SLEEP ENHANCEMENT WITH A PROTEIN-BOUND TRYPTOPHAN AND MELATONIN MIXTURE

Abstract

A composition comprising, preferably, at least partially defatted meal from a plant source containing protein-bound tryptophan that, preferably, has a higher tryptophan source than said plant source, a melatonin component, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier therefor for enhancing sleep quality and duration in a mammal. In some embodiments, the composition includes a carbohydrate. The invention provides a method of enhancing sleep quality in a mammal having a composition described above.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a meal from a plant source containing protein-bound tryptophan, an herb containing melatonin and a physiologically-acceptable diluent or carrier therefor for enhancing sleep in mammals.

2. A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said meal is at least partially defatted and has a higher tryptophan source than said plant source.

3. A composition as defined in claim 1 comprising a plant-derived melatonin.

4. A composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising a carbohydrate source having a high-glycemic index.

5. A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the plant source is a seed.

6. A composition as defined in claim 5 wherein the seed is selected from the group consisting of butternut squash seed, peppercorn squash seed, pumpkin seed, lentil seed, sunflower seed, flax seed, watermelon seed, sisymbrium seed, cotton seed, sesame seed, canola seed, evening primrose seed, safflower seed, alfalfa seed, barley, soy bean and combinations