Nutritional supplement compositions and related manufacturing processes

Abstract

There is provided a nutritional supplement composition comprising: a) a base stock; b) one or more texture modifiers; and c) one or more active ingredients. The base stock comprises: i) puree, pulp, juice, and / or concentrate of fruits and / or vegetables; and / or ii) fermented dairy products, fermented fruits and / or vegetables, fermented tea, and / or fermented herbaceous plants. The texture modifier includes i) one or more colloids, and / or ii) one or more fatty acids. The active ingredients comprise: i) vitamins and / or minerals; ii) a plant powder, tincture and / or extract; iii) essential fatty acids and / or derivatives thereof; iv) an enzyme; v) essential oil; vi) proteins, collagen, amino acids and / or derivatives thereof; vii) fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, metabiotics and / or derivatives thereof; viii) a cannabinoid and / or a derivative thereof; and / or ii) a dietary ingredient that is allowed by the American Food and Drug Administration 21CFR PRG 111 for dietary supplements. The invention also provides a method for preparing the nutritional supplement composition. The method comprises the following steps: A) mixing the components; b) accurately metering and forming; c) freeze drying; and D) packaging.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Aspects described herein relate to nutritional supplements, in particular to a nutritional supplement composition and related manufacturing process. BACKGROUND

[0002] Edible or food-based nutritional supplements have gained popularity in recent years. For example, the gummy supplement market grew by approximately 74% in 2021 and is projected to reach approximately $17 billion in sales by 2024. The gummy supplement market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2020 to 2028.

[0003] A typical gummy base contains 5-8% gelatin, pectin, agar, or starch; 15-20% water, 28-50% sucrose, and 40-55% corn syrup solids.

[0004] One drawback of using a gummy base to make nutritional supplements is that the manufacturing process requires a process temperature of approximately 100°C. This results in a significant loss of functional ingredients due to thermal degradation during production. For example, vitamins such as vitamin C, thiamine, and pantothenic acid are heat sensitive and require high dosages to compensate for losses during production. Gummy bases are also not suitable for most probiotic strains as few probiotic strains exhibit heat tolerance.

[0005] Other drawbacks of using a gummy base to make nutritional supplements include high sugar addition and a shorter shelf life. Gelatin gummies melt and tend to stick together at temperatures above 30°C. Additionally, their high water content is not favorable for many nutritional ingredients and water loss over time can cause the gummies to harden.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for improved nutritional supplement compositions and related manufacturing processes to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks. SUMMARY

[0007] To address the above problems, to solve some or all of these problems, and / or to address other problems that can be observed by those skilled in the art, the present invention provides compositions and methods as described below.

[0008] In one embodiment, a nutritional supplement composition is provided, the composition comprising:

[0009] a) a base comprising:

[0010] i) a fruit and / or vegetable puree, fruit and / or vegetable pulp, fruit and / or vegetable juice, and / or fruit and / or vegetable concentrate; and / or

[0011] ii) a fermented dairy product, a fermented fruit and / or vegetable, a fermented tea, and / or a fermented herb;

[0012] b) one or more texture modifiers, including:

[0013] i) one or more gums; and / or

[0014] ii) one or more fatty acids; and

[0015] c) one or more active ingredients.

[0016] In some aspects, the one or more natural gums are polysaccharides of natural origin that significantly increase the viscosity of a solution, even at low concentrations, including but not limited to guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan gum, acacia gum, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, gum karaya, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or locust bean gum, among others. In some aspects, the one or more fatty acids include plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbe-based fatty acids, and / or synthetic fatty acids. In some aspects, the one or more fatty acids include, but are not limited to, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea oil, animal-based butter, plant-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algal oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil. In some aspects, the fermented dairy product includes, but is not limited to, yogurt and / or kefir.

[0017] In some aspects, the nutritional supplement composition includes a base and one or more active ingredients, but does not include one or more texture modifiers.

[0018] In further aspects of the nutritional supplement composition, the one or more active ingredients include:

[0019] i) one or more vitamins and / or minerals;

[0020] ii) one or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts;

[0021] iii) one or more essential fatty acids and / or derivatives thereof;

[0022] iv) one or more enzymes;

[0023] v) one or more essential oils;

[0024] vi) one or more proteins, collagen, amino acids, and / or derivatives thereof;

[0025] vii) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and / or derivatives thereof;

[0026] viii) one or more cannabinoids and / or derivatives thereof; and / or

[0027] ix) one or more dietary ingredients permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practice for Dietary Supplements, 21 CFR § 111.

[0028] In some aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and / or one or more other non-psychoactive cannabinoids. In some aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or one or more other psychoactive cannabinoids. In some aspects, the one or more dietary ingredients include, but are not limited to, coenzyme Q10, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydromyricetin, alpha-lipoic acid, beta-glucan, yeast peptides, capsaicin ester, dihydrocapsaicin ester, nordihydrocapsaicin ester, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, paraxanthine, alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (a-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

[0029] In another embodiment, a process for manufacturing the nutritional supplement composition described above is provided, the process comprising the steps of: A) mixing ingredients; B) precision metering and forming; C) freeze-drying; and D) packaging. In certain aspects, mixing ingredients includes using a high shear homogenizer. In certain aspects, precision metering includes producing a batch of formed pieces, wherein the weight of each formed piece differs from the average weight of the batch by no more than 10%. In certain aspects, the average weight after drying is from 100 milligrams to 3000 milligrams per piece. In certain aspects, freeze-drying results in a final piece having a moisture content of no more than 3%. In certain aspects, packaging includes packaging the final pieces in moisture-resistant containers for long-term storage at low temperature and relative humidity.

