Methods and compositions for the treatment of diverticulosis

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for the treatment of diverticulosis. It is more specifically directed to compositions including L-glutamine, its salts, or its derivatives, and uses of such compositions in the treatment of diverticulosis. In a method aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating diverticulosis. The method includes ingestion of 0.05 g/kg body weight to 10.0 g/kg body weight of L-glutamine, an L-glutamine salt or an L-glutamine derivative per day by a person who has diverticulosis.

Claims

1. A method of treating diverticulosis, wherein the method consist essentially of ingestion of 0.05 g/kg body weight to 10 g/kg body weight of L-glutamine by a person who has diverticulosis, wherein L-glutamine is the only active ingredient.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the L-glutamine is ingested as part of an aqueous solution or suspension.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the L-glutamine is ingested for a period of at least six months.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the number of diverticula in the person with diverticulosis is reduced by at least fifty percent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows L-glutamine (1) and L-glutamine salts and derivatives (2).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(2) The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for the treatment of diverticulosis. It is more specifically directed to compositions including L-glutamine, its salts, or its derivatives, and uses of such compositions in the treatment of diverticulosis.

(3) In a method aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating diverticulosis. The method includes ingestion of 0.05 g/kg body weight to 10.0 g/kg body weight of L-glutamine, an L-glutamine salt or an L-glutamine derivative per day by a person who has diverticulosis.

(4) In a composition aspect, the present invention provides a composition for treating diverticulosis. The composition includes L-glutamine, an L-glutamine salt or an L-glutamine derivative and a fiber supplement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for the treatment of diverticulosis. It is more specifically directed to compositions including L-glutamine, its salts, or its derivatives, and uses of such compositions in the treatment of diverticulosis.

(6) The structure of L-glutamine is shown in FIG. 1, compound 1. L-glutamine salts and derivatives are shown as compound 2 in FIG. 1. Nonlimiting L-glutamine salts and derivatives have the following substituents in reference to compound 2:

(7) R.sub.1 is NH.sub.2;

(8) R.sub.2 is NH.sub.2, NH.sub.3.sup.+, NH.sub.3Br, NH.sub.3OPO.sub.3H, NH.sub.3OC(O)CH.sub.3 (i.e., acetate salt), NH.sub.3OC(O)CHCHCO.sub.2H (i.e., fumarate salt—trans olefin), NH.sub.3OC(O)CH(OH)CH(OH)CO.sub.2H (i.e., tartrate salt), NH.sub.3OC(O)CHCHCO.sub.2H (i.e., maleate salt—cis olefin), NH.sub.3OC(O)CH.sub.2—C(OH)(CO.sub.2H)CH.sub.2CO.sub.2H (i.e., citrate salt), NH.sub.3OC(O)CO.sub.2H (i.e., oxalate salt), NH.sub.3OS(O).sub.2OH (i.e., methanesulfonate salt), NH.sub.3OS(O).sub.2C.sub.6H.sub.4CH.sub.3 (i.e., p-toluenesulfonate salt), and, NH.sub.3OC(O)C(O)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CO.sub.2H (i.e., alpha-ketoglutarate salt).

(9) R.sub.3 is OH, O.sup.−, ONa, OK, OCa, OLi, ONH.sub.2(CH.sub.2C.sub.6H.sub.5)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2NHCH.sub.2C.sub.6H.sub.6 (i.e., benzathine salt), ON(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OC(O)C.sub.6H.sub.3ClNH.sub.2 (i.e., chloroprocaine salt), ON(CH.sub.3).sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH (i.e., choline salt), ONH.sub.2(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH).sub.2 (i.e., diethanolamine salt), ONH.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OH (i.e., ethanolamine salt), ONH.sub.3CH.sub.2CH.sub.2NH.sub.2 (i.e., ethyldiamine salt), ONH.sub.2(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2CH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH (i.e., meglumine salt), ONH.sub.3C(CH.sub.2OH).sub.3 (i.e., tromethamine salt), ONH.sub.3C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 (i.e., tertiary-butylamine salt), ON(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2OC(O)C.sub.6H.sub.4NH.sub.2 (i.e., procaine salt), NHCH(CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH(CH.sub.3)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3))CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2SCH.sub.3)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2C.sub.6H.sub.5)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2C.sub.6H.sub.5OH)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2C.sub.8H.sub.6N)CO.sub.2H, NHCH.sub.2CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2C(O)NH.sub.2)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2C(O)NH.sub.2)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH(OH)CH.sub.3)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2OH)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CO.sub.2H)CO.sub.2H, NHCH(CH.sub.2CO.sub.2H)CO.sub.2H.

