Methods and compositions for preventing and relieving muscle cramps and for recovery from neuromuscular irritability and fatigue following exercise

Abstract

The methods and compositions of the present invention are directed to the treatment or amelioration of muscle cramps using a composition that includes one or more TRPV1 channel activators, and / or one or more TRPA1 channel activators, and / or one or more ASIC channel activators.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 368,059, filed on Jul. 27, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In general, the invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing, treating or ameliorating muscle cramping and / or accelerating nerve-muscle recovery from exercise fatigue.[0003]Muscle cramps, the involuntary and forceful contraction of muscles, are often painful and can last for a prolonged period of time. Muscle contractions and cramping can be triggered by exercise and can also occur spontaneously (e.g., nocturnal or night cramps). The underlying physiological mechanism of muscle cramping is unknown. Recent understanding has led to the hypothesis that cramping results from excessive electrical firing of the neurons (motor neurons) that project from the spinal cord and trigger contraction of skeletal muscles (Schwellnus, Br J Sports M...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0055]The compositions can also include one more excipients that are not activators of TRPV1, TRPA1, and ASIC channels and that are non-toxic and non-inflammatory in a subject (e.g., in a human subject). In some embodiments, the excipient(s) can provide desirable or improved physical and / or chemical properties such as stability, flow, viscosity, rate of disintegration, taste, delivery, etc. Exemplary, non-limiting excipients that can be selected from: a disintegrant (e.g., carmellose, starch, crystalline cellulose, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and the like), a binder (e.g., gum acacia, carmellose, gelatin, crystalline cellulose, simple syrup, honey, hydroxypropyl cellulose, povidone, methylcellulose, and the like), a surfactant (e.g., polyoxyl 40 stearate, polysorbate 80, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, and the like), an emulsifier (e.g., polyoxyl 40 stearate, sorbitan sesquioleate, polysorbate 80, sodium lauryl sulfate, lauromacrogol, gum arabic, cholesterol, stearic acid, povidone, glyceryl monostearate, and the like), a plasticizer (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, macrogol, and the like), a lubricant (e.g., magnesium silicate, carmellose, light anhydrous silicic acid, stearic acid, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, talc, and the like), a sweetener (e.g., white soft sugar, honey, simple syrup, glucose, saccharin sodium, acesulfame potassium, disodium glycyrrhizinate, and the like), a pH-adjusting agent (e.g., hydrochloric acid, citric acid, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and the like), a preservative (e.g., benzoic acid, benzalkonium chloride, ethyl parahydroxybenzoate, butyl parahydroxybenzoate, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, and the like), a flavor (e.g., fennel oil, orange oil, cinnamon oil, thymol, orange peel tincture, dl-menthol, l-menthol, eucalyptus oil, and the like), or a coloring agent (e.g., Food Red No. 2, No. 3, No. 40, No. 102, No. 104, No. 105 or No. 106, Food Yellow No. 4 or No. 5, Food Green No. 3, Food Blue No. 1 or No. 2, titanium dioxide, sodium copper chlorophyllin, turmeric, gardenia, annatto dye, kaoliang dye, and the like), or an antioxidant (e.g., ascorbic acid, sodium thiosulfate, tocopherol, sodium hydrogen sulfite, and the like), or any combination thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Muscle cramps, the involuntary and forceful contraction of muscles, are often painful and can last for a prolonged period of time.

Few treatments and therapeutic regimens are available to alleviate this neuromuscular irritability.

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