[0030] In another embodiment, a nutritional supplement composition is provided, wherein the composition is made by a process comprising the steps of: A) mixing ingredients; B) precision metering and forming; C) freeze-drying; and D) packaging; wherein the nutritional supplement composition comprises: a) a base comprising: i) fruit and / or vegetable puree, fruit and / or vegetable pulp, fruit and / or vegetable juice, fruit and / or vegetable juice concentrate; and / or ii) fermented dairy product, fermented fruit and / or vegetable, fermented tea, and / or fermented herb; b) one or more texture modifiers comprising: i) one or more gums; and / or ii) one or more fatty acids; and c) one or more active ingredients. In certain aspects, mixing ingredients comprises use of a high shear homogenizer. In certain aspects, precision metering comprises producing a batch of formed pieces, each formed piece having a weight that differs from the average weight of the batch by no more than 10%. In certain aspects, the average weight of each piece after drying is from 100 milligrams to 3000 milligrams. In certain aspects, the final product after freeze-drying has a moisture content of no more than 3%. In certain aspects, packaging comprises packaging the final pieces in moisture resistant containers at low temperature and relative humidity for long term storage. In certain aspects, the process is used to make a nutritional supplement composition comprising a base and one or more active ingredients, without comprising one or more texture modifiers.

[0031] In certain aspects of the nutritional supplement composition made by the listed process steps, the one or more natural gums are polysaccharides of natural origin that are capable of significantly increasing viscosity in solution even at low concentrations, including but not limited to guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan gum, acacia gum, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, karaya gum, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or locust bean gum. In certain aspects, the one or more fatty acids comprise plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbe-based fatty acids, and / or synthetic fatty acids. In certain aspects, the one or more fatty acids comprise, but are not limited to, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea oil, animal-based butter, plant-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algal oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil. In certain aspects, the fermented dairy product comprises, but is not limited to, yogurt and / or kefir.

[0032] In further aspects of the nutritional supplement compositions made by the recited process steps, the one or more active ingredients include: i) one or more vitamins and / or minerals; ii) one or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts; iii) one or more essential fatty acids and / or derivatives; iv) one or more enzymes; v) one or more essential oils; vi) one or more proteins, collagen, amino acids, and / or derivatives; vii) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and / or derivatives; viii) one or more cannabinoids and / or derivatives; and / or ix) one or more dietary ingredients permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in compliance with 21 CFR § 111 Good Manufacturing Practice for Dietary Supplements.

[0033] In certain aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and / or one or more other non-psychoactive cannabinoids. In certain aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or one or more other psychoactive cannabinoids. In certain aspects, the one or more dietary ingredients include, but are not limited to, coenzyme Q10, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydromyricetin, alpha-lipoic acid, beta-glucan, yeast peptides, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, paraxanthine, alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (a-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

[0034] In certain embodiments, a package is provided comprising a content vessel designed to contain any of the nutritional supplement compositions described herein, wherein the content vessel is embedded with a desiccant and / or coated with a desiccant-embedded film. In certain aspects, the package of the content vessel embedded with a desiccant and / or coated with a desiccant-embedded film is a bottle.

[0035] Other compositions, methods, features, and advantages of the present application will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional compositions, methods, features, and advantages be included within the scope of the present specification, be within the scope of the following claims, and be protected by the principles of the present application.

[0036] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The present application can be better understood by reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the application.

[0038] Figure 1Examples of different sizes, shapes, and weights of the freeze-dried nutritional supplement compositions of the present application are shown.

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The subject matter of the present application will now be described more fully with reference to some, but not all, embodiments thereof. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subject matter of the present application can be implemented in any number of ways, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, the present application should be implemented in a manner that accommodates all modifications and alternative methods of practice of the application as fall within the scope of the appended claims. Indeed, it is anticipated that, upon reading this disclosure, those having ordinary skill in the art will be able to implement the subject matter of the present application in a manner that is most appropriate for their needs.

[0041] Nutritional supplement compositions and related manufacturing processes

[0042] The present application relates to the discovery of a low temperature manufacturing process that produces a nutritional supplement composition having a low water content that has a long shelf life and maintains the bioactivity of the active ingredients. The nutritional supplement composition of the present application is also suitable for use in the manufacture of shaped products without the disintegration and breakage problems that are present in current shaped products. The process disclosed herein allows for more precise control of the active ingredient content.

[0043] In one embodiment, a nutritional supplement composition is provided, the composition comprising:

[0044] a) a base comprising:

[0045] i) a fruit and / or vegetable puree, fruit and / or vegetable pulp, fruit and / or vegetable juice, and / or fruit and / or vegetable concentrate; and / or

[0046] ii) a fermented dairy product, a fermented fruit and / or vegetable, a fermented tea, and / or a fermented herb;

[0047] b) one or more texture modifiers comprising:

[0048] i) one or more gums; and / or

[0049] ii) one or more fatty acids; and

[0050] c) one or more active ingredients.

[0051] In some aspects, the one or more natural gums are polysaccharides of natural origin that significantly increase the viscosity of a solution, even at low concentrations, including but not limited to guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan gum, gum acacia, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, gum karaya, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or locust bean gum. In some aspects, the one or more fatty acids include plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbe-based fatty acids, and / or synthetic fatty acids. In some aspects, the one or more fatty acids include, but are not limited to, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea oil, animal-based butter, plant-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algal oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil. In some aspects, the fermented dairy product includes, but is not limited to, yogurt and / or kefir.

[0052] In some aspects, the nutritional supplement composition includes a base and one or more active ingredients, but does not include one or more texture modifiers.

[0053] In further aspects of the nutritional supplement composition, the one or more active ingredients include:

[0054] i) one or more vitamins and / or minerals;

[0055] ii) one or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts;

[0056] iii) one or more essential fatty acids and / or derivatives thereof;

[0057] iv) one or more enzymes;

[0058] v) one or more essential oils;

[0059] vi) one or more proteins, collagen, amino acids, and / or derivatives thereof;

[0060] vii) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and / or derivatives thereof;

[0061] viii) one or more cannabinoids and / or derivatives thereof; and / or

[0062] ix) one or more dietary ingredients permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in compliance with 21 CFR § 111 Good Manufacturing Practice for Dietary Supplements.

