systems are combined with CaHMB in a wet process slurry which further includes carbohydrate (maltodextrin, sucrose and oligofructose), fats (high oleic sunflower oil, soy oil, canola oil), chelators (potassium citrate, sodium citrate and potassium phosphate dibasic), vitamins, minerals, flavorants, and water. Additional wet process slurries H-J are formed comprising the indicated protein systems combined with CaHMB, carbohydrate

(maltodextrin and sucrose), fats (high oleic sunflower oil, soy oil, canola oil), chelators

(potassium citrate, sodium citrate and potassium phosphate dibasic) and water. Proteins employed in the described protein systems include sodium caseinate (Na Caseinate), calcium caseinate (Ca Caseinate), whey protein concentrate (WPC), intact soy protein isolate (SPI), and/or hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (SPH) as indicated in Table 1. The viscosity of the respective slurries is measured prior to spray drying using a Brookfield digital viscometer DV-II. Several of the slurries are formulated at different total solids (TS) contents. Each slurry is carbohydrate deficient in that it contains less than the total amount of the carbohydrate of the final nutritional powder composition (NPC). In compositions A and D-J, the slurries contain 80 wt % of the carbohydrate in the final NPC, while compositions B and C are prepared from slurries containing 82 wt % of the carbohydrate in the final NPC. The compositions of the invention, however, are not limited to those prepared from carbohydrate-deficient slurries, and the total amount of carbohydrate may be added to the wet slurry with the protein system.

[0051] Table 1 presents composition characteristics and measured viscosities. NM indicates no measurement was made at the indicated TS content.

Table 1

[0053] Formulations A and B include protein systems according to the invention and exhibit sufficiently low viscosities across the range of slurries with total solids of 44 to 47 wt %.

Nutritional powder compositions which are formed from Formulations A and B by spray drying and then dry blending the spray dried product with the additional carbohydrate component are reconstituted with water and form nutritional liquid compositions having good mouthfeel and grain. The liquid compositions are evaluated for mouthfeel by trained sensory experts using a scale of 1 (good mouthfeel, no negative sensory attributes) to 5 (multiple or severe negative sensory attributes). A mouthfeel score above 3 is undesirable. The liquid compositions formed from Formulations A and B exhibited a mouthfeel rating of 2, a desirable rating. The liquid compositions are also evaluated for grain, which is a measure of protein stability and emulsion quality wherein the product is examined on a glass surface and ranked depending on its smooth, creamy appearance on a scale of 1 (smooth, creamy appearance with no discernable grains) to 6 (significant grainy appearance). A grain score of 3 and below is considered good and acceptable. The liquid compositions formed from Formulations A and B exhibited a grain rating of 2.

[0054] Formulations C and D include comparative protein systems, including hydrolyzed soy protein but omitting intact soy protein. Despite prior disclosures indicating hydrolyzed soy protein can lower the viscosity of milk and vegetable protein systems, these slurries containing HMB exhibited undesirably high viscosities as the total solids approached 47 wt %. Although liquid compositions formed by reconstituting nutritional powder compositions formed from

Formulations C and D exhibited a mouthfeel rating of 1 and a grain rating of 1 , the high viscosities prevent efficient manufacturing of powder compositions including such protein systems.

[0055] Formulation E includes a comparative protein system, including intact soy protein but omitting hydrolyzed soy protein. The slurry exhibited a desirably low viscosity, even at a total solids content of 47 wt %. However, a liquid composition formed by reconstituting a nutritional powder composition formed from Formulation E exhibited a mouthfeel rating of 5, indicating an unacceptable product.

[0056] Formulations F and G include comparative protein systems, including intact soy protein and replacing a portion of sodium caseinate with calcium caseinate. Despite prior disclosures indicating calcium caseinate can lower the viscosity of milk and vegetable protein systems, these slurries containing HMB exhibited undesirably high viscosities, even at a total solids content of 44 wt %, which prevent efficient manufacturing of powder compositions including such protein systems.

