DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a food product of the type used to store and consume refrigerated or on frozen products.

The present invention is applicable to all products belonging to the cold food chain (such as ice cream or frozen products) or to the industrial semifreddos chain (such as yogurt, fruit juice or milkshakes).

It is well known from the state of the art that many important nutrients for the human diet (such as omega 3.6 and bioflavonoids, flavonolignans) and also many pharmacological substances, exhibit a strong instability due to a high biochemical volatility and a high oxidative aging process and often many of these substances are associated with an unacceptable taste and therefore difficult to introduce into a proper diet.

For example substances such as bioflavonoids and iron have an extremely bitter or metallic taste and their intake is often very difficult especially for children and elderly citizens.

The food products currently present on the market of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen, such as ice cream or yogurt, use a method of introducing substances which are normally not pleasant tasting consisting in the conjugation of the nutrient with sweeteners and/or artificial flavours that cover the bad taste and retain their properties or characteristics as much as possible.

The classic method of adding these products however does not completely overcome the problem of introducing unpleasant tasting substances unless done in very minimum quantities with the addition of a large amount of sugar and antagonistic products such as sweeteners and artificial flavours, resulting in a major deterioration of the characteristics of the food product.

Furthermore, the classic method of introduction is also associated with a low absorbability of the substances which in some cases are picked up by the intestinal mucosa only in very low doses with a reduced bioavailability.

The technical aim of the present invention is therefore to realize a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen that which enables elimination of the technical drawbacks of the prior art.

An aim of the present invention is to realize a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen that maintains the essential biochemical characteristics of the substances eaten.

Another aim of the present invention is to realize a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen which increases the performance of the substances eaten.

A further aim of the present invention is to realize a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen which allows the assimilation of nutrients known to be unpleasant tasting, covering the unpleasant taste without the need to alter the characteristics of the finished food product through the addition of sweeteners and artificial flavours.

Yet another aim of the present invention is to realize a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen that increases the bioavailability and absorption of the nutrient to be introduced.

The technical task, as well as these and other aims, according to the present invention are achieved by realizing a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen which includes at least a first liposome and at least one active ingredient encapsulated in the first liposome, which in turn has the first means of increasing its encapsulation capacity and its stability and second means of increasing its antioxidant capacity.

Preferably the first liposome comprises phosphatidylcholine in a high concentration and in particular, in a range of between 45-95% by weight.

More in particular, the first liposome comprises also: Phosphatidylethanolamine in a range of between 20-24% by weight

Phosphatidylserine in a range of between 0-10% by weight

Phosphatidilglicherols in a range of between 5-25% by weight

Phosphatidylinositol in a range of between 8-22% by weight

Phosphatide acids in a range of between 4-12% by weight

Monounsaturated fatty acids in a range of between 6-8% by weight

Linoleic acid in a range of between 68-72% by weight

Linolenic acid in a range of between 7-9% by weight

Preferably, the first means for increasing the encapsulation capacity and the stability of the first liposome comprise at least one polysaccharide and/or at least one protein and/or at least one polypeptide and/or at least a pectin plant and/or at least one sterol plant and/or at least cholesterol.

Preferably, the second means for increasing the antioxidant capacity of the first liposome are a synergistic mixture comprising:

D-alfa-tocopherols in a range of between 0,5-3% by weight

Rosmarinic acid in a percentage by weight of 0,1%

Lecithin in a range of between 1-3% by weight

Preferably the active ingredient is a nutritional-dietetic substance comprising at least one among bioflavonoids, essential amino acids, vitamins or polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Preferably the active ingredient is a pharmacological substance comprising at least one among an anti-inflammatory, an immunostimulant, an antidiabetic agent, or a cytostatic.

Advantageously the food product comprises at least a second liposome that encapsulates the first liposome.

Preferably, the second liposome comprises phosphatidylcholine in a high concentration and in particular in a range of between 70-98% by weight.

In particular, the second liposome comprises means for increasing the efficacy of the first and the second means of the first liposome.

More in particular, the means for increasing the efficacy comprise vegetable chitins in a range of between 0,1 - 3% by weight and plant sterols in a range of between 0,3 - 0,9% by weight.

Preferably, the second liposome in the first production phases is a gel-like solution able to became subsequently layered on the surface of the first liposome.

