Water-soluble creatine agglomerates

Abstract

The present invention relates to a creatine agglomerate having improved dissolution properties in an aqueous system and having improved handling properties, thereby making creatine readily ingested. The agglomerate is characterized in that it comprises, based on the total weight of the agglomerate, 30 to 99.9% by weight of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, and 0.1 to 30% by weight of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide, in particular maltodextrin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a creatine agglomerate having improved solubility characteristics in aqueous systems and having improved handling properties, thereby making creatine easier to ingest. Background Art

[0002] Creatine is obtained by chemical synthesis. During the synthesis, the product is obtained in the form of a crystalline material which is very easy to filter. The resulting creatine has a relatively low solubility in water. For example, the solubility of creatine monohydrate in water at 20° C. is 13 g / L. Furthermore, due to its crystalline nature, complete dissolution of creatine is often only achieved very slowly or not at all in practical applications. This proves to be particularly disadvantageous when crystalline creatine is ingested after it has been dissolved in a liquid. Residues are often left behind, which makes the consumer feel uncomfortable when taking it.

[0003] A range of "micronized" creatine products are available on the market, the average particle size (x50) of which generally varies between 2 μm and 70 μm. In the application document WO 2007 / 095734 A1, for example, a method for improving the bioavailability of a nutritional supplement comprising creatine is disclosed. For this purpose, it is recommended to use a micronized nutritional supplement with a reduced particle size, which has improved solubility properties, in particular in water.

[0004] Although the dissolution characteristics of micronized creatine products are improved compared to coarse crystal products, they are still not optimal. In addition, the handling properties of micronized products are generally comparable to those of finely ground products. These finely ground products generally have lower bulk density and poorer flowability and free flowability, which is disadvantageous in practical use. If the powder is too fine, it will affect the wettability of creatine in water, making the creatine powder difficult to stir and therefore difficult to dissolve in water.

[0005] In order to further improve the solubility properties of creatine and thus further improve the uptake of creatine by means of aqueous liquids, various proposals have been made.

[0006] Patent application CN 104 432 095 A describes a spray-dried creatine granulate, in which a creatine suspension is used for spray drying. To prepare the suspension, a large amount of spray drying additives and quick-dissolving additives is required, and the amount of creatine in the granulate produced is correspondingly low.

[0007] Patent specification US Pat. No. 9,445,622 B2 describes a method for improving the solubility of nitrogen-containing organic acids, such as creatine. To this end, it is proposed to add specific proteins to the ground creatine.

[0008] A creatine monohydrate preparation with improved water solubility is described in US 2002-0151593 A1. For this purpose, creatine monohydrate having an average particle size of up to 40 μm and an anti-agglomeration agent, such as glucose, are mixed and ground.

[0009] WO 2017 / 106687 A1 discloses a method for increasing muscle protein accumulation in mammals by administering essential amino acids, amino acid derivatives and nitrogen-containing organic acids. The administered composition may contain a polysaccharide or the like as a binder.

[0010] WO 94 / 17794 A1 describes pharmaceutically acceptable mixtures of glycine derivatives and sugars (including maltodextrins) which can be administered in the form of aqueous solutions or the like. Summary of the invention

[0011] Despite the improvements that have been achieved so far in the solubility of creatine products, there is still a high demand for products that dissolve well in aqueous liquids, i.e. are easy to handle and dissolve quickly and reliably. Another object of the invention is to ensure the highest possible creatine content in the product without adversely affecting the solubility or handling of the product.

[0012] Furthermore, it was an object of the present invention to find a dosage form for creatine which requires as few additives as possible.

[0013] This object is achieved by using finely ground creatine which is agglomerated after addition of a binder containing at least one oligosaccharide.

[0014] The subject of the present invention is therefore an agglomerate comprising

[0015] a) 30 to 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, and

[0016] b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide.

[0017] Binders are auxiliary agents, the addition of which can help agglomeration to improve the stability of the agglomerated particles. It has been found that oligosaccharide-based binders are suitable for the agglomerates described herein, on the one hand, in order to improve the stability of the creatine particles and to improve their solubility characteristics in aqueous liquids. On the other hand, the use of such binders also significantly improves the processability of the creatine agglomerates that should be dissolved as a bulk material in an aqueous medium.

[0018] Besides oligosaccharides, the binders b) may also comprise monosaccharides and polysaccharides, in particular when they are prepared from naturally occurring polysaccharides by partial hydrolysis, as is the case in the preparation of maltodextrins from starch.

[0019] Preferably, the claimed agglomerates comprise 1 to 20% by weight of binder b), particularly preferably 3 to 18% by weight and in particular 5 to 15% by weight.

[0020] The binder b) consists essentially of carbohydrates selected from the class of oligosaccharides or of a mixture of carbohydrates consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and / or polysaccharides, wherein the one or more carbohydrates preferably constitute at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight and in particular at least 99% by weight of the total weight of the binder b).

[0021] The average molecular weight M of the preferred carbohydrate mixtures which can be used as binders b) is w The average molecular weight M of the preferred carbohydrate mixture is 5,000 to 250,000 g / mol, in particular 9,000 to 150,000 g / mol, particularly preferably 12,000 to 100,000 g / mol, and more preferably 15,000 to 75,000 g / mol. n (number average) in the range of 500 to 10,000 g / mol, in particular 1,250 to 7,500 g / mol, particularly preferably 1,500 to 6,000 g / mol, more preferably 1,500 to 5,000 g / mol. The weight average and number average of the molecular weight can be determined by size exclusion chromatography, as described in Avaltroni F. et al., Carbohydrate Polymers 58 (2004), pp. 323-334, section 2.4.

[0022] In the sense of the present invention, oligosaccharides are preferably polysaccharides with 2 to 15 sugar units, particularly preferably with 3 to 10 sugar units, particularly 3 to 6 sugar units, which are connected to each other by glycosidic bonds. In the sense of the present invention, various long-chain polysaccharides are considered to be polysaccharides. Usually, polysaccharides, such as starch, can contain molecules up to 20,000 or more sugar units. If disaccharides are no longer included in oligosaccharides according to this preferred oligosaccharide definition, they are called disaccharides.

