Nutritional Supplement Composition for Elderly Metabolic Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The elderly often suffer from chronic malnutrition due to decreased energy intake and metabolic capacity, leading to reduced immunocompetence and increased susceptibility to infection, despite adequate nutrient intake, as they struggle to efficiently metabolize nutrients.

Innovation Solution

A composition containing an antioxidant agent, vitamins B1, B2, B6, niacin, folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, and optionally vitamin D3 and iron, which is administered to improve nutritional status, reduce fever frequency, and enhance immunocompetence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the elderly take in sufficient energy and are given sufficient amounts of the three major nutrients, then the nutritional intake is adequate, but they cannot efficiently metabolize the nutrients because their energy metabolic capacity has decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutrient intakeVSAvoidmetabolic efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the nutritional supplement by incorporating specific vitamins (B1, B2, B6, niacin, pantothenic acid) and minerals (zinc, selenium) that act as cofactors and catalysts in metabolic pathways. This transforms the supplement from merely providing substrates to providing both substrates and enzymatic helpers, thereby resolving the contradiction between adequate nutrient quantity and reduced metabolic efficiency in the elderly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite nutritional formulation that combines macronutrients (three major nutrients) with micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) in specific proportions. This composite approach ensures that the supplement not only provides building blocks but also the catalytic agents necessary for efficient metabolism, addressing the age-related decline in metabolic capacity while maintaining adequate nutrient intake

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the elderly are in malnutrition or catabolic state, then immunocompetence is reduced due to lowered immune cell synthesis, but susceptibility to infection is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveimmunocompetenceVSAvoidsusceptibility to infection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing nutritional supplementation that proactively supports immune cell synthesis before infections occur. The formulation includes nutrients specifically required for immune cell production and function, enabling the elderly to maintain immunocompetence and prevent the cascade leading to increased infection susceptibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful catabolic state and malnutrition into benefit by providing a targeted nutritional formulation that reverses these conditions. The supplement transforms the elderly's vulnerable metabolic and immune state into a more resilient state by providing the specific nutrients needed to halt catabolism and restore immune function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 composition effectively improves nutritional status, reduces fever frequency, and increases immunocompetence in the elderly by promoting metabolism, protein synthesis, and antioxidant actions, as demonstrated by significant increases in certain blood parameters and reduced fever incidence.

Implementation Method 1

an antioxidant agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntioxidant action: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

vitamins which contribute to efficient metabolism of the three major nutrients

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMetabolism: Enzyme

Implementation Method 3

micronutrients involved in protein synthesis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProtein synthesis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 4

lowered immune cell synthesis caused by marked exhaustion or a deficiency in various nutrients

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImmune cell synthesis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS10568906B2Composition for improving nutritional status, reducing frequency of fever and/or increasing immunocompetence of the elderly

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 NUTRI CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a composition for improving the nutritional status, reducing the frequency of fever, and/or increasing the immunocompetence of the elderly. The composition is one for improving the nutritional status, reducing the frequency of fever, and/or increasing the immunocompetence of the elderly and comprises the following components (a) to (e): (a) an antioxidant agent; (b) at least one component selected from the group consisting of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, and pantothenic acid; (c) at least one component selected from the group consisting of folic acid and vitamin B12; (d) zinc; and (e) selenium.