Composition Comprising Carbohydrates and Peptides which Comprise Tryptophan

Abstract

An edible composition comprising peptides rich in tryptophan, which edible composition further comprises a rapidly available glucose composition and a slowly available glucose composition.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a formulation comprising tryptophan-containing peptides together with rapidly available glucose and slowly available glucose (i.e. “fast” and “slow” carbohydrates).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Recently, there have been various reports on the benefit which tryptophan is believed to have on several aspects of human behaviour, mood, brain function, brain development, when such tryptophan is taken up by the brain. Examples of such reports are WO 99 / 55174, WO 00 / 42868, WO 20051023017.[0003]Tryptophan is an amino acid present in many proteins, like e.g. whey proteins, but also animal protein contains tryptophan. Tryptophan can be taken up in the blood, and from the blood into the brain, after ingestion of a protein which contains tryptophan. However, tryptophan is not the only amino acid taken up, and in fact when an average animal protein composition is ingested, the level of tryptophan taken up by the brain is so low due t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]Hence, there was a need for a composition providing both tryptophan in a form which allows good uptake in the brain, which is from an industrially-widely available source, has a high tryptophan / LNAA ratio, a low allergenicity, and which may be used in formulations (e.g. for humans, like e.g. children) which may be beneficial for one or more of brain functioning, alertness, sleep, mood, concentration, cognition, and related fields.

[0017]It is also preferred herein that the formulation according to the present invention comprises 0.5 to 5% (preferably 0.8 to 3%) of dry weight of the tryptophan-comprising peptide composition on ready to consume product, as such allows easy formulation of consumable products, e.g. drinks, which have an acceptable volume and tryptophan concentration.

[0023]The tryptophan-comprising peptide composition which is preferably used in the formulation according to the present invention is preferably a lysozyme hydrolysate or a purified lysozyme hydrolysate. Preferably, said lysozyme hydrolysate is particularly rich in arginine residues. Arginine does not belong to the group of large, neutral amino acids (LNAA's) but is known for its insulin stimulating effect. It has been found that the hydrolysate as herein disclosed can generate in vivo high blood plasma tryptophan / LNAA ratios. The tryptophan / LNAA ratios detected in blood plasma, were found to be higher than the tryptophan / LNAA ratio of the hydrolysate. Yet another advantage of the tryptophan-containing peptide composition herein described is that the tryptophan-containing peptides are very small so that even in combination with protein-rich products with less favorable tryptophan / LNAA ratios, the hydrolysate can immediately generate high blood plasma tryptophan / LNAA ratios. This thus makes such tryptophan-containing peptide composition well suitable in the formulation of the present invention. The tryptophan-containing peptide composition as used in the formulation of the present invention may further comprise free tryptophan. Preferably the hydrolysate of the tryptophan-containing peptide composition does not contain more than 1 wt % (on dry matter) of free tryptophan.

Problems solved by technology

However, tryptophan is not the only amino acid taken up, and in fact when an average animal protein composition is ingested, the level of tryptophan taken up by the brain is so low due to competitive uptake of other amino acids that usually no significant effect can be observed attributable to tryptophan.

Use of tryptophan as free amino acids has disadvantages, in that food legislation in many countries limits the use of tryptophan as free amino acid in foodstuffs.

Due to the fact that tryptophan is present in relatively large peptides, the tryptophan uptake into the blood will be retarded hereby limiting the application possibilities of the preparation as a food or beverage ingredient, especially in combination with other proteins.

Another disadvantage of the use of such large peptides is that such peptides may give rise to allergic reactions.

High plasma insulin levels may be promoted by presence of fast digestible carbohydrates together with a tryptophan containing composition, but such may lead to either a dip in blood glucose e.g. about 2 hours after ingestion and / or not being able to maintain considerable levels of blood glucose for e.g. 3-4 hours for the brain to have maximum benefit of the tryptophan and / or for optimal brain function, alertness, sleep, mood, concentration, cognition in general and related fields.