[0023] Based on the total weight of the carbohydrate mixture of binder b), the proportion of monosaccharides, such as glucose, should be less than 25 mol%, particularly preferably between 0.1 and 15 mol%, in particular between 1 and 10 mol%. The molar fraction of disaccharides, such as maltose, in the carbohydrate mixture should preferably be less than 30 mol%, in particular between 1 mol% and 25 mol%, in particular between 5 mol% and 20 mol%. The molar fraction of oligosaccharides having 3 to 6 sugar units in the carbohydrate mixture is preferably more than 20 mol%, in particular in the range of 25 mol% to 80 mol%, in particular in the range of 30 mol% to 70 mol%. The proportion of higher oligosaccharides and polysaccharides is preferably less than 60 mol%, in particular between 10 mol% and 55 mol%, in particular between 20 mol% and 50 mol%.

[0024] The sugar constituting the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide is preferably a hexose, such as aldohexose, especially glucose, mannose and galactose, or a ketohexose, such as fructose, or a pentose, such as ribose or arabinose. These sugars can be a mixture of their D configuration or L configuration or these two configurations. Particularly preferred are oligosaccharides and polysaccharides that are composed of hexose or are all composed of hexose in excess of 90% by weight. The sugar units of these oligosaccharides and polysaccharides are preferably connected to each other by glycosidic bonds. Particularly preferred are oligosaccharides and polysaccharides that contain 50% or more or more preferably at least 80% glucose as structural units. Particularly suitable are glucose oligosaccharides that are only composed of glucose units, such as maltodextrin.

[0025] It has been shown that the use of maltodextrin as a binder for creatine agglomerates is particularly preferred. Maltodextrin is a water-soluble mixture consisting of carbohydrates, which is usually prepared by partial hydrolysis of starch (poly-alpha-glucose). For this purpose, the starch can come from, but is not limited to, cereals or vegetables, such as corn, potato or cassava. The hydrolysis can be carried out, for example, using an acid or by an enzymatic process or by a combination of these two methods.

[0026] Maltodextrin is a mixture of monomers, oligomers and polymers of glucose. The composition of the mixture varies depending on the degree of hydrolysis. The mixture is usually described in terms of dextrose equivalents. According to the present invention, products with a dextrose equivalent of between 3 and 20 are referred to as maltodextrins. The creatine agglomerates disclosed herein preferably contain maltodextrins with a dextrose equivalent of 3 to 15, particularly preferably with a dextrose equivalent in the range of 4 to 12, in particular in the range of 4 to 10.

[0027] The dextrose equivalent of a polysaccharide mixture is the mass percentage of reducing sugars (calculated as glucose) in the dry matter. It is therefore equivalent to the mass of glucose (= dextrose) with the same reducing power per 100 g of dry matter. The DE value is a measure of the degree of starch degradation, so that products obtained with low DE values ​​have a high proportion of polysaccharides and a low content of low molecular weight sugars, while products with high DE values ​​consist mainly of low molecular weight sugars.

[0028] The dextrose equivalent (DE) is usually stated by the maltodextrin manufacturer. However, the DE statement can also be determined by Lane-Eynon titration (Lane, J Hand Eynon, L., J. Soc. Chem. Ind. Trans. 42 (1923), 32-36) in accordance with DIN EN ISO 5377-1994.

[0029] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, 0.5 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 18% by weight, in particular 1 to 15% by weight or 5 to 12% by weight, of maltodextrin, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, is used as binder b).

[0030] Particularly preferred maltodextrins contain less than 5% by weight, in particular 0.05 to 3% by weight, of glucose as a monosaccharide and less than a maximum of 20% by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 15% by weight, in particular between 0.5 and 10% by weight, of maltose. The % by weight data are based on the total weight of the carbohydrate mixture of the binder b).

[0031] Based on the gross weight of agglomerate, agglomerate according to the present invention comprises 0.1 to 30 wt % of a binder containing at least one oligosaccharide. At this, preferably all carbohydrates contained in the agglomerate, particularly all monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides are classified as binder b) according to the present invention. Particularly preferably, the binder is composed of at least 95 wt %, more preferably at least 99 wt % and also more preferably at least 99.9 wt % carbohydrates and particularly only (i.e. to 100 wt %) carbohydrates, i.e. monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. In a particularly preferred embodiment, other additives (if present) are not classified as binder b), but are classified as other additives c).

[0032] Binder b) can be composed entirely of oligosaccharides. In this case, the proportion of oligosaccharides in the binder b) is 100% by weight. However, in addition to oligosaccharides, binder b) can also contain other carbohydrates, particularly monosaccharides or polysaccharides.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the proportion of oligosaccharides in binder b) is preferably at least 0.1% by weight, more preferably at least 0.5% by weight, and even more preferably at least 1% by weight, based on the total weight of binder b). More preferably, the proportion of oligosaccharides in binder b) is at least 10% by weight, even more preferably at least 20% by weight, and most preferably at least 30% by weight, based on the total weight of binder b). The proportion of oligosaccharides in binder b) can be up to 100% by weight, preferably up to 99% by weight, more preferably up to 90% by weight, even more preferably up to 80% by weight, most preferably up to 70% by weight, and in particular up to 50% by weight.

[0034] With particular preference, the binder b) consists of ≥90% by weight of carbohydrates, of which 10 to 90% by weight, preferably 20 to 80% by weight and even more preferably 30 to 70% by weight, are again oligosaccharides.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment, the proportion of oligosaccharides in binder b) is preferably at least 0.1 mol%, more preferably at least 0.5 mol%, and even more preferably at least 1 mol%, based on the total binder b). More preferably, the proportion of oligosaccharides in binder b) is at least 10 mol%, even more preferably at least 20 mol%, and most preferably at least 30 mol%, based on the total binder b). The proportion of oligosaccharides in binder b) can be up to 100 mol%, preferably up to 99 mol%, more preferably up to 90 mol%, even more preferably up to 80 mol%, and most preferably up to 70 mol%, based on the total binder b).

[0036] Particularly preferably, the binder b) is composed of ≥90% by weight, in particular at least 99% by weight of carbohydrates, of which 10 to 90 mol%, preferably 20 to 80 mol% and more preferably 30 to 70 mol% are oligosaccharides. Creatine is an endogenous substance that plays a central role in the energy metabolism of cells. Creatine can be produced by biosynthesis in the body, or can be provided by food. The common form of creatine supplied as a nutritional supplement includes not only pure creatine, but also creatine derivatives, such as creatine hydrates, in particular creatine monohydrate. Creatine salts, such as creatine citrate, creatine pyruvate, creatine hydrochloride, creatine hydrobromide, creatine hydrogen citrate, creatine maleate, creatine malate, creatine nitrate, creatine methanesulfonate, creatine dihydrogen phosphate, creatine hydrogen oxalate, creatine fumarate, creatine tartrate, creatine lipoate, creatine bicarbonate and creatine ascorbate are also used in nutritional supplements.