[0063] In some aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and / or other one or more non-psychoactive cannabinoids. In some aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or other one or more psychoactive cannabinoids. In some aspects, the one or more dietary ingredients include, but are not limited to, coenzyme Q10, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydromyricetin, alpha-lipoic acid, beta-glucan, yeast peptides, capsaicin ester, dihydrocapsaicin ester, nor dihydrocapsaicin ester, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, paraxanthine, alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (a-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

[0064] In another embodiment, a process for manufacturing the nutritional supplement composition described above is provided, the process comprising the steps of:

[0065] A) mixing ingredients;

[0066] B) precision metering and forming;

[0067] C) freeze-drying; and

[0068] D) packaging.

[0069] In certain aspects, mixing ingredients includes using a high shear homogenizer. In certain aspects, precision metering includes producing a batch of formed pieces, wherein the weight of each formed piece differs from the average weight of the batch by no more than 10%. In certain aspects, the average weight after drying is from 100 milligrams to 3000 milligrams per piece, including all weights between 200 milligrams, 300 milligrams, 400 milligrams, 500 milligrams, 600 milligrams, 700 milligrams, 800 milligrams, 900 milligrams, 1000 milligrams, 1100 milligrams, 1200 milligrams, 1300 milligrams, 1400 milligrams, 1500 milligrams, 1600 milligrams, 1700 milligrams, 1800 milligrams, 1900 milligrams, 2000 milligrams, 2100 milligrams, 2200 milligrams, 2300 milligrams, 2400 milligrams, 2500 milligrams, 2600 milligrams, 2700 milligrams, 2800 milligrams, and 2900 milligrams. In certain aspects, freeze-drying results in a final piece having a moisture content of no more than 3%. In certain aspects, packaging includes packaging the final pieces in moisture-resistant containers at lower temperatures and relative humidity for long-term storage.

[0070] In another embodiment, a nutritional supplement composition is provided, wherein the composition is made by a process comprising the steps of:

[0071] A) mixing ingredients;

[0072] B) Precision metering and forming;

[0073] C) Freeze-drying; and

[0074] D) Packaging;

[0075] wherein the nutritional supplement composition comprises:

[0076] a) a base comprising:

[0077] i) fruit and / or vegetable puree, fruit and / or vegetable pulp, fruit and / or vegetable juice, fruit and / or vegetable juice concentrate; and / or

[0078] ii) fermented dairy product, fermented fruit and / or vegetable, fermented tea, and / or fermented herbal plant;

[0079] b) one or more texture modifiers comprising:

[0080] i) one or more gums; and / or

[0081] ii) one or more fatty acids; and

[0082] c) one or more active ingredients.

[0083] In certain aspects, the mixing ingredients includes use of a high shear homogenizer. In certain aspects, the precision metering includes production of a batch of formed pieces, wherein the weight of each formed piece differs from the average weight of the batch by no more than 10%. In certain aspects, the average weight after drying is from 100 milligrams to 3000 milligrams per piece. In certain aspects, the freeze-drying results in a final piece having a water content of no more than 3%. In certain aspects, the packaging includes packaging the final pieces in moisture resistant containers at lower temperatures and relative humidity for long term storage. In certain aspects, the nutritional supplement composition includes the base and one or more active ingredients, without inclusion of one or more texture modifiers.

[0084] In certain aspects of the nutritional supplement composition made by the recited process steps, the one or more natural gums are polysaccharides of natural origin that are capable of significantly increasing viscosity in solution even at low concentrations, including but not limited to guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan gum, gum acacia, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, gum karaya, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or locust bean gum. In certain aspects, the one or more fatty acids include plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbe-based fatty acids, and / or synthetic fatty acids. In certain aspects, the one or more fatty acids include, but are not limited to, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea oil, animal-based butter, plant-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algal oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil. In certain aspects, the fermented dairy product includes, but is not limited to, yogurt and / or kefir.

[0085] In further aspects of the nutritional supplement composition made by the recited process steps, the one or more active ingredients include:

[0086] i) one or more vitamins and / or minerals;

[0087] ii) one or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts;

[0088] iii) one or more essential fatty acids and / or derivatives;

[0089] iv) one or more enzymes;

[0090] v) one or more essential oils;

[0091] vi) one or more proteins, collagen, amino acids, and / or derivatives;

[0092] vii) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and / or derivatives;

[0093] viii) one or more cannabinoids and / or derivatives; and / or

[0094] ix) one or more dietary ingredients permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in compliance with 21 CFR § 111 Good Manufacturing Practice for Dietary Supplements.

[0095] In certain aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and / or one or more other non-psychoactive cannabinoids. In certain aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or one or more other psychoactive cannabinoids. In certain aspects, the one or more dietary ingredients include, but are not limited to, coenzyme Q10, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydromyricetin, alpha-lipoic acid, beta-glucan, yeast peptides, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, paraxanthine, alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (a-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

[0096] lyophilization

[0097] Lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying, is a process that removes water from a composition after freezing. Typically, the frozen solution is first subjected to a primary drying step in a vacuum drying chamber, where the temperature is gradually increased to remove most of the water, followed by a secondary drying step, which is usually at a higher temperature than the primary drying step, to remove residual water from the lyophilized composition. Subsequently, the lyophilized composition is suitably sealed and stored for later use. Tang et al. (2004) in Pharmaceutical Research 21 : 191-200 describe the scientific principles related to lyophilization and guidance for designing a suitable lyophilization process. Further lyophilization descriptions can be found in Remington (2006) The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 21stEdition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 828-831.