The present invention also reveals a procedure for the production of a food product of the type to be stored and consumed refrigerated or frozen comprising a first step of mixing the active ingredient to be encapsulated in the first liposome with the first liposome itself at a PH in a range of between 5 and 7,5, a second step of homogenization, designed to increase the temperature of the first liposome until exceeding its transition temperature for the encapsulation of the active ingredient, and a third step for forming the second liposome, at a PH in a range of between 3,5 to 5, a fourth step of high speed mechanical homogenization alternating with low-speed planetary dispersing cycles at a PH in the range of 3,5 to 8 designed to achieve the encapsulation of the first liposome in the second liposome, and a fifth step of mixing the second liposome encapsulating the first liposome which in turn encapsulates the active ingredient with the food product so as to maintain the first and the second liposome in a thermal state which is permanently below the transition temperature thereof until the food product is consumed.

The phospholipid mixture used to form the liposome encapsulating the active ingredient is optimized on the basis of the edible vehicle, or food product used (ice cream, yogurt, milk, etc.) and is formulated in line with the physical and chemical characteristics of the active ingredient and with the functional purposes that the product obtained should perform.

The active ingredient encapsulated is chosen depending on the commercial target. In the case in which the purpose is of dietetic- nutritional nature, then dietetic- nutritional substances are used, such as bioflavonoids, essential amino acids or polyunsaturated fatty acids.

In the case in which the purpose is therapeutic, then the active ingredient is a pharmacological product such as cytostatic drugs, anti-inflammatory products, anti-diabetic products and immunostimulants.

The first and preferred realisation of the invention provides for the preparation of the food product according to the usual methods and separately the liposomisation of the active ingredient to be introduced.

The procedure for liposomisation provides several phases.

During the first phase, the active ingredient is added to the phospholipid mixture which forms the first liposome formulated in line with the chemical-physical characteristics of the active ingredient.

During this initial phase, after having stabilized the PH in a range between 5 and 7,5, a mixture of antioxidants is added to guarantee adequate protection from degradation and rheological modifiers are added to provide the liposome with the prerogatives of visco-elacticity needed to increase the encapsulation capacity.

The complex obtained is maintained under ultrasonic homogenization and/or mechanical and/or two-stage high pressure in a refrigerated environment until the controls in line does not reflect a homogeneity of the product obtained and an optimal encapsulation.

The second phase of the procedure for liposomisation always takes place in a refrigerated environment with a reduction of the PH within a range between 3,5 and 5. Adequate doses of natural mucopolysaccharides and/or solidifying plant agents and/or amino acids are added to the complex obtained during the first phase and the homogenisation is repeated.

Initially, low quantities of energy are supplied in order to avoid injuring the liposomic micelles which are created during the first phase, prolonging the procedure of a long period of time until a homogeneous distribution is obtained, in the extra-micelles spaces, of the substances added to the mixture obtained after the first phase.

The occupation of these spaces enables an improved compactness and an increased homogeneity of the liposome mass.

In this way the removal of possible air bubbles incorporated during the first phase is also obtained and the creation of a visco-elastic environment from which the liposomic micelles, homogeneously dispersed, receive proper protection from possible damage which could cause breakage.

A suitable shelter is also obtained from external agents such as oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, etc.

Once a structure is reached , after evaluation under a microscope, showing a perfect homogeneity, it is possible to proceed with the final phase.

During this phase the PH is increased to reach a value in the range from 3,5 to 8 to obtain a suitable viscosity of the mass of the mixture. Therefore it is possible to proceed, by subjecting the mass under vacuum at not less than 600 mm/Hg, in a refrigerated environment, to short cycles (1-5 min) of high speed mechanical homogenisation, alternated with low-speed planetary dispersing cycles (5-25 min). During the short cycles at the higher energy, a partial deployment of the system is obtained which causes a resizing in the liposomic micelles while the lower energy phases favour the formation of bonds such as Van der Waals and/or Bungenberg de Jong and/or electrostatic which, by interacting between the molecule constituting the external environment, which is in a gel state, and the surface of the liposomic micelles, causes the formation of a stratification of the first on the surface of the latter determining in this manner a double encapsulation of the active ingredient. At this point, with the appropriate adjustments to the PH caused through the addition of an open chain of amino acids with two amino groups (Arginine, Lysine, etc.) and/or amino acids with two carboxyl groups (Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid), and maintaining a very slow planetary agitation, and keeping the temperature within a range of -5 / + 5 °C, within 2-8 hours the formation of elastic vesicles able to intake one or two liposomic vesicles is obtained.