[0037] In the context of this specification, the term "creatine" is to be understood to include derivatives and salts of creatine in addition to pure creatine, unless expressly stated otherwise. The term creatine agglomerates therefore also includes agglomerates of creatine derivatives and agglomerates of creatine salts. Since pure creatine is hygroscopic, creatine is preferably used as a hydrate, wherein creatine monohydrate is usually in equilibrium with air humidity.

[0038] Creatine monohydrate is usually prepared by chemical synthesis and is produced as a colorless crystalline solid ( Figure 1 a). The solubility of creatine monohydrate in water is 13 g / L at 20° C. Creatine monohydrate as a nutritional supplement is usually provided in powder form and is taken by dissolving in an aqueous liquid, such as mineral water or fruit juice. It has proven to be disadvantageous here that conventional creatine monohydrate powders can only dissolve slowly due to the relatively low solubility of crystalline creatine monohydrate and often leave residues. Although grinding makes creatine monohydrate relatively easy to dissolve, the wettability of the ground powder is poor and the handleability needs to be improved. The poor wettability of the creatine powder can only be seen in the fact that it sinks into the liquid slowly and / or when forming polymers when it comes into contact with the liquid surface. It is often observed that the polymers formed in this way dissolve very slowly again. In addition, there are difficulties in handling fine powders, because they are usually not free-flowing and are difficult to pour or refill. In addition, due to the high dust content of the powder, it is difficult to pour the entire powder into a glass, for example, without the suspended matter components floating away. The bulking properties of the creatine powder were also not optimal, with the powder portions tending to clump and adhere to the packaging material, with a high angle of bulk and low flowability and free flowability.

[0039] Other creatine salts, creatine derivatives, and pure creatine show similar properties.

[0040] The above disadvantages can be overcome by agglomerating the ground creatine in the presence of an oligosaccharide-containing binder, such as maltodextrin. Agglomerates are formed from the ground creatine particles, the structure of which is significantly different from the crystalline particles of unground creatine ( Figure 1 b) and Figure 1 c)).

[0041] The use of the above-mentioned binder ensures a high content of ground creatine in the agglomerates without significantly impairing the dissolution properties compared to the direct use of ground creatine powder. This is surprising, since the binder exerts a very good adhesion effect during agglomeration, which can counteract the dissolution in the aqueous liquid. In addition, the parameters for the treatment are also significantly improved compared to only ground creatine.

[0042] When starch is used as a binder, very stable creatine agglomerates are obtained, but the solubility properties are significantly deteriorated. When dextrose is used as a binder, moist agglomerated creatine can be produced, but it decomposes again when dried. The binding properties of dextrose are not sufficient for the preparation of creatine agglomerates. According to the invention, these disadvantages are eliminated by using a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide.

[0043] For the preparation of the creatine agglomerates according to the invention, ground creatine is used. Preferably, the particle size distribution of the ground creatine has an x50 value in the range of 2 μm to 150 μm, an x10 value in the range of 0.01 μm to 20 μm and an x90 value in the range of 15 μm to 250 μm. Preferably, the x50 value of the ground creatine is in the range of 3 μm to 80 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm, even more preferably in the range of 5 μm to 30 μm. Preferred x10 values ​​are in the range of 0.1 μm to 10 μm, in particular in the range of 0.5 μm to 5 μm. Preferably, the x90 value is in the range of 20 μm to 100 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 30 μm to 70 μm. The x10, x50 and x90 values ​​are each based on the mass fraction of the corresponding particle group in the ground creatine. This means that particles with a size exceeding the x50 value account for 50% by weight of the agglomerate, and the remaining 50% by weight of the agglomerate comprises particles with a size less than the x50 value. Accordingly, the agglomerate contains 10% by weight of particles with a size below the x10 value and 10% by weight of particles with a size above the x90 value.

[0044] Particularly preferred ground creatine powders have an x98 value in the range of 50 μm to 300 μm, in particular in the range of 60 μm to 120 μm. The x98 value is likewise based on the mass fraction in the ground creatine powder.

[0045] The amount of ground creatine in the agglomerates is preferably greater than 45% by weight, particularly preferably at least 60% by weight, more preferably greater than 60% by weight, still more preferably at least 75% by weight, in particular greater than 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates. The upper limit is 99.9% by weight, preferably 99% by weight, in particular 95% by weight.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an agglomerate comprising

[0047] a) 30 to 99.9% by weight, preferably at least 45% by weight, more preferably at least 60% by weight and even more preferably at least 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, in particular creatine monohydrate; and

[0048] b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 18% by weight and more preferably 5 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide, in particular maltodextrin; and

[0049] c) 0 to 20 wt. %, preferably up to 10 wt. %, more preferably up to 5 wt. % of other additives; and

[0050] d) 0 to less than 5% by weight, preferably to less than 2% by weight, of free water.

[0051] Components a), b), c) and d) preferably make up 100% of the agglomerate, ie no further substances are contained in the agglomerate.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to an agglomerate comprising

[0053] a) 30 to 99.9% by weight, preferably at least 45% by weight, more preferably at least 60% by weight and even more preferably at least 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, in particular creatine monohydrate; and

[0054] b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 18% by weight and more preferably 5 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide, in particular maltodextrin; and

[0055] d) 0 to less than 5% by weight, preferably to less than 2% by weight, of free water.

[0056] Components a), b) and d) preferably account for 100% of the agglomerate, that is to say, no other substances are contained in the agglomerate. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the agglomerate according to the present invention consists of the following ingredients:

[0057] a) 30 to 99.9% by weight, in particular 90 to 99.9% by weight, particularly preferably 95 to 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, in particular creatine monohydrate; and

[0058] b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 18% by weight and more preferably 5 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide, wherein the binder is particularly preferably maltodextrin; and

[0059] d) max. 1 wt. % free water.

[0060] In particular, no further substances or additives are included in the agglomerates which are particularly preferred according to the invention.

