Composition for use as a dietary supplement for the production of short-chain peptides relevant to skin health in the digestive tract

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for use as a dietary supplement for the production of short-chain peptides relevant to skin health in the digestive tract, comprising at least the following components: collagen peptides of bovine origin with an average molecular mass of 2000 Da, characterized by high sequence homology with human collagen types Iα-1, Iα-2, and IIIα-1, with a total sequence coverage of greater than 90% for human collagen types Iα-1 and α-2; and an aqueous extract of acerola fruit (Malpighia punicifolia), which, in addition to a standardized vitamin C content, is characterized by the presence of soluble dietary fiber with a high uronic acid content. The invention is particularly suitable as a dietary supplement for maintaining skin health.

Description

The present invention relates to a composition for use as a food supplement for the production of short-chain peptides relevant to the skin pattern in the digestive tract, at least containing bovine collagen peptides having a molecular mass of on average 2000 Da and an extract from the Acerola fruit (Malpighia punicifolia).With increasing age of life, the human skin is subject to visible signs of skin aging, which may occur at different times and with different levels of severity depending on the genetic disposition and on habitat factors. On the face, these signs are particularly obvious over time. For hours, the use of cosmetic agents for decorative purposes has been proven, wherein an ever greater importance is attributed to the skin care properties of topical preparations, particularly in the last decades. Due to the strong barrier properties of the basal lamina in the human skin, the majority of the substances applied from the outside can, however, develop effects at most in the outermost skin layer, the epidermis.For this reason, so-called short-path pharmaceutical products have been developed more and more in recent years. These are usually food supplements which contain nutrients relevant to the health of the skin. For example, DE 10 2016 107 508 A1 discloses an oral composition containing collagen hydrolysate and vitamin C for the production of a functional food or a food supplement for promoting the retention of healthy skin.In addition to micronutrients such as biotin, zinc, vitamin C, iodine, copper, niacin, riboflavin or vitamin A, which have been confirmed by the European food agency (EFSA) to have skin-relevant effects in the form of so-called health claims, plant extracts or selected constituents of the extracellular matrix of animal tissues are also popular constituents of such products, the mechanism of action often remaining unclear.A plant extract which is generally frequently used in food supplements is obtained from the Acerola fruit. It is estimated for its very high vitamin C content and corresponding extracts for nutrititive use are mostly (only) standardized on this one ingredient. At most, antioxidant accompanying substances such as polyphenols are sometimes the subject in the literature with regard to their nutritional effects.Among the above-mentioned constituents of the extracellular matrix, the use of collagen peptides of great popularity is particularly enjoying. Collagen is the most common structural protein in the human body. The same applies to other vertebrates, so that collagen-containing constituents are obtained as a food-compatible coproduct in meat and fish production. While processing these ingredients into gelatin has long tradition, the production of collagen peptides has gained great importance in recent years.Collagen peptides differ from gelatin both in their galenic properties (e.g. gelability) and in their bioavailability. The relevant properties that influence their effects on the skin image are currently the subject of scientific research. The original thesis of providing the body with only the amino acids necessary for protein synthesis ("building block function") can be considered to be in conflict. Instead, there are indications that both the selection of the animal source (bovine, porcine, marine) and the process control in the hydrolysis process (for example the proteases used) influence the nature and size and thus also the (signal) effect of the collagen peptides.While in the past, above all, hydroxypropylproline-containing peptides are of great importance, because they are especially collagen-typical, recent research suggests that other peptide fragments also have nutritional importance. The work of the research group by Zhao Deng et al. has recently presented that peptides containing the sequence PGA (proline-glycine-alanine) are distinguished by a strong anti-inflammatory activity. Given that inflammatory processes also contribute to skin aging, this finding is also of great interest for the preservation of skin health.A disadvantage of the above-mentioned research results is that it is based on synthetically produced peptides or peptide fragments. There is therefore a need to investigate the mechanism of action of such preparations in more detail so that preparations based on this can be improved in their action.It is an object of the present invention to identify a natural-based source of such peptides that can be used for nutritional purposes. It is also an object of the present invention to provide these peptides in a composition which has improved properties compared with known compositions for nutritionally influencing the skin pattern.The object is achieved by a composition for use as food supplement according to claim 1.Surprisingly, it has been possible, by combining collagen peptides with an acerola fruit extract containing certain polysaccharides, to influence the peptide fragments resulting from human digestion in such a way that those which contain the physiologically relevant sequence PGA are preferably produced.The term "extract" is understood in the sense of this invention to mean concentrated extracts, optionally adjusted to a specific content of ingredients, from fruits or other constituents of plants or from animal constituents of liquid, viscous, oily or dry nature. Vegetable-based extracts can be obtained, for example, using alcohol or water. The term "extract" is also understood in the sense of this invention to mean purified extracts or extract fractions. The term "extract from" is understood in the sense of this invention to mean that the extract is obtainable or produced from the corresponding plant or plant parts or animal constituents.Bovine collagen peptides with a molecular weight of 2000 daltons on average are used according to the invention, which are preferably produced by hydrolysis of gelatin from, preferably bovine skin, under the action of various proteases. Characterization of the raw material by LC-MS / MS measurements using a reverse phase nano LC column shows that the peptides have a chain length of preferably less than 26 peptides.After analysis of the primary structure of the collagen constituents and comparison with relevant protein databases, it is possible to establish a high sequence homology with the human collagen type I α-1 of 31%, the human collagen type I α-2 of 18% and the human collagen type III α-1 of 13%, which is higher than the sequence coverage of collagen peptides of other origin having 4 to 20%, 7 to 16% and 6 to 11%. The total sequence coverage for human collagen type I α-1 is above 94%, and for human collagen type I α-2 is above 90%. Because of the content of nutritionally valuable protein and the absence of added preservatives, the collagen components according to the invention represent a high-quality food supplement.The acerola fruit extract used is not only standardized to a fixed content of vitamin C, but is also distinguished by an appreciable content of high molecular weight soluble fibres, as can be shown by enzymatic gravimetry. By spectrophotometric methods, a similar high content of uronic acids can also be determined. Measurements of their own demonstrate a fibre content of at least 2.1% (gravimetry) with a high uronic acid content of at least 1.6%. (Spectrometry) for the specific Acerola fruit extract employed herein. Uronic acids are monosaccharides whose primary alcohol functions (CH 2 OH group, C6) are oxidized to carboxylic acid functions (COOH group). The molecule thus possesses both a carbonyl (aldehyde) on C1 and a carboxyl function on C6. This allows the conclusion that the mentioned dietary fibers could be pectin derivatives. It is known that high molecular weight components such as dietary fibres can influence the absorption of other food components in the human intestine.According to the invention, the aqueous extract from the acerola fruit has the standardized vitamin C content, a content, preferably from 0.2% by weight to 10.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 1.0% by weight to 5.0% by weight, preferably high molecular weight soluble dietary fibres, and a content, preferably from 0.1% by weight to 5.0% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.5% by weight to 2.5% by weight, of uronic acids (the typical / preferred acids should be mentioned at least by way of example, so that the invention is so clearly and completely disclosed that a person skilled in the art can carry out it). The uronic acids are D-glucuronic acid, D-galacturonic acid and D-mannuronic acid. It predominates in D-galacturonic acid. Therefore, the inventors believe that the dietary fibers are pectins. Pectins are polyuronides consisting essentially of α-1,4-glycosidically linked D-galacturonic acid units.Since it is decisive for the nutritional effects in the skin in which form orally administered ingredients arrive there, the model "TinyTIM" from Triskelion was used for a better understanding of the digestion processes. This is a validated in vitrosystem that mimics the processes in the human digestive tract. For this purpose, different compartments (gastric, intestinal) are used, which are linked by a peristaltic valve. Within the scope of a dynamic process control, the conditions in the human gastrointestinal tract are simulated by means of, inter alia, temperature, pH, electrolytes, digestive enzymes, mechanics.Here, it was surprisingly found that after digestion of a combination of collagen peptides and acerola extract, various short-chain peptide fragments were to be detected much more frequently than after digestion of gelatin.Surprisingly, it has been shown that many of these peptides contain the amino acid sequence GPA relevant to an anti-inflammatory active component. Among the 10 most abundant peptide fragments were the four peptides: GPAGPAGPR, GPAGV, GRpGApGPA and VGPA (single letter code for amino acids; p = Hydroxypropyline).Advantageously, the combination according to the invention of collagen peptides and acerola extract, each with the described properties, influences the digestion process in the human body in such a way that peptide fragments with the desired amino acid sequence are preferably formed.The object formulated at the outset is accordingly achieved by a composition according to claim 1 and its use as a food supplement. Further preferred embodiments are evident from the dependent claims.In other words, the object is achieved by a composition for use as a food supplement for producing short-chain peptides relevant for the skin pattern in the digestive tract at least comprising the components a) collagen peptides of bovine origin having a molecular mass of on average 2000 Da and b) aqueous extract from acerolafruit having a standardized vitamin C content, a content of 0.2% by weight to 10.0% by weight of high-molecular soluble dietary fibers and a content of 0.1% by weight to 5.0% by weight of uronic acids.In a preferred embodiment, the composition further comprises at least the components, in each case based on the total weight thereofa) vitamin E in the range from 1×10 -4 wt % to 4 wt %, preferably in the range from 4×10 -4 wt % to 1 wt %, particularly preferably in the range from 1×10 -3 wt % to 1×10 -2 wt %,b) biotin in the range from 4×10 -6 wt % to 0.02 wt %, preferably in the range from 1×10 -5 wt % to 1×10 -3 wt %, particularly preferably in the range from 1×10 -4 wt % to 1×10 -3 wt % andc) Zinc citrate in the range from 4×10 -4 wt % to 0.08 wt %, preferably in the range from 1×10 -3 wt % to 1×10 -1 wt %, particularly preferably in the range from 1×10 -2 wt % to 1×10 -1 wt %, wherein the weight contents of the individual components are selected such that the total weight of the components does not exceed 100 wt %.Preferably, the composition contains a) collagen peptides and b) extract from acerola crop in a ratio by weight of 8:1 to 2:1, most preferably in a ratio of 3.75:1.In addition to components a), b) and optionally c) to e), the composition can in a preferred embodiment comprise further micronutrients and / or plant extracts and galenic auxiliaries (sugars, sweeteners, stabilizers, acid regulators, preservatives, taste excipients).References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2016 107 508 A1

[0003]

Claims

Composition for use as food supplement for the production of short-chain peptides relevant to the skin pattern in the digestive tract at least comprising the components a) collagen peptides of bovine origin with a molecular mass of on average 2000 Da and b) aqueous extract from acerolafruit with a standardized vitamin C content, a content of 0.2% by weight to 10.0% by weight of high-molecular soluble fibres and a content of 0.1% by weight to 5.0% by weight of uronic acids.The composition of claim 1, wherein the collagen peptides have a chain length of less than 26 peptides.Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the collagen peptides have a high sequence homology with the human collagen in the type I α-1 skin, type I α-2 collagen and type III α-1 collagen. The total sequence coverage of human collagen type I α-1 is above 94%, for human collagen type I α-2 is above 90%.Composition according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it additionally comprises, based in each case on the total weight thereof, at least the components c) vitamin E in the range from 1×10 -4 wt% to 4 wt%, d) biotin in the range from 4×10 -6 wt% to 0.02 wt% and e) zinc citrate in the range from 4×10 -4 wt% to 0.08 wt%, the weight contents of the individual components being chosen such that the total weight of the components does not exceed 100 wt%.Composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) and b) are present in a ratio by weight of from 8:1 to 2:1.Composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises further micronutrients and / or plant extracts and galenic auxiliaries.Composition according to any of the preceding claims for use as a food supplement for preserving skin health.Composition according to one of the preceding claims in the dosage form drinking ampoule.