[0098] After the formation of the weight-uniform nutritional supplement composition, drying is performed using a commercially available lyophilizer. The final product should have a water content of no more than 3%.

[0099] Depending on the composition, the physical properties, color, flavor, taste, mouthfeel, and other characteristics of the lyophilized product vary. The weight and shape are determined by the shape and volume of the mold used. Examples of different sizes, shapes, and weights of the lyophilized nutritional supplement compositions of the present application are shown in Figure 1

[0100] texture modifier

[0101] ​Texture modifiers are used to improve the texture of the shaped freeze-dried product. Gums are used to increase integrity and strength so that the product does not break easily during processing, handling, and shipping. Accordingly, to reduce the brittleness of the freeze-dried finished product, gums are added, including but not limited to guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan gum, gum arabian, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, gum karaya, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or locust bean gum.

[0102] Fatty acids

[0103] Fatty acids are used to improve mouthfeel when the product is chewed and to reduce hygroscopicity for long-term storage. Accordingly, to reduce stickiness and hygroscopicity, fatty acids are used, including but not limited to plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbe-based fatty acids, and / or synthetic fatty acids, including but not limited to coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea oil, animal-based butter, plant-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algal oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil.

[0104] Active ingredients

[0105] Active ingredients include any ingredient that is beneficial to human health upon ingestion, including but not limited to:

[0106] a) one or more vitamins and / or minerals;

[0107] b) one or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts;

[0108] c) one or more essential fatty acids and / or derivatives thereof;

[0109] d) one or more enzymes;

[0110] e) one or more essential oils;

[0111] f) one or more proteins, collagen, amino acids, and / or derivatives thereof;

[0112] g) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and / or derivatives thereof;

[0113] h) one or more cannabinoids and / or derivatives thereof; and / or

[0114] i) one or more dietary ingredients permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in compliance with 21 CFR § 111 Good Manufacturing Practice for Dietary Supplements.

[0115] In some aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and / or other one or more non-psychoactive cannabinoids. In some aspects, the one or more cannabinoids include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or other one or more psychoactive cannabinoids. In some aspects, the one or more dietary ingredients include, but are not limited to, coenzyme Q10, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydromyricetin, alpha-lipoic acid, beta-glucan, yeast peptides, capsaicin ester, dihydrocapsaicin ester, nor dihydrocapsaicin ester, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline bitartrate, L-theanine, paraxanthine, alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (a-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

[0116] Mixing of ingredients

[0117] Mixing of ingredients can be performed in any type of commercial mixer, although due to the high viscosity of the base ingredients, especially after the addition of the active ingredients, it is preferred to use a high shear homogenizer or a high shear emulsifier. High shear homogenizers are equipped with high speed rotors and static stators and are well suited for a variety of applications such as mixing, homogenization, suspension, emulsification, dispersion and disintegration of any type of solids / powders into liquids. The high speed rotor tip speed and the narrow radial gap between the rotor and the stator make it an ideal choice for mixing the ingredients of the nutritional supplement composition.

[0118] Accurate metering

[0119] Accurate metering is a critical part of the successful commercialization and production of the nutritional supplement compositions described herein. Uniform weight of each piece of product is essential to the nutritional supplement. The United States Pharmacopeia (US Pharmacopeia) sets weight deviation limits for the average weight of tablets, capsules, soft capsules, and gummies. For gummies, the US Pharmacopeia states: “From each color and shape separately, take an equal number of units to obtain not less than 20 individual weights, and calculate the average weight. If no individual weight deviates more than 7.5% from the average weight, it is considered to be within the requirements. If one unit is outside the limit, repeat the test with not less than 20 gummies. When the requirements are met, the deviation of the weight of all the test units from the average weight is not more than 10%.”

[0120] Since the presently disclosed nutritional supplement compositions are a new dosage form, the United States Pharmacopeia has not set weight variation limits or standards for them. Based on the final weight of the shaped pieces after drying (100 mg to 3000 mg per piece), the weight variation limits for capsules and soft capsules as set forth in the United States Pharmacopeia were used, wherein 20 whole pieces were individually weighed and used to determine the average weight. If each individual weight is within the limit of 90% to 110% of the average weight, then it is acceptable.

[0121] Precise metering and shaping can be accomplished by a depositor used to manufacture foods such as chocolates, cookies, and candies, to achieve precise weights and uniform size and shape. The depositor fills the nutritional supplement compositions into molds.

[0122] Modifications to the ingredient system and molds can be required to achieve uniform weights that meet the above requirements.

[0123] Packaging

[0124] After drying, all dried pieces should be immediately packaged in moisture resistant containers at low temperature and relative humidity for long term storage.

[0125] In certain embodiments, a package is provided comprising an inner container configured to contain any of the nutritional supplement compositions described herein, wherein the inner container is embedded with a desiccant and / or coated with a desiccant-embedded film. Examples of desiccant films for pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement compositions include Aluminum desiccant film (Wise Sorbent Technology, Marlton, NJ) and Activ-Film TM Material (Aptar CSP Technologies, Inc., Auburn, AL). In certain aspects, the package comprising an inner container embedded with a desiccant and / or coated with a desiccant-embedded film is a bottle. Examples

[0126] Example 1

[0127] A general method for preparing the nutritional supplement compositions described herein includes:

[0128] 1) Mixing the base, texturizing agent, and active ingredients in a high shear laboratory blender to make a mixture.

[0129] 2) Manually placing the mixture into molds to form the desired shape.

[0130] 3) Lyophilizing in a laboratory lyophilizer to make a lyophilized finished product.

[0131] 4) Packaging the lyophilized finished product in a moisture resistant container containing one or more desiccants.