(10) Typically, a single compound (e.g., L-glutamine) is administered to a person seeking treatment for diverticulosis. In certain cases, however, a mixture of two or more compounds may be administered. For instance, L-glutamine may be administered with one or more L-glutamine salts or derivatives.

(11) L-glutamine, its salts, derivatives or mixtures may be administered in any suitable way. For example, in certain cases it is administered as an aqueous solution. The solution may only have L-glutamine, salts or derivatives as dissolved ingredients, or it may include other pharmaceutically acceptable compounds. Nonlimiting examples of such compounds include buffers and flavorants.

(12) Other, non-limiting examples of ways in which L-glutamine, its salts, derivatives or mixtures may be administered include: as a suspension in a liquid (e.g., water or juice); as a solid, either as a powder or in another form (e.g., pill or capsule); as a mixture with food (e.g., yogurt). As with the aqueous solution, the preceding administration forms may include other pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients.

(13) The amount of L-glutamine, salts or derivatives administered according to the present invention typically range from 0.05 g/kg body weight to 10.0 g/kg body weight. Oftentimes, the amount ranges from 0.10 g/kg body weight to 8.0 g/kg body weight. In certain cases, the amount ranges from 0.15 g/kg body weight to 7.0 g/kg body weight.

(14) L-glutamine, its salts or derivatives are typically administered to a person once per day. The compounds may, however, be administered more than once per day where indicated.

(15) Where compositions of the present invention are used to treat diverticulosis, they may be combined with other methods used to treat diverticulosis. For instance, the compositions may be administered as part of a dietary regimen focused on the inclusion of increased fiber.

(16) Compositions of the present invention may also be administered and/or combined with a fiber supplement such as CITRUCEL, BENEFIBER and METAMUCIL. The fiber supplement may include soluble and/or insoluble fiber, or the supplement may be entirely composed of soluble and/or insoluble fiber. Nonlimiting examples of fiber with which the compositions can be combined include: methylcellulose; wheat dextrin natural soluble fiber; and, psyllium fiber. The fiber may also include combinations of the foregoing types of fibers.

(17) Combinations of the compositions and fiber may be of any suitable form. The combination may be, for example, in the form of a powder, a capsule, a caplet, a chewable tablet. It may also be included in other supplement forms, such as drinks or gels.

(18) Compositions according to the present invention may be used to treat diverticulosis as determined by a number of different methods to image colon pouches. Nonlimiting examples of imaging methods include: colonoscopy; computed tomography; and, x-ray based on a barium enema.

(19) After administration of L-glutamine, its salts or derivatives for three months, four months, five months, six months, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months, eleven months or twelve months, the number of pouches observed in a patient's colon have been reduced by at least twenty-five (25) percent. In certain cases, the number of pouches have been reduced by at least fifty (50) percent or seventy-five (75) percent. In other cases, the number of pouches have been reduced by at least eighty (80) percent, eighty-five (85) percent, ninety (90) percent, or ninety-five (95) percent.

Experimental Results

(20) A person had a number of diverticula as observed by colonoscopy. The person ingested 30 g of L-glutamine per day as an aqueous solution. After twelve months of L-glutamine administration, the number of diverticula had been reduced by ninety (90) percent.