Composition and method for reducing the risk or progression of cardiovascular, glaucoma and tardive dyskinesia diseases

Abstract

Elevated levels of homocysteine have been implicated as an important risk factor for cardiovascular and other diseases. A composition for decreasing levels of plasma homocysteine and a method for administering the composition are provided the composition containing dextromethorphan (DM), folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12. The composition provides a synergistic therapeutic effect so that lower amounts of the above ingredients may be employed to minimize any undesirable side effects caused by the use of high levels of a component such as DM. Preferred compositions for cardiovascular diseases further include lecithin, vitamin E, beta-carotene, procyanidins / flavonoids, trimethylglycine, garlic oil and minerals. Other compositions for treating glaucoma include bilberry, bioflavonoids and beta-carotene and for treating tardive dyskinesia include an antioxidant such as grape seed extract and pine bark extract, lecithin and oligomeric proanthocyanidins. The compositions may be administered using any suitable means such as orally or intravenous.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of co-pending U.S. Application Ser. No. 09 / 845,141, filed on Apr. 30, 2001, and entitled, "Composition and Method for Reducing the Risk or Progression of Cardiovascular, Glaucoma and Tardive Dyskinesia Diseases", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates to a composition and method for reducing the risk or progression of cardiovascular, glaucoma and tardive dyskinesia diseases and, more particularly, to a composition containing a number of ingredients which are present in amounts lower than amounts considered harmful to the body but which act synergistically to provide enhanced disease inhibition.[0004] 2. Description of Related Art[0005] Cardiovascular disease is the most frequent cause of death in industrialized countries. Atherosclerosis (AS) is the principal cause of cardiovascular disease. AS is a disease of the intima of the arteries that leads to fatty ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for reducing the risk or progression of cardiovascular diseases in a person by administering to the person a composition of the invention.

[0018] An additional object of the invention is to provide a method for reducing the risk or progression of tardive dyskinesia diseases by administering to a person a composition of the invention.

[0021] It is also preferred to employ in the composition a free radical inhibitor / antioxidant such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) to protect the amino group in DM from oxidation and to provide a longer plasma level of DM.

Problems solved by technology

This deposit of fat and cholesterol narrows the arteries, and often becomes calcified, providing sites for abnormal blood clots to form, leading to high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations have repeatedly been associated with increased vascular risk.

However, epidemiological data reveals that Hcy levels above 6.3 cause a steep progressive risk of heart attack.

The amount of DM necessary to reduce Hcy to safe levels can cause undesirable side effects however.

Vitamin supplements of folic acid, B.sub.6 and B.sub.12 have been shown to be useful in lowering Hcy but there is evidence that for some elderly people it is not sufficient to keep the level of Hcy low enough to be out of the danger zone.

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