3-Hydroxybutyric Acid–Sodium 3-Hydroxybutyrate Complex for GI Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ketone body supplements, such as β-hydroxybutyric acid and its salts, face issues of strong acidity, high hygroscopicity, gastrointestinal side effects, electrolyte imbalance, and unpleasant taste, limiting their use in dietary and nutritional supplements.
Innovation Solution
A complex of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate is formulated with specific ratios and configurations, ensuring balanced ion composition and crystalline form, prepared through controlled mixing and solvent precipitation, to overcome these issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If β-hydroxybutyric acid is used as exogenous ketone supplement, then ketone body supply is improved, but strong acidity causes gastrointestinal side effects and limits usage amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a weak base (such as L-arginine, L-citrulline, or amino acid salts) as an intermediary substance to neutralize the strong acidity of β-hydroxybutyric acid. This intermediary reacts with the acid to form a salt that maintains the ketone body functionality while reducing gastrointestinal irritation, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing adequate ketone supply and avoiding harmful gastrointestinal effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ketone supplement by converting pure β-hydroxybutyric acid into a salt form with a weak base. This parameter change (from acid to salt) fundamentally alters the pH properties and gastrointestinal tolerance while preserving the ketone body's metabolic function, allowing higher doses to be administered without causing harmful side effects
2Object-affected harmful factors
If β-hydroxybutyric acid salts (sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium) are used to reduce acidity, then acidity problem is solved, but electrolyte imbalance and salt overload occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs amino acid-based weak bases (such as L-arginine or L-citrulline salts) as alternative counterions instead of traditional mineral salts. These amino acid salts provide the necessary pH buffering without contributing to electrolyte overload or imbalance, effectively replacing the harmful mineral salt components while maintaining the acid-neutralizing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite salt structure combining β-hydroxybutyrate anion with amino acid-based cations (such as arginine or citrulline). This composite material integrates the acid-neutralizing capability with the benefit of not causing electrolyte imbalance, as the amino acid-based counterions are metabolically different from traditional mineral electrolytes and do not produce the same overload effects
3Ease of manufacture
If simple physical mixing of BHB acid and salt is performed, then preparation simplicity is improved, but uniform mixing is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the acid and base components in a controlled chemical reaction rather than simple physical mixing. This chemical combination forms a homogeneous salt product where the β-hydroxybutyrate and amino acid counterion are chemically bonded at the molecular level, ensuring complete uniformity throughout the material without the segregation issues inherent in physical mixtures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The complex provides a stable, palatable, and effective source of ketone bodies with reduced acidity, hygroscopicity, and electrolyte imbalance, suitable for dietary supplements and beverages, enhancing physical and cognitive performance.
Implementation Method 1
prepared through controlled mixing and solvent precipitation
Implementation Method 2
ensuring balanced ion composition and crystalline form
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The invention discloses a complex of 3-hydroxybutyric acid and sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate and a preparation method thereof. The complex provided by the invention effectively solves the acid/salt load and gastrointestinal side effects associated with the existing products, has good taste comfort, and has a good ketogenic effect, and can be better used as a dietary or nutritional supplement.