[0132] Example 2

[0133] To evaluate the effect of different weight percentages of gum on the strength of the final product when making the nutritional supplement compositions described herein, the toughness of the freeze-dried tablets was measured using a tablet friability tester and comparing the toughness between different weight percentages of gum. In simple terms, friability testing indicates how much mechanical stress a tablet can withstand during its manufacture, distribution, and handling by the customer. In the pharmaceutical industry, friability testing is an accepted technique, and the instrument that performs the process is called a friability tester.

[0134] In the toughness test, the sample is counted and weighed, then tumbled in a rotating drum with baffles. After the process is stopped, the sample is removed from the instrument, wiped of any dust, and then weighed again. The ratio of the weight before and after the process is determined as the toughness.

[0135] Example 3

[0136] The effect of different weight percentages of fatty acids on the mouthfeel (e.g., stickiness) and hygroscopicity (ability to absorb moisture from the environment) of the final freeze-dried tablets was tested as follows. The mouthfeel test evaluated and compared the mouthfeel variables of the final freeze-dried tablets of different weight percentages of fatty acids by recruiting individuals to participate in the study. The hygroscopicity test measured and compared the water content of the samples of different weight percentages of fatty acids by placing the samples in open containers, storing them at a set relative humidity for a set time, and then measuring and comparing the water content of the samples of different weight percentages of fatty acids.

[0137] Example 4

[0138] Since the compositions and methods are superior to conventional soft candy compositions and related manufacturing methods in that they involve lower temperatures, the effect of different active ingredients that are heat sensitive was evaluated as follows. Multiple vitamin and mineral compositions containing vitamin C, thiamine, and pantothenic acid were prepared using the methods described herein and tested using a heat sensitivity assay.

[0139] Example 5

[0140] Testing of other active ingredients was performed as follows.

[0141] A composition containing prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes was prepared using the methods described herein and tested for colony forming units (CFU).

[0142] A prebiotic-probiotic and enzyme formulation was prepared using the methods described herein; a formulation containing Omega 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 fatty acids; a collagen formulation; a coenzyme Q10 PQQ formulation; a NMN, NAD, NADH formulation; a plant extract formulation; a CBD formulation; or an amino acid formulation, and the final freeze-dried tablets were tested for mouthfeel to evaluate their flavor and overall acceptability as a dietary supplement chewable dosage form.

[0143] Example 6: Effect of gums

[0144] Gums or hydrocolloids are widely used in the food industry to increase the viscosity of foods, improve gelation effects, and control microstructure, texture, flavor, and shelf life. They can be extracted from plants, animals, seaweed, or obtained through microbial fermentation or synthetic processes.

[0145] Adding gums to the formulation can increase the strength and toughness of the freeze-dried pieces. We have completed the test of different percentages of guar gum in the formulation. In this group of formulations, the addition of more than 0.6% of guar gum significantly increased the viscosity of the slurry, resulting in the slurry being unable to be successfully injected into the mold. However, if other gums are chosen, especially low viscosity gums, more gums can be added.

[0146] Test GUM1 GUM2 GUM3 GUM4 Guar gum 0％ 0.2％ 0.4％ 0.6％ MCT oil 3％ 3％ 3％ 3％ Orange puree 47.0％ 46.8％ 46.6％ 46.4％ Banana puree 50％ 50％ 50％ 50％ Fragility 2.8％ 1.5％ 0.9％ 0.6％ Strength 97.2％ 98.5％ 99.1％ 99.4％

[0147] The friability of the freeze-dried pieces was measured using a standard friability tester, and the samples were tumbled for 1 minute. The friability was defined as the percentage of weight loss, and the toughness was the ratio of the weight before and after the test. For freeze-dried pieces, it is considered acceptable if the friability does not exceed 1.0% or the toughness is not less than 99.0%.

[0148] From the results, it is clear that adjusting the amount of gum added to the formulation can change the friability and toughness of the freeze-dried pieces.

[0149] Example 7: Effect of fatty acids

[0150] To study the effect of fatty acids on the taste and hygroscopicity of the freeze-dried pieces, different proportions of coconut oil and banana puree were used. In this part of the test, no active nutritional ingredients were added.

[0151] Test FA1 FA2 FA3 FA4 FA6 FA8 FA10 Coconut oil 1％ 2％ 3％ 4％ 6％ 6％ 10％ Banana puree 99％ 98％ 97％ 96％ 94％ 92％ 90％

[0152] Surprisingly, the banana puree and coconut oil mixed very well, and the freeze-dried pieces did not have a greasy feeling.

[0153] Sensory tests showed that the higher the content of coconut oil, the smoother the taste of the freeze-dried pieces, and the lower the stickiness.

[0154] After placing the freeze-dried pieces in the environment for 8 hours, the average hygroscopic weight gain of 10 freeze-dried pieces in each test was measured, and the hygroscopicity was calculated. The higher the content of fatty acids, the lower the hygroscopicity of the freeze-dried pieces.

[0155] Test FA1 FA2 FA3 FA4 FA6 FA8 FA10 Coconut oil 1％ 2％ 3％ 4％ 6％ 6％ 10％ Banana puree 99％ 98％ 97％ 96％ 94％ 92％ 90％ Moisture uptake 8.56％ 7.49％ 5.64％ 5.21％ 4.87％ 4.17％ 3.14％

[0156] Example 8: Freeze-dried pieces of multiple vitamins and minerals containing heat-sensitive vitamin C, thiamine, and pantothenic acid

[0157] In this example, one non-frozen 3000 mg mass contains 25% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamins A, C, D3, E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, vitamin B12, biotin, zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, iodine, iron and molybdenum, 50 mg of DHA, 23% wt of orange pulp, 35% wt of mango pulp and 31% wt of banana pulp. To enhance appearance, mouthfeel and flavor, small amounts of natural sweetener stevia extract, natural color turmeric and natural flavor were added.