[0061] The agglomerates according to the invention preferably have the following composition:

[0062] a) 60 to 99.9% by weight, particularly preferably 75 to 99% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine, in particular creatine monohydrate; and

[0063] b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 25% by weight and more preferably 5 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide; and

[0064] c) 0 to 10% by weight, in particular up to 5% by weight, of further additives.

[0065] Apart from the water bound to the creatine as a hydrate, the free water in the agglomerates should be as low as possible, since if the humidity is too high, the agglomerates tend to clump. Preferably, the proportion of free water in the agglomerates should be less than 5% by weight, particularly preferably between 0.01% and 2% by weight, in particular between 0.05% and 1% by weight.

[0066] In principle, agglomeration also allows the addition of other additives. Other additives c) include, for example, other binders not included in binder b); adjuvants for improving solubility; antioxidants, buffers, sweeteners, colorants and flavorings, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, etc.

[0067] Other binders and solubility enhancers (which may be included in additive c)) are especially water-soluble substances that have been approved as food additives or drug additives, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP); propyl vinyl alcohol; sugar alcohols, including sorbitol, xylitol; amino acids and glycerol; or mixtures of these substances. Minerals especially include inorganic salts, such as sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, bicarbonates, acetates, citrates, gluconates, ascorbates, pantothenates, lactates, especially their sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium salts, and mixtures thereof. It is particularly preferred to use trimagnesium citrate, magnesium hydrogen citrate, sodium chloride (table salt), sodium sulfate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, sodium ascorbate, sodium pantothenate and sodium lactate, or mixtures of these salts.

[0068] The agglomerates may contain a buffer as required, wherein preferably a buffer system is selected which, when dissolved in an aqueous liquid, adjusts the pH of the liquid to a value of 7 to 12, preferably 9 to 11. For this purpose, for example, a buffer system consisting of a combination of a weak acid and a corresponding base is suitable.

[0069] Suitable buffer systems are, for example, mixtures of sodium hydrogen phosphate and sodium phosphate or L-lysine and L-lysine sodium salt or L-arginine and L-arginine sodium salt. Particular preference is given to using a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate as the buffer system.

[0070] The use of a buffer system which produces an alkaline environment is preferred, since on the one hand the stability of creatine to acid is increased, thereby preventing creatine from degrading in the stomach. In addition, sodium ions in particular improve the absorption of creatine in cells, which effect can also be further enhanced by the addition of other sodium salts.

[0071] The sweetener included in the additive c) is a sweetener that does not contain carbohydrates. Conventional sweeteners based on carbohydrates, particularly natural sweeteners, such as glucose and fructose, can be included in the adhesive b) so that the agglomerate can have enough sweetness. But as needed, other, preferably water-soluble sweeteners can be added in the agglomerate, such as sodium cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, stevia or sugar alcohol, such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, erythritol or lactitol. If the content of monosaccharides is lower in the adhesive, it is especially advantageous to do so. However, monosaccharides (such as glucose and fructose) can also be mixed with the finished agglomerate, so as to obtain enough sweetness in the mixture. The latter may be advantageous, because the content of monosaccharides in the adhesive b) can not be increased at will, otherwise it will affect the processability of the agglomerate.

[0072] As colorants and flavoring agents, compounds with sufficient water solubility are used in particular. Natural flavoring agents, flavoring agents equivalent to natural ones, and artificial flavoring agents can be used, preferably flavoring agents approved for use in food or medicine. For example, lemon essence or orange essence can be used as a flavoring agent, and citric acid or tartaric acid or salts thereof can also be used as a flavoring agent. Bitter substances such as quinine or ginger extract can also be used as flavoring agents.

[0073] In addition, vitamins and trace elements, in particular those with good water solubility, can be added to the agglomerates. Preferably, vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 (cobalamin), vitamin C and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or mixtures thereof can be added to the agglomerates. Trace elements are preferably used in the form of water-soluble salts and are preferably selected from zinc, selenium, molybdenum, manganese, copper, iodine, fluorine, iron and chromium or mixtures thereof.

[0074] The additive c) is preferably added during the agglomeration process, so that the additive is a constituent of the agglomerates.

[0075] In a specific embodiment, the creatine agglomerates described above do not contain any other additives c), in particular do not contain cellulose, gelatin and suspension stabilizers of the gum resin type, such as microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan gum, gellan gum and gum arabic.

[0076] Overall, the amount of additive c) in the agglomerates is preferably less than 20% by weight, in particular less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates.

[0077] If necessary, the compounds described as additives c) can also be simply mixed into the creatine agglomerates, provided that the handling and water solubility of the product are not greatly affected. When mixing, these substances can also be added in higher proportions together with the creatine agglomerates. In addition to additives c), non-agglomerated compounds can also be simply mixed. As mentioned above, monosaccharides and oligosaccharides can also be mixed with the agglomerates to adjust the sweetness of the mixture. Another important class of additives that are easy to mix are flow aids, such as SiO2.

[0078] The proportion of the admixture should preferably be less than 80% by weight. The mixture usually contains 10 to 70% by weight, particularly preferably 20 to 60% by weight of such additives (based on the total weight of the mixture), especially when it is used as a beverage powder. Thus, such a mixture contains at least 20% by weight or more of creatine agglomerates, particularly between 30% by weight and 90% by weight and very particularly preferably between 40% by weight and 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the mixture.

[0079] Agglomeration is understood here to mean a particle enlargement process of granular creatine in which small creatine particles, in the presence of a binder, form larger, permanently aggregated creatine-containing agglomerates in which the original particles are usually still recognizable.

[0080] Different methods can be used to agglomerate the ground creatine powder. Agglomeration in a fluidized bed, agglomeration by granulation in a mixer (eg an intensive mixer) and agglomeration by extrusion, in particular wet extrusion, have proven to be advantageous.

[0081] Therefore, in the sense of the present invention, the term "agglomerate" also includes particles that are agglomerated by granulation and extrusion. In addition, other common agglomeration methods are also included, such as agglomeration in a fluidized bed. Accordingly, the term "agglomerate" also particularly includes granules, fluidized bed agglomerates and extrudates.

[0082] By spraying agglomeration of creatine in a fluidized bed in the presence of an oligosaccharide-based binder, irregularly shaped porous agglomerates are produced. They have good flowability or free flowability, adequate abrasion resistance and a medium bulk density. They show very uniform wetting properties in water, which causes the agglomerates to disintegrate immediately and the primary particles to dissolve in the shortest possible time.