[0057] Formulations H and I include comparative protein systems, with Formulation H including hydrolyzed soy protein but omitting intact soy protein, and Formulation I including intact soy protein but omitting hydrolyzed soy protein. The wet slurry of Formulation H exhibits an unacceptably high viscosity, even at 44 wt % TS. While the wet slurry of Formulation I exhibits a desirably low viscosity, the liquid composition formed by reconstituting a nutritional powder composition formed from Formulation I with water exhibits a mouthfeel rating of 5, indicating an unacceptable product.

[0058] Finally, Formulation J includes a protein system according to the invention and exhibits a desirably low viscosity. A nutritional powder composition which is formed from Formulation J by spray drying, then dry blending the spray dried product with the remaining carbohydrate compound, and reconstituting with water forms a nutritional liquid composition having good mouthfeel and grain, providing a good consumer experience.

Example 2

[0059] In this example, additional nutritional powder compositions K-Q with various protein systems are formed. The protein systems are combined with CaHMB in a wet process slurry which further includes carbohydrate, fats, chelators, vitamins, minerals, flavorants, and water. Proteins employed in the protein systems include sodium caseinate (Na Caseinate), whey protein concentrate (WPC), intact soy protein isolate (SPI), and/or hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (SPH), as set forth in Table 2. The nutritional powder compositions were evaluated for mouthfeel and grain as previously described, as well as wettability and solubility. Wettability is measured by adding 2 grams of the nutritional powder composition to 100 ml of water in a 250 ml glass beaker and measuring the time for the powder to sink to the bottom of the beaker. A wettability of less than 120 seconds is desired, and more preferred is a wettability of less than 75 seconds. Solubility is determined by mixing the amount of powder recommended for reconstitution with 100 ml of water, in 100 ml water. The mixture is blended and filled into 2 separate Kimble #45167 50 ml centrifuge tubes up to the 50 ml mark. The mixtures are then subjected to centrifuge at 1000 g for 6 minutes, and the resulting amount of sediment, recorded in milliliters, is measured. A solubility of less than 1.5 ml/50 ml is desired. [0060] Table 2 presents the protein system characteristics and measured properties of the nutritional powder compositions.

Table 2

[0061] Wet process slurries formed in preparing nutritional powder compositions K-N exhibit desirable viscosities to allow efficient wet slurry processing during manufacture. Additionally, reconstitution of nutritional powder compositions K-N according to the invention provides liquid nutritional compositions exhibiting a desirable combination of mouthfeel, grain, wettability and solubility to provide a relatively high protein content in combination with HMB and a positive consumer experience.

[0062] Nutritional powder composition O contains a high level of intact soy protein and exhibits unacceptably high grain and unacceptably high wettability upon reconstitution with water. Both of these properties contribute to a poor consumer experience in consuming the reconstituted liquid nutritional composition. Nutritional powder composition P contains a high level of total soy protein but exhibits a desirable viscosity for wet slurry processing during manufacture. However, the high level of soy protein disadvantageously effects solubility and mouthfeel upon

reconstitution with water. Finally, nutritional powder composition Q contains a high level of intact soy protein and a high level of total soy protein and exhibits exceptionally high viscosity in the wet slurry processing. The composition also exhibits poor mouthfeel upon reconstitution with water and unacceptably low solubility, both which contribute to a poor consumer experience.

Example 3

[0063] In this example, a nutritional powder composition R according to the invention is formed by spray drying and contains about 20 wt % of a protein system comprising, based on the weight of the protein system, about 48 wt % sodium caseinate, about 17 wt % whey protein concentrate, about 17 wt % intact soy protein and about 20 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein. The nutritional powder composition also comprises about 55.5 wt % carbohydrate, about 12.8 wt % fat, and about 1.3 wt % HMB. This nutritional powder composition, 60,6 g, is dry blended with an additional dry powder protein component comprising, respectively, sodium caseinate, skim milk powder or whey protein concentrate to form nutritional powder compositions. The resulting high protein nutritional powder compositions S, T and U are reconstituted with water and subjected to grain evaluation as described in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3

[0064] This example demonstrates high protein compositions containing HMB which can be prepared efficiently and which provide a reconstituted product having a smooth creamy appearance with little or with no discernable grains.