[0158] The average weight of the finished lyophilized mass was 752 mg with a weight variation of ± 18 mg. The water content was less than 3% and the sugar content was about 300 mg, much lower than in a regular gummy.

[0159] Further analytical tests showed that the content of vitamins C, thiamine and pantothenic acid was lost by an insignificant amount, less than 5%. This was due to the low operating temperatures involved throughout the process.

[0160] Example 9: Prebiotic, probiotic and enzyme compositions

[0161] In this example, one non-frozen 2500 mg mass contains about 25 billion CFU of a probiotic mixture including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus gasserii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacterium infantis, 2% wt of a prebiotic mixture including fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides and xylooligosaccharides, 2% wt of an enzyme mixture including bromelain, papain and lactase, 3% wt of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 5% wt of wild berry juice concentrate, 36% wt of strawberry puree and 48% wt of banana puree.

[0162] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass is 628 mg with a weight variation of ± 20 mg, a water content lower than 3% and a water activity (AW) of 0.16.

[0163] Quantitative tests performed on the probiotics show that the probiotics are well preserved, with an average of about 23 billion CFU retained per freeze-dried mass.

[0164] Example 10: Omega 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 fatty acid composition

[0165] In this example, one non-frozen 2500 mg mass contains 10% of a mixture of algal oil, pomegranate seed oil, borage oil, sea buckthorn oil and almond oil providing Omega 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 fatty acids. One mass also contains 2% wt of phosphatidylserine, 2% wt of phosphatidylcholine, 0.4% wt of guar gum, 42% of orange puree and 43.6% wt of banana puree.

[0166] The average weight of the finished lyophilized cake was 420 mg with a weight variation of ± 15 mg and a water content of less than 3%.

[0167] Example 11: Collagen Composition

[0168] In this example, a non-lyophilized 2500 mg cake contained 20 mg collagen, 2.5 mg biotin, 15 mg ascorbic acid, 20 mg ceramide, and 10 mg hyaluronic acid. The cake also contained 3% wt medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil as a texture modifier, 5% wt wild berry juice concentrate, 36% wt strawberry puree, and 53% wt banana puree.

[0169] The average weight of the finished lyophilized cake was 624 mg with a weight variation of ± 25 mg and a water content of less than 3%.

[0170] Example 12: Coenzyme Q10 and PQQ Composition

[0171] In this example, a non-lyophilized 2500 mg cake contained 100 mg coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), 10 mg pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), 0.5% wt xanthan gum, and 1% wt avocado oil as texture modifiers, 4% wt mixed berry juice concentrate, 40% wt strawberry puree, and 50% wt banana puree.

[0172] The average weight of the finished lyophilized cake was 595 mg with a weight variation of ± 21 mg and a water content of less than 3%.

[0173] Example 13: NMN, NAD, and NADH Composition

[0174] In this example, a non-lyophilized 3000 mg cake contained a mixture of 250 mg nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). In addition, the same cake contained 16 mg niacin, 3% wt medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 5% wt pomegranate juice concentrate, 37% wt strawberry puree, and 45% wt banana puree.

[0175] The average weight of the finished lyophilized cake was 886 mg with a weight variation of ± 31 mg and a water content of less than 3%.

[0176] Example 14: Ayurvedic Herbs and Saffron Composition

[0177] In this example, a non-lyophilized 3500 mg cake contained 300 mg of Ayurvedic herb root extract, 12 mg of saffron stigma extract, 4% wt coconut oil, 8.5% wt cocoa powder, 8.5% wt red citrus juice concentrate, 70% strawberry juice. 1 mg stevia extract was added as a sweetener to enhance sweetness.

[0178] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried block is 1150 mg, with a weight variation of ±32 mg, and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0179] Example 15: CBD Composition

[0180] In this embodiment, a non-lyophilized 2500 mg block contains 15 mg of CBD isolate, a broad-spectrum CBD distillate, and a mixture of full-spectrum CBD distillates. The texture modifier is 4% wt sunflower seed oil, and the base consists of 5% wt pomegranate juice concentrate, 36% wt strawberry puree, and 53% wt banana puree.

[0181] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried block was 603 mg, with a weight variation of ±22 mg, and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0182] Example 16: Melatonin Nutritional Supplement Composition

[0183] In this embodiment, a non-freeze-dried 1000 mg block contains 10 mg of melatonin, 3% wt palm oil, 5% wt blueberry juice concentrate, 30% wt strawberry puree, and 60% wt banana puree.

[0184] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried block was 234 mg, with a weight variation of ±17 mg, and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0185] Example 17: Iron Supplement Composition

[0186] In this embodiment, a non-freeze-dried 2500 mg pellet contains 50% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron, 3% wt of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 0.4% wt of guar gum, 4% wt of red citrus juice concentrate, 0.4% wt of beetroot juice as a colorant, 39% wt of strawberry puree, and 50% of banana puree.

[0187] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried block was 613 mg, with a weight variation of ±21 mg, and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0188] Example 18: Calcium Nutritional Supplement Composition

[0189] In this embodiment, a non-freeze-dried 2500 mg block contains 11.5% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of calcium, 1250 IU of vitamin D3, and 30 mcg of vitamin K2 MK-7. The texture improvers are 12% wt corn oil and 2% wt lotus seed gum, and the base is 71% wt strawberry juice.

[0190] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried block was 842 mg, with a weight variation of ±31 mg, and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0191] Example 19: Immune Support Nutritional Supplement Composition

[0192] In this example, a non-frozen 2600 mg mass contained 125 mg of beta-glucan, 15 mg of Vitamin C, and 130 mg of elderberry juice concentrate. The texturizing agent was 3% wt coconut oil and 0.4% wt guar gum. The base included 42% wt strawberry puree and 44% wt banana puree.