[0083] Stable agglomerated extrudates can also be produced by extrusion with the addition of oligosaccharide-containing binders. If the right amount of binder is used, a dense, very abrasion-resistant and homogeneous extrudate is obtained.

[0084] It has been found that, despite their high stability and partially dense properties, the granules and extrudates dissolve very rapidly in liquids such as water.

[0085] The amount of binder required to prepare the agglomerates is relatively small. Thus, for example, in an agglomerate consisting essentially (i.e. 90% by weight or more) of binder b) and creatine (e.g. in the form of creatine monohydrate), typically 0.5% to 15% by weight of maltodextrin is sufficient to agglomerate the creatine.

[0086] Suitable for preparing the agglomerates are, for example, dry agglomeration and wet agglomeration. In dry agglomeration, without adding liquid, the particles are compacted into a compressed molded body under pressure in the presence of a binder, which is then usually crushed to a limited particle size. In wet agglomeration, a liquid, typically water or a water-soluble binder, is provided during the agglomeration process to increase the interfacial forces between the particles in the dry agglomerate thus, and thus stabilize the structure. In all these methods, it has been shown that using a method as gentle as possible is particularly advantageous, thus maintaining the chemical purity of creatine and not introducing undesirable impurities. In addition, it has been found that if only a binder consisting essentially of carbohydrates is added and the product is moisture-free or only contains a small amount of moisture (based on the gross weight of the agglomerate) lower than 5 % by weight, the agglomerate is sufficiently stable.

[0087] The particle size distribution is also called the particle diameter distribution, which indicates the frequency distribution of the particle diameter. Various characteristic parameters can be read from the distribution function. The x10 value indicates that 10% of the particles have a particle size smaller than this value. The x50 value indicates the average particle size or particle size, and 50% of the particles are smaller than this average particle size or particle size. Similarly, the x90 value means that 90% of the particle size is smaller than this value. The creatine agglomerates with good performance according to the present invention preferably have a low proportion of fine particles, which are represented by the x10 value, which should be at least 1 μm or larger, in particular in the range between 5 μm and 800 μm, preferably in the range between 10 μm and 600 μm. In addition, the average particle size represented by the x50 value should be at least 30 μm, and the higher particle size represented by the x90 value should be no more than 1800 μm. Here, the average particle size x50 is preferably 50 μm to 1200 μm or 70 μm to 1000 μm. The x90 value is preferably between 100 μm and 1500 μm, in particular more than 200 μm. Typically, the difference between the x90 value and the x10 value is between 100 μm and 1500 μm, preferably between 200 μm and 1000 μm.

[0088] The x10, x50 and x90 values ​​are here calculated based on the particle mass, which means that particles with a particle size above the x50 value account for 50% by weight of the agglomerate, and the remaining 50% by weight of the agglomerate comprises particles with a particle size below x50. Accordingly, the agglomerate contains 10% by weight of particles with a particle size below the x10 value and 10% by weight of particles with a particle size above the x90 value.

[0089] Preferred agglomerates have a fluidity [ffc] greater than 4, preferably greater than 8, in particular greater than 10 (free flow). Typically, the [ffc] value is less than 30, but higher values ​​are not harmful. Preferred agglomerates have a bulk density greater than 200 g / L. In particular, the bulk density should be at least in the range of pure ground creatine. Therefore, agglomerates with a bulk density between 250 g / L and 1,000 g / L are particularly preferred. But higher bulk densities are not harmful. In order to facilitate pouring the agglomerates into beverages, a small stacking angle is advantageous. Preferred agglomerates have a stacking angle of less than 50°, in particular less than 45°. Typically, the stacking angle exceeds 25°, but smaller stacking angles are not harmful. The free flowability of the preferred agglomerates is at least satisfactory (i.e. the agglomerates flow freely through a container outlet with a diameter of 8 mm). In addition, preferred agglomerates have a smaller dust content than ground creatine. The dust number is preferably less than 25, in particular between 2 and 20 or between 3 and 15. From these parameters it can be seen that the agglomerates described herein have excellent processability. They are easily filled into beverages and have good wettability in water.

[0090] Furthermore, the agglomerates described herein dissolve rapidly and without residue in aqueous environments such as beverages. The dissolution rate is close to that of ground creatine, or even better.

[0091] The agglomerates of the invention can be prepared, for example, by granulation in a mixer with high shear forces, by agglomeration in a fluidized bed or by extrusion. The properties of the agglomerates obtained vary depending on the method of preparation.

[0092] When granulated in a mixer, free-flowing agglomerates ([ffc]>10) are obtained, which have acceptable dissolution properties, but good free flowability and good bulk properties (very good bulk density>400 g / L and good angle of stacking<40°). In addition, the granules have a very low dust content (dust number<12, often even<10).

[0093] During agglomeration in a fluidized bed, readily flowing ([ffc]>4), often even free-flowing ([ffc]>10) agglomerates are obtained, which have a satisfactory free flowability. However, the fluidized bed agglomerates generally have very good dissolution properties, which are even better than those of ground creatine. In addition, the bulking properties of the fluidized bed agglomerates are good (bulk density>200 g / L, in particular between 250 g / L and 600 g / L, good bulk angle<45°, in particular<40°). The fluidized bed agglomerates are also characterized by a low dust content (dust number<20, in particular<15).

[0094] The extrudate is also free-flowing ([ffc]>10) and has good free flowability. The bulking properties are very good (bulk density>400 g / L, angle of deposit<40°). In addition, the extrudate has a low dust content (dust number<15). The extrudate has very good solubility properties, which are significantly better than ground creatine.

[0095] The particles have a preferred particle size distribution, characterized in that the x10 value is in the range of 10 μm to 800 μm, in particular in the range of 100 μm to 600 μm, the x50 value is in the range of 80 μm to 1,200 μm, in particular in the range of 550 μm to 1,000 μm, and the x90 value is in the range of 200 μm to 1,800 μm, in particular in the range of 800 μm to 1,500 μm.

[0096] The fluidized bed agglomerates have a preferred particle size distribution, characterized in that the x10 value is in the range of 1 μm to 300 μm, in particular in the range of 5 μm to 100 μm, or even in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm, the x50 value is in the range of 30 μm to 500 μm, in particular in the range of 50 μm to 300 μm, and the x90 value is in the range of 100 μm to 1,500 μm, in particular in the range of 200 μm to 800 μm.