[0065] While the present application has been illustrated by the description of embodiments and examples thereof, and while the embodiments and examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the application, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative compositions, products and processes, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A nutritional powder composition comprising from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt % beta- hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), and from about 10 to about 25 wt % of a protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition, wherein the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

2. The nutritional powder composition of claim 1 , wherein the protein system comprises less than about 75 wt % total soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

3. The nutritional powder composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the source of HMB is calcium HMB monohydrate (CaHMB).

4. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-3, comprising about 0.5 to about 2.0 wt % HMB.

5. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-4, comprising from about 15 to about 20 wt % of the protein system, based on the weight of the powder composition.

6. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the protein system comprises from about 30 to about 50 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 0 to about 20 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 20 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 25 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

7. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the protein system comprises from about 30 to about 50 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 5 to about 15 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 15 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 25 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

8. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the protein system comprises from about 40 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 15 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 25 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

9. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 40 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 15 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 40 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

10. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % of sodium caseinate, and a balance of intact soy protein and hydrolyzed soy protein, with the content of intact soy protein being in a range of about 1 to about 3.4 g per 100 g of the nutritional powder composition.

11. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the whey protein comprises whey protein concentrate.

12. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-11 , wherein the powder composition further comprises carbohydrate and fat.

13. The nutritional powder composition of claim 12, comprising from about 45% to about

75 wt % carbohydrate and from about 5 to about 30 wt % fat, based on the weight of the powder composition,

14. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-13, comprising one or more carbohydrates selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, hydrolyzed or modified starch or cornstarch, glucose polymers, com syrup, com syrup solids, rice-derived carbohydrates, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, high fructose com syrup, honey, sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.

15. The nutritional powder composition of claim 14, wherein the powder composition comprises maltodextrin.

16. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-15, comprising one or more fats selected from the group consisting of coconut oils, fractionated coconut oils, soy oils, corn oils, olive oils, safflower oils, high oleic safflower oils, medium chain triglycerides (MCT oils), sunflower oils, high oleic sunflower oils, palm oils, palm kernel oils, palm oleins, canola oils, marine oils, and cottonseed oils.

17. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-16, comprising not more than about 3.4 g, per 100 g of the nutritional powder composition, of intact soy protein.

18. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-17, wherein at least the protein system is a spray dried component.

19. The nutritional powder composition of claim 19, further comprising an additional protein component which has been dry blended with the spray dried protein system.

20. The nutritional powder composition of claim 19, wherein the additional protein component is a dry powder comprising sodium caseinate, whey protein concentrate, and/or skim milk powder.

21. A method of forming a nutritional powder composition, comprising spray drying a wet process slurry comprising beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), a protein system, fat, and carbohydrate, wherein the protein system comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system, and wherein the wet process slurry has a viscosity of less than 250 cP at 46% total solids.

22. A protein system comprising from about 20 to about 60 wt % sodium caseinate, from 0 to about 30 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 25 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 15 to about 60 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

23. The protein system of claim 22, comprising less than about 75 wt % total soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

24. The protein system of claim 22, wherein the protein system comprises from about 30 to about 50 wt % sodium caseinate, from about 5 to about 15 wt % whey protein, from about 5 to about 15 wt % intact soy protein, and from about 20 to about 40 wt % hydrolyzed soy protein, based on the weight of the protein system.

25. The protein system of any one of claims 22-24, wherein the protein system is in spray dried form.

26. The nutritional powder composition of any one of claims 1-20, the method of claim 21 , or the protein system of any one of claims 22-25, wherein:

(a) all or a portion of the sodium caseinate in the protein system is replaced with potassium caseinate; and/or

(b) all or a portion of the intact soy protein is replaced with intact pea protein; and/or

(c) all or a portion of the hydrolyzed soy protein is replaced with hydrolyzed pea protein.