[0193] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass was 661 mg with a weight variation of ± 25 mg and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0194] Example 20: Turmeric Nutritional Supplement Composition

[0195] In this example, a non-frozen 2500 mg mass contained 100 mg of curcuminoids, 8 mg of ginger oil, and 15 mg of ginger puree. The texturizing agent was 3% wt coconut oil and the base included 24% wt mango puree, 8.5% wt strawberry puree, and 59% wt banana puree.

[0196] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass was 636 mg with a weight variation of ± 32 mg and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0197] Example 21: Cognitive Support Nutritional Supplement Composition

[0198] In this example, a non-frozen 3000 mg mass contained 250 mg of citicholine and 50 mg of Alpha-GPC. The texturizing agent was 3% wt medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil and 0.3% wt guar gum. The base included 47% wt banana puree, 35% wt strawberry puree, and 5% red tropical fruit juice concentrate.

[0199] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass was 874 mg with a weight variation of ± 42 mg and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0200] Example 22: Apple Cider Vinegar Nutritional Supplement Composition

[0201] In this example, a non-frozen 2500 mg mass contained 500 mg of apple cider vinegar and 10 mg of ginger oil. The texturizing agent was 3% wt coconut oil and the base included 32% wt mango puree and 44% wt banana puree. Ginger juice and stevia extract were added as a flavoring agent and a sweetener, respectively.

[0202] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass was 460 mg with a weight variation of ± 28 mg and a moisture content of less than 3%.

[0203] ​Example 23: Nutritional supplement composition based on butter

[0204] In this example, a non-frozen 3000 mg mass contains 125 mg of hydrolyzed yeast peptide. The base includes 53% wt. of peanut butter and 43% of water.

[0205] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass is 1300 mg with a weight variation of ± 67 mg and a water content of less than 3%.

[0206] Example 24: Nutritional supplement composition based on fermented dairy product

[0207] In this example, a non-frozen 2500 mg mass contains about 25 billion CFU of a probiotic mixture including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, (Lactobacillus paracasei), Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus gasserii, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacterium infantis, 2% wt. of a prebiotic mixture including fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides and xylooligosaccharides, 2% wt. of an enzyme mixture including bromelain, papain and lactase, 3% wt. of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 5% wt. of pomegranate juice concentrate, 36% wt. of strawberry puree and 46% wt. of Kefir.

[0208] The average weight of the finished freeze-dried mass is 682 mg with a weight variation of ± 32 mg, a water content of less than 3% and an Aw level of 0.14.

[0209] Example 25: Nutritional supplement composition based on coconut milk

[0210] In this example, one non-frozen 3400 mg mass contains 9.5% wt of magnesium glycinate citrate; 0.2% wt of guar gum and 0.75% wt of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil as texture modifiers; 37% wt of coconut cream, 46% wt of pineapple juice and 6% wt of tropical juice concentrate as base. The composition also includes pineapple flavour, stevia extract and turmeric as flavouring agent, sweetener and colouring agent, respectively.

[0211] General Definitions

[0212] In accordance with long-standing patent law practice, the terms "a", "an" and "the" are used in this application (including the claims) to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to "at least one" or "one or more"). Thus, for example, reference to "a subject" includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise (such as a plurality of subjects). So too with the use of "an" and "the". Similarly, the words "plurality" or "a plurality" means "two or more than two". It is further pointed out that the claims may be drafted to exclude any

[0213] For purposes of the present description and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all terms indicating amounts, sizes, ratios, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, numbers, properties, and other numerical values are to be construed "about" all circumstances, even if the word is not expressly present. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, numerical parameters listed in the specification and claims are approximations only and can vary by a small amount depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present disclosure. For example, when "about" is used in conjunction with a numerical value, it can mean that in some embodiments, the variation is about 100%, in some embodiments, about 50%, in some embodiments, about 20%, in some embodiments, about 10%, in some embodiments, about 5%, in some embodiments, about 1%, in some embodiments, about 0.5%, and in some embodiments, about 0.1% variation from the stated value, such variation being appropriate as would be understood by one of skill in the art in carrying out the methods or using the compositions disclosed.

[0214] Further, when "about" is used in conjunction with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, it is understood that all numbers within the range, and the range of endpoints are to be modified by "about". In reciting numerical ranges using endpoints, all numbers and fractions within the range are included, for example, the recitation of a range of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, such as 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, etc., and any range of endpoints within the range.

[0215] In the present application, the terms "patient" and "subject" are used interchangeably. The patient or subject treated according to the presently disclosed compositions and methods is preferably a human subject, although it is understood that the methods described herein are effective for all vertebrate species and are intended to be included within the term "subject." Thus, a "subject" can include a human subject for whom medical treatment is desired (e.g., diagnosis or treatment of an existing disease, disorder, or condition, or prophylactic diagnosis or treatment to prevent the occurrence of a disease, disorder, or condition).

[0216] In the present application, the term "substantially free" means less than about 0.01% by weight of the material, particularly about 0.005% or less by weight of the material, more particularly about 0.001% or less by weight of the material. Alternatively, the term "substantially free" means less than or equal to 20 ppm (parts per million), more particularly less than or equal to 10 ppm of the material.

[0217] Reference to a Citation

[0218] All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the art to which this application pertains. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned in the specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, patent, or other reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. It will be understood that, although a number of patent applications, patents, and other references are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents forms part of the common general knowledge in the art.

[0219] While the forgoing has been described in some detail for the purposes of clarity and the understanding, it will be appreciated that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A nutritional supplement composition comprising: a) A base material, comprising: i) Fruit and / or vegetable puree, fruit and / or vegetable pulp, fruit and / or vegetable juice, and / or fruit and / or vegetable concentrate; and / or ii) Fermented dairy products, fermented fruits and / or vegetables, fermented tea, and / or fermented herbs; b) One or more texture modifiers, including: i) one or more resins; and / or ii) one or more fatty acids; and c) One or more active ingredients.