[0097] The extrudates have a preferred particle size distribution, characterized in that the x10 value is in the range of 100 μm to 800 μm, in particular in the range of 300 μm to 750 μm, preferably in the range of 400 μm to 750 μm, the x50 value is in the range of 200 μm to 1,200 μm, in particular in the range of 500 μm to 1,000 μm, and the x90 value is in the range of 300 μm to 1,800 μm, in particular in the range of 800 μm to 1,500 μm.

[0098] The agglomerates described here are particularly suitable as loose powders for stirring the contained creatine into beverages such as mineral water, fruit juices or sweetened beverages. However, the agglomerates can also be used as direct agglomerates. Here, the agglomerates are poured directly onto the tongue and washed down with a beverage if necessary. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] Example:

[0100] I) Test methods and performance:

[0101] 1. Method for determining dissolution rate:

[0102] 175 mL of water was placed in a 250 mL beaker with an inner diameter of 5.5 cm at 23° C. and stirred at 60 rpm using a glass stirrer. Then 1.75 g of creatine or creatine agglomerates were added and stirred for 10 seconds, after which the stirrer was turned off and the suspension was immediately filtered through a ceramic suction filter with a blue ribbon filter and a suction filter bottle. The wet filter residue was dried. The mass of the filter residue was used as a measure of the dissolution rate, the lower the mass, the faster the dissolution rate.

[0103] 2. Determination of free flowability (export funnel):

[0104] The test device consists of five test funnels with the same diameter (inner diameter of 36 mm) and a stacking angle of 28°, but with different outlet diameters (2.5 mm; 5 mm; 8 mm; 12 mm and 18 mm). For this purpose, 50 mL of creatine sample or creatine formulation are added to the test funnel, wherein the outlet is closed from below so that no material can escape during the filling process. In the next step, the outlet is completely opened (without shaking the test funnel), so that the entire outlet cross section is free. The evaluation value is the diameter through which the solid flows freely, autonomously and without external influences. The following applies:

[0105] - Solids flow freely through 2.5 mm outlet: 1 point

[0106] - Solids flow freely through a 5 mm outlet: 2 points

[0107] - Solids flow freely through the 8 mm outlet: 3 points

[0108] - Solids flow freely through 12 mm outlet: 4 points

[0109] - Solids flow freely through the 18 mm outlet: 5 points

[0110] - Solids flow freely through 18 mm outlet: 6 points

[0111] The lower the score, the better the free flow.

[0112] 3. Determine the stacking angle

[0113] The repose angle is determined in accordance with DIN ISO 4324 (1983-12) "Surface active agents; Powders and granules; Determination of the repose angle". The smaller the repose angle, the better the flow properties.

[0114] 4. Determination of fluidity

[0115] The flowability of solids (powders and agglomerates) was determined using the "Evolution Powder Tester" from PS Process Technology GmbH in Basel, Switzerland. The flowability is expressed as a dimensionless number [ c] represents. As a method, the determination by compression on the evolution powder tester is used, without a fixed time (Zeitverfestigung). For this reason, 25mL of solid is weighed into the measuring chamber and placed in the tester. After the measurement starts, the solid in the measuring chamber is compressed for 30 seconds with a punch speed of 15mm / minute and a force (F1) of 10000kPa. Subsequently, the solid compact formed in the measuring chamber is loaded with a punch speed of 10mm / minute and a slowly rising force (F2) again until the solid compact breaks. The ratio of the force (F1) for compression and the force (F2) for compact fracture is equivalent to the fluidity [ff c ] and calculated according to the following formula:

[0116] Liquidity

[0117] Liquidity c The following evaluation criteria apply to the classification of ]:

[0118] <![CDATA[Liquidity[ff c > Grading <1 No flow <![CDATA[1<ff c <2]]> Strong cohesion <![CDATA[2<ff c <4]]> Cohesive <![CDATA[4<ff c <10]]> Easy to flow >10 Free movement

[0119] 5. Determination of dust content

[0120] The dust content of solids (powders and agglomerates) is expressed as a dimensionless dust number. The dust number is determined using the dust tester DustView II of the company Palas GmbH in Karlsruhe.

[0121] To this end, 30.0 g of sample are weighed and placed in the filling funnel on the valve. The measurement is then started by pressing the button in the control panel. The valve opens and the solid falls freely into the dust box. Due to the impact of the solid material, the dust-generating part is swept up. As a result, the light beam emitted by the laser is attenuated by the swept-up dust and the attenuated light beam is detected at the receiver. The degree of attenuation compared to the light beam emitted by the light source (transmission signal) is a measure of the dust content of the solid. Here, the value 100 indicates the maximum possible attenuation of the light beam, while the value 0 indicates that the light beam has not been attenuated. In order to determine the dust number, the maximum attenuation value of the light beam is added to the value at 30 seconds after the start of the measurement and output as the dust number.

[0122] The lower the dust number, the less dust the solids generate.

[0123] 6. Determination of bulk density

[0124] The determination of the bulk density is carried out in accordance with the method DIN ISO 697 (1984-01) "Surface active agents; detergents; determination of bulk density; method by measurement of the mass of a given volume".

[0125] The higher the bulk density, the more advantageous it is in handling.

[0126] 7. Determination of particle size distribution

[0127] The particle size distribution was determined by means of laser diffraction on a particle size measuring instrument "HELOS / KR" from Fa.Sympatec GmbH. The measuring orifice plate R6 was used, which covers a measuring range of 0.5 to 1750 μm. The sample was fed through a vibrating chute with a feeding power of 60% and a dispersion pressure of 2.5 bar. The software version used for the analysis was "WINDOX 5.1.2.0, LD".

[0128] Trigger condition settings: time base 100,00ms, start at c.opt>=1.0%, c.opt validity from 1.0% to 14.0%, end at 5,000s c.opt<=0.9% or real time 10,000s. Agglomerate quality is evaluated using x10, x50 and x90 values, represented as distribution sum Q3 in the particle size distribution histogram.

[0129] II) Embodiment

[0130] Unless expressly stated otherwise, the percentages given in the examples are % by weight.

[0131] Example 1 (Comparative): Agglomeration in an Eirich mixer - using modified starch as binder.

