Nutritional Composition for Lean Body Mass Without Caloric Surplus

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aging leads to a natural decline in muscle mass and strength, resulting in frailty and associated health issues, particularly in the elderly, where existing nutritional approaches are inadequate in effectively addressing these issues without increasing daily caloric intake.

Innovation Solution

A nutritional composition comprising uridine and/or uridine monophosphate, DHA and/or EPA, vitamin B6, B9, or B12, phospholipids, antioxidants, and choline, with a specific ratio of phosphatidylcholine to choline, which is designed to increase lean body mass and body weight without requiring additional caloric intake, thereby improving muscle strength and daily activities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional nutritional approaches are used to address muscle mass loss in the elderly, then some nutritional support is provided, but they are inadequate in effectively increasing lean body mass and muscle strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of nutritional approachVSAvoidadequacy for addressing frailty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple specific nutrients (uridine, DHA, EPA, vitamin B6, B9, B12, phospholipids, antioxidants, and choline) into a single nutritional composition. This merging of complementary nutrients creates a synergistic effect that is more effective than conventional single-nutrient or general nutritional approaches for addressing muscle mass loss and frailty in the elderly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The nutritional composition functions as a composite material where different nutrients work together to achieve a combined effect greater than the sum of individual components. The specific ratios and combinations of uridine, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, phospholipids, antioxidants, and choline create a composite nutritional formulation tailored for anti-frailty effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of stationary object

If additional caloric intake is increased to gain weight, then body weight increases, but it does not specifically increase lean body mass and muscle strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebody weightVSAvoidcomposition of body mass
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The nutritional composition targets specific body tissues (muscle and lean body mass) rather than promoting general fat accumulation. The specialized blend of nutrients is designed to be selectively utilized by muscle tissue for protein synthesis and muscle growth, ensuring that weight gain is directed toward improving lean body mass composition rather than merely increasing overall body weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If protein intake is increased to build muscle, then muscle synthesis is supported, but it requires increased daily caloric consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemuscle strengthVSAvoiddaily caloric intake
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the nutritional parameters by incorporating specific nutrients in optimized ratios that enhance protein utilization efficiency. The combination of uridine, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, phospholipids, and antioxidants creates a nutritional environment that maximizes muscle protein synthesis efficiency, allowing for effective muscle building without proportionally increasing total caloric requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3542638B1Nutritional composition
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 NV NUTRICIA

AI summary

Non-medical use of at least two components selected from the group of: (i) nucleoside equivalents, (ii) n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids selected from the group of DHA, DPA and EPA, (iii) vitamins B, (iv) phospholipids, (v) antioxidants and (vi) cholines - with the proviso that at least one (i) nucleoside or at least one (iii) vitamin B is present - for increasing or maintaining the body weight, for improving the ability to perform an activity of daily living of a mammal, for maintaining the ability to perform an activity of daily living of a mammal, or for reducing a deterioration in the ability to perform an activity of daily living of a mammal.