Liposomal structures obtained from lecithins with a more or less important concentration of phospholipids have been acknowledged as capable for the encapsulation of active principals and a subsequent increase of their shelf-life. However often these liposomes, which for clarification purposes we will call "classic", are not particularly suitable in maintaining a high capacity for retaining or entrapping the active substances.

The elaboration of the liposomes through this invention enables a further increase in the quantities encapsulated and the protection of the active ingredient, without damaging the entrapment properties.

The following tests were performed to quantitatively assess this increase in performance.

EXAMPLE 1

As a test sample, a liposomal structure under study was used, containing Rose Hip Oil (RML) in the percentage of 5% by weight as the active ingredient in the presence of a mixture of substances comprising:

D-alfa-tocopherols in a range of between 0,5-3% by weight

Rosmarinic acid in a percentage of 0, 1 % by weight

Lecithin in a range of between 1-3% by weight.

As a standard sample for comparison purposes (Witness) a classic liposome was used, normally found on sale, in which the same Hip Rose Oil was trapped in the proportion of 5% in the presence of classic antioxidants (Vitamin E, Butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)).

The two complexes were subjected to oxidative stress produced by UVA and to induced free radical attack. Following the oxidative stress and the free radical attack, the increase in peroxides was measured in both samples in order to check the percentage of the Hip Rose oil that had passed the oxidative stress and the free radical attack without damage. The results obtained from the tests are as follows:

The liposomic structure under study (liposome LRM) shows a percentage of the active non-degraded ingredient higher than the reference sample - Witness.

EXAMPLE 2

As a sample test, a liposomal structure containing Vitamin A (LVA) in the percentage of 0.7% as active ingredient was used, in the presence of substances comprising:

D-alfa-tocopherols in a range of between 0,5-3% by weight

Rosmarinic acid in a percentage of 0, 1 % by weight

Lecithin in a range of between 1-3% by weight.

As reference sample (Witness), a "classic" liposome normally available on the market was used, in which the same Vitamin A was trapped in a percentage of 0,7%, in the presence of classic antioxidants (Vitamina E, Butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)).

Both samples were subjected to oxidative stress produced by UVA and induced free radical attack.

Following the oxidative stress and the free radical attack, we measured the increase in peroxides in both samples in order to check the percentage of Vitamin A which had passed the oxidative stress and free radical attack without damage.

The results obtained are the following: Product Post UVA irradiation Post Radical reaction

LVA 64% 66%

Witness 23% 14%

The liposome LVA shows a percentage of active non-degraded ingredient significantly higher compared to the standard reference sample (Witness) highlighting the antioxidative properties of the liposomal structure under study.

Further tests were conducted in order to objectively confirm the eventual maintenance of the entrapament capabilities.

EXAMPLE 3

As a test sample, a liposomic structure under study was used, containing Rose Hip Oil (LRM) in the percentage of 5% .

As a standard reference sample (Witness), a "classic" liposome normally available on the market was used, in which the same Rose Hip Oil was entrapped in the percentage of 5%.

The two samples were subjected to a challenge consisting in an accelerated aging process in a thermostat at 28°C for 5 days.

On the sixth day, they were subjected to centrifugation and the percentage of the supernatant active ingredient (Rose Hip Oil) was calculated.

The results of the test show how the sample under study revealed a very low release of active ingredient, less than 3% of the total, whereas the Witness sample showed a release equal to 23% of the active principal.

EXAMPLE 4

The same test as in Example 3 was performed in conditions of thermal stress in order to simulate an accidental increase in storage temperatures. For this purpose, it was carried out for one day in the heat at 25°C and another day in the heat at 4°C for a total of 3 full cycles (6 days).

The results of the tests showed that the sample under study showed a supernatant amount of active ingredient of about 4,4%, whereas the Witness shows a release of the active ingredient of over 80%.

In conclusion, based on the results obtained, it can be stated that the nature of the second edible and biodegradable liposome ensures the release of the first liposome which carries the active ingredient and both participate in synergy to safeguard the functional characteristics and the chemical-physical integrity of the active ingredients contained in them, helping to increase the performance considerably.