[0132] 1500 g of fine creatine monohydrate and 45 g of modified starch (product name: The mixture was stirred in a countercurrent at a speed of 1500 rpm and 335 g of water was added to the mixture in 3 minutes. After the addition of water, the mixture was further stirred in a countercurrent at a speed of 1500 rpm and granulation was started. After 9 minutes of granulation, particles within the desired particle size range were obtained. The wet creatine monohydrate particles obtained were dried in a fluidized bed dryer.

[0133] Example 2: Agglomeration in an Eirich mixer - using maltodextrin 6 as binder.

[0134] 1500 g of fine creatine monohydrate were pre-placed in a 10-liter intensive mixer (Fa. Eirich). Then, 42 g of maltodextrin (Glucidex IT 6 from Roquette) dissolved in 450 g of water were added to the creatine monohydrate in the mixer under slow stirring. The mixer contents were then stirred in countercurrent at 1500 rpm and granulation was started. After a granulation time of 7 minutes, granules within the desired particle size range were obtained. The wet creatine monohydrate granules obtained were dried in a fluidized bed dryer.

[0135] Example 3: Agglomeration in an Eirich mixer - using maltodextrin 6 as binder.

[0136] 1500 g of fine creatine monohydrate were pre-placed in a 10-liter intensive mixer (Fa. Eirich). Then, 75 g of maltodextrin (Glucidex IT 6 of Roquette) dissolved in 400 g of water were added to the creatine monohydrate in the mixer under slow stirring. The mixer contents were then stirred in countercurrent at a speed of 1500 rpm and granulation was started. After a granulation time of 15 minutes, granules within the desired particle size range were obtained. The wet creatine monohydrate granules obtained were dried in a fluidized bed dryer.

[0137] Example 4 (Comparative): Agglomeration in an Eirich mixer - using dextrose as binder.

[0138] 1500 g of fine creatine monohydrate were placed in a 10-liter intensive mixer (Fa. Eirich). Then, 135 g of dextrose (product name: "Zec+ Dextrose" from Zec+ Nutrition) dissolved in 350 g of water were added to the creatine monohydrate in the mixer under slow stirring. The contents of the mixer were then stirred in countercurrent at a speed of 1500 rpm and granulation was started. After a granulation time of 7 minutes, granules within the desired particle size range were obtained. The obtained wet creatine monohydrate granules were added to a fluidized bed dryer and dried similarly to Examples 1-3. At this point, the granules were again broken down into fine particles, and the binding effect of the dextrose was not sufficient to obtain stable granules.

[0139] Example 5 (Comparative Example): Agglomeration in an Eirich mixer - Granulation of the composition was carried out according to the examples of US 2002 / 0151593 A1.

[0140] 3000 g of finely ground dextrose (product name: "Zec+ Dextrose" from Zec+ Nutrition) and 750 g of fine creatine monohydrate were placed in a 10-liter intensive mixer (Fa. Eirich). Then, 375 g of water were added to the solid mixture in the mixer under slow stirring. The contents of the mixer were then stirred in countercurrent at a speed of 1500 rpm and granulation was started. After a granulation time of 5 minutes, granules within the desired particle size range were obtained. The obtained wet creatine monohydrate granules were added to a fluidized bed dryer and dried similarly to Examples 1-3. At this point, the granules were again broken down into fine particles, and the binding effect of the dextrose was not sufficient to obtain stable granules.

[0141] Example 6 (Comparative Example): As a further comparison, ground, pure creatine monohydrate was used.

[0142] The obtained products were then characterized as far as possible using the methods described below in 1). The results are summarized in Table 1.

[0143] Table 1: Agglomeration results by granulation

[0144]

[0145] Example 7: Agglomeration in a fluidized bed - using maltodextrin 6 (Glucidex IT 6 from Roquette) as binder.

[0146] In the fluidized bed agglomeration device, 12.0 kg of fine creatine monohydrate is pre-placed in the process chamber, and then the device for the agglomeration process is sealed. Next, a suitable preheated air volume flow is set, which causes the pre-placed creatine monohydrate particles to fluidize in the fluidized bed. Here, the internal temperature of the device rises. Once the suitable volume flow is set, 9.2 kg of a 20% aqueous solution of maltodextrin 6 is sprayed into the fluidized bed in a countercurrent manner over a period of 25 minutes by means of a two-media nozzle, where agglomerates are generated as the spraying time increases. After the spraying is completed, the agglomerates generated are further dried in the fluidized bed until the water that is not bound to the creatine as monohydrate is removed.

[0147] Example 8: Agglomeration in a fluidized bed - using maltodextrin 6 (Glucidex IT 6 from Roquette) as binder.

[0148] In the fluidized bed agglomeration device, 12.0 kg of fine creatine monohydrate is pre-placed in the process chamber, and then the device for the agglomeration process is sealed. Next, a suitable preheated air volume flow is set, which causes the pre-placed creatine monohydrate particles to fluidize in the fluidized bed. The internal temperature of the device rises during this process. Once the appropriate volume flow is set, 5.6 kg of a 20% aqueous solution of maltodextrin 6 is sprayed into the fluidized bed in a countercurrent manner over a period of 16 minutes by means of a two-media nozzle, wherein agglomerates are generated as the spraying time increases. After the spraying is completed, the generated agglomerates are further dried in the fluidized bed until the water that is not bound to the creatine as monohydrate is removed.

[0149] Example 9: Agglomeration in a fluidized bed - using maltodextrin 6 (Glucidex IT 6 from Roquette) as binder.

[0150] In the fluidized bed agglomeration device, 12.0 kg of fine creatine monohydrate is pre-placed in the process chamber, and then the device for the agglomeration process is sealed. Next, a suitable preheated air volume flow is set, which causes the pre-placed creatine monohydrate particles to fluidize in the fluidized bed. The internal temperature of the device rises during this process. Once the appropriate volume flow is set, 4.8 kg of a 20% aqueous solution of maltodextrin 6 is sprayed into the fluidized bed in a countercurrent manner over a period of 24 minutes by means of a two-media nozzle, where agglomerates are generated as the spraying time increases. After the spraying is completed, the generated agglomerates are further dried in the fluidized bed until the water that is not bound to the creatine as monohydrate is removed.

[0151] The obtained products were then characterized as far as possible using the methods described below in 1). The results are summarized in Table 2.