2. The nutritional supplement composition according to claim 1, wherein one or more gums include guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan, gum arabic, gum amylopectin, astragalus gum, tussock gum, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or lotus seed gum.

3. The nutritional supplement composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more fatty acids include plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbial-based fatty acids and / or synthetic fatty acids.

4. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more fatty acids comprise coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea butter, animal-based butter, vegetable-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower seed oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algae oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil.

5. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fermented dairy product comprises yogurt and / or kefir.

6. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one or more active ingredients comprise: i) One or more vitamins and / or minerals; ii) One or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts; iii) One or more essential fatty acids and / or their derivatives; iv) One or more enzymes; v) One or more essential oils; vi) One or more proteins, collagen, amino acids and / or their derivatives; vii) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and / or their derivatives; and / or viii) One or more dietary ingredients that are permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comply with 21 CFR §111 Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements.

7. [Delete].

8. [Delete].

9. The nutritional supplement composition according to claim 6, wherein one or more dietary ingredients comprise coenzyme Q10, pyrrolidone (PQQ), glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydromyricetin, alpha-lipoic acid, β-glucan, yeast peptide, capsaicin ester, dihydrocapsaicin ester, nordihydrocapsaicin ester, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline tartrate, L-theanine, theophylline, alpha-glycerophosphate choline (Alpha-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

10. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a base and one or more active ingredients, but excluding the one or more texture modifiers.

11. A package comprising an inner container for containing a nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, said inner container being embedded with a desiccant and / or coated with a film for embedding the desiccant.

12. The packaging according to claim 11, wherein the packaging containing the desiccant and / or coated with an embedded desiccant film is a bottle.

13. A method for preparing the nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the following steps: A) Mixed components; B) Precise measurement and molding; C) Freeze-drying; as well as D) Packaging.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mixing components include using a high-shear homogenizer.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein precise metering comprises producing a batch of molded parts, wherein the weight of each molded part differs from the average weight of the batch by no more than 10%.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the average weight of each piece after drying is from 100 mg to 3000 mg.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the moisture content of the final freeze-dried product does not exceed 3%.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein packaging comprises placing the finished product into a moisture-proof container at a lower temperature and relative humidity for long-term storage.

19. A nutritional supplement composition prepared by the following steps: A) Mixed components; B) Precise measurement and molding; C) Freeze-drying; as well as D) Packaging; The nutritional supplement composition includes: a) A base material, comprising: i) Fruit and / or vegetable puree, fruit and / or vegetable pulp, fruit and / or vegetable juice, and / or Fruit and / or vegetable concentrates; and / or ii) Fermented dairy products, fermented fruits and / or vegetables, fermented tea, and / or fermented herbs; b) One or more texture modifiers, including: i) one or more resins; and / or ii) one or more fatty acids; and c) One or more active ingredients.

20. The nutritional supplement composition of claim 19, wherein the mixing components include the use of a high-shear homogenizer.

21. The nutritional supplement composition according to claim 19 or 20, wherein precise metering comprises producing a batch of molded parts, wherein the weight of each molded part differs from the average weight of the batch by no more than 10%.

22. The nutritional supplement composition according to claim 21, wherein the average weight of each dried portion is from 100 mg to 3000 mg.

23. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the moisture content of the freeze-dried final product does not exceed 3%.

24. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein packaging includes placing the finished product into a moisture-proof container at a lower temperature and relative humidity for long-term storage.

25. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein one or more gums include guar gum, gum arabic, xanthan gum, carrageenan, gum arabic, gum amylopectin, astragalus gum, tussock gum, glucomannan, dammar gum, tara gum, gellan gum, and / or lotus seed gum.

26. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein one or more fatty acids include plant-based fatty acids, animal-based fatty acids, microbial-based fatty acids and / or synthetic fatty acids.

27. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 26, wherein the one or more fatty acids comprise coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut milk, cocoa butter, shea butter, animal-based butter, vegetable-based butter, medium-chain triglycerides, sunflower seed oil, soybean oil, pumpkin seed oil, avocado oil, nut oil, algae oil, fish oil, lecithin, phospholipids, milk fat, nut butter, seed oil, and / or hydrogenated oil.

28. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 27, wherein the fermented dairy product comprises yogurt and / or kefir.

29. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein one or more active ingredients comprise: i) One or more vitamins and / or minerals; ii) One or more plant powders, tinctures, and / or extracts; iii) One or more essential fatty acids and / or their derivatives; iv) One or more enzymes; v) One or more essential oils; vi) One or more proteins, collagen, amino acids and / or their derivatives; vii) one or more fibers, oligosaccharides, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and / or their derivatives; and / or viii) One or more dietary ingredients that are permitted for use in dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comply with 21 CFR §111 Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements.

30. [Delete].

31. [Delete].

32. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 31, wherein one or more dietary ingredients comprise coenzyme Q10, pyrrolidone, glutathione, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydromyricetin, α-lipoic acid, β-glucan, yeast peptide, capsaicin ester, dihydrocapsaicin ester, nordihydrocapsaicin ester, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, choline tartrate, L-theanine, theophylline, α-glycerophosphate choline (α-GPC), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), and / or melatonin.

33. The nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 31, comprising a base and one or more active ingredients, but excluding one or more texture modifiers.

34. A package comprising an inner container for containing a nutritional supplement composition according to any one of claims 19 to 33, said inner container being embedded with a desiccant and / or coated with a film for embedding the desiccant.

35. The packaging according to claim 34, wherein the packaging containing the desiccant and / or coated with an embedded desiccant film is a bottle.

Images