Boron Source Pet Food for Weight Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing weight in advanced-age or spayed/neutered mammals is challenging due to limited efficacy of existing treatments, particularly in companion animals where food intake restriction or exercise regimens are impractical, and there is a need for alternative therapies that actively assist with weight management.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a boron source, such as boric acid, boron citrate, or boron-enriched yeast, in pet food compositions or supplements to provide a weight management benefit, particularly for geriatric or neutered mammals, by promoting weight maintenance or control through oral administration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If food intake restriction or exercise regimens are used for weight management, then weight control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates in companion animals where these treatments are impractical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight controlVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/exercise-based weight management systems with a biochemical system. Instead of relying on exercise regimens or food restriction (mechanical approaches), the invention uses boron supplementation to directly affect metabolic processes and weight regulation at the biochemical level, making weight management accessible to companion animals without requiring owner intervention in exercise or diet control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Weight of moving object

If boron supplementation is used for weight management, then weight control is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to conflicting reports in literature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight controlVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the dosage and form of boron supplementation. The invention specifies particular boron sources (boric acid, boron citrate, boron glycinate) and dosage ranges (0.001-5% of total diet, or 0.001-20 mg/kg body weight per day), transforming the unreliable conflicting reports into a standardized, reproducible protocol that achieves consistent weight management results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If excessive or toxic doses of boron are used, then weight loss is achieved, but harmful factors worsen due to toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight lossVSAvoidtoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by establishing safe dosage ranges. The invention specifies boron supplementation at 0.001-5% of total diet or 0.001-20 mg/kg body weight per day, which achieves weight management benefits while avoiding toxic effects. This precise parameter control transforms the harmful effect of toxic dosing into a safe and effective treatment protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8685438B2Compositions, kits, and methods utilizing an added boron source
Publication Date: 2014.04.01 MARS INC

AI summary

Disclosed here are methods, compositions, and kits which are useful for weight management benefits in the mammal. Each of the methods, compositions, and kits utilize an added boron source.