[0152] Table 2: Agglomeration results in a fluidized bed

[0153]

[0154] Example 10: Agglomeration by wet extrusion - using maltodextrin 6 (Glucidex IT 6 from Roquette) as binder.

[0155] In an intensive mixer, 16.0 kg of fine creatine monohydrate and 4.7 kg of a 20% maltodextrin 6 solution were uniformly mixed. The wet powder was then placed in a low-pressure extruder and extruded through a 0.7 mm die to first obtain small rod-shaped extrudates. In a spheronizer, the small rods were rounded into pellets and then dried in a fluidized bed.

[0156] Example 11: Agglomeration by wet extrusion - using maltodextrin 6 (Glucidex IT 6 from Roquette) as binder.

[0157] In an intensive mixer, 16.0 kg of fine creatine monohydrate and 4.0 kg of 7% maltodextrin 6 solution were uniformly mixed. The wet powder was then placed in a low-pressure extruder and extruded through a 0.7 mm die to first obtain small rod-shaped extrudates. In a spheronizer, the small rods were rounded into pellets and then dried in a fluidized bed.

[0158] The obtained products were then characterized as far as possible using the methods described below in 1). The results are summarized in Table 3.

[0159] Table 3: Agglomeration results by wet extrusion

[0160]

[0161] Example 12: Comparison of the dissolution rate or dissolution profile of different products containing creatine monohydrate.

[0162] The dissolution properties of 1.75 g of creatine or 1.75 g of creatine agglomerates were determined according to the test method described in item 1) 1. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0163] Table 4

[0164] describe Undissolved portion of 1.75 g Creatine monohydrate, unground, x50 = 171 μm (comparative) 632.9mg Creatine monohydrate, ground, raw material of Examples 1 to 11 (comparative) 24.7mg Creatine monohydrate, granulated, according to Example 2 109mg Creatine monohydrate, agglomerated, according to Example 8 6.5mg Creatine monohydrate, extruded, according to Example 10 8.8mg

[0165] Finely ground creatine monohydrate dissolves faster, while coarsely crystalline creatine monohydrate dissolves slower. Although the creatine monohydrate according to the present invention (Examples 2, 8, 10) are large particles, they dissolve faster while also having low dust content and good stacking properties.

[0166] Example 13: Microscopic Examination

[0167] Figure 1 The microscopic images shown by way of example in show that the shape of the creatine particles according to the invention differs significantly from the crystal shape of pure, unground creatine monohydrate.

[0168] Figure 1 Microscope image of unground creatine monohydrate showing an x50 value of 171 μm ( Figure 1 a), it occurs as large, symmetrical, angular, elongated, almost colorless crystals; Figure 1 A microscope image of creatine monohydrate agglomerated according to Example 8 is shown ( Figure 1 b), which is in the form of large, loose, irregular, irregularly arranged, angular, almost colorless particles; and a microscope image showing creatine monohydrate agglomerated according to Example 10 ( Figure 1 c), it is present as large, compact, rounded, white, shiny particles.

[0169] In summary, these examples show that ground creatine monohydrate dissolves faster in water than coarse creatine monohydrate. The finer the grinding, the faster the dissolution rate. However, at the same time, the wettability of ground creatine monohydrate in water and the handling of the powder (dust content) will be worse.

[0170] By agglomerating the ground creatine in the presence of a suitable binder such as maltodextrin, unfavorable handling properties (e.g. packing properties, dust content) can be significantly improved. In addition, it can be seen from the examples that the presence of maltodextrin during the agglomeration process also significantly improves the mechanical stability of the agglomerates (low dust content). By adding maltodextrin, in particular the dissolution properties are significantly improved compared to unground, crystallized creatine. Thus, the added maltodextrin as a binder increases the particle mass and at the same time ensures a high dissolution rate for creatine monohydrate, which was unexpected.

Claims

1. An agglomerate comprising a) 30 to 99.9% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, and b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide.

2. The agglomerate according to claim 1, characterized in that The ground creatine derivative is creatine hydrate, in particular creatine monohydrate.

3. The agglomerate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The particle size distribution of the ground creatine, creatine derivative or creatine salt has an x50 value in the range of 2 to 150 μm, an x10 value in the range of 0.01 to 20 μm and an x90 value in the range of 15 to 250 μm, each based on the mass fraction.

4. The agglomerate according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The binder b) comprises at least 90% by weight of a carbohydrate mixture, based on the binder b), wherein the carbohydrate mixture consists of carbohydrates from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, and the carbohydrate mixture has an average molecular weight M in the range of 500 to 10,000 g / mol. n .

5. The agglomerate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The agglomerates comprise a binder b) comprising 0.5 to 20% by weight of maltodextrin, based on the total weight of the agglomerates.

6. Agglomerates according to claim 5, characterised in that The maltodextrin has a dextrose equivalent of 3 to 15.

7. Agglomerates according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The agglomerates contain no or less than 5% by weight, in particular less than 2% by weight, of free water.

8. Agglomerates according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The agglomerates comprise 80% to 99.5% by weight of creatine, creatine derivatives and / or creatine salts, in particular creatine monohydrate, based on the total weight of the agglomerates.

9. Agglomerates according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The stacking angle is less than 45°, and / or Bulk density greater than 200g / L, and / or Fluidity [ffc] greater than 4, and / or The dust count is less than 25.

10. Agglomerates according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The agglomerates are fluidized bed agglomerates, granules or extrudates.

11. An agglomerate according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a) 30 to 99.9% by weight, preferably at least 45% by weight, more preferably at least 60% by weight and even more preferably at least 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of ground creatine and / or ground creatine derivatives and / or ground creatine salts, in particular creatine monohydrate; and b) 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 18% by weight and more preferably 5 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder comprising at least one oligosaccharide, in particular maltodextrin; and c) 0 to 20 wt. %, preferably up to 10 wt. %, more preferably up to 5 wt. % of other additives; and d) 0 to less than 5% by weight, preferably 0 to less than 2% by weight, of free water.

12. Use of agglomerates according to any of the preceding claims as bulk material for dissolution in beverages or as direct agglomerates.

13. A method for preparing agglomerates according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The ground creatine is agglomerated in the presence of 0.1% to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the agglomerates, of a binder containing at least one oligosaccharide in a mixer, in a fluidized bed or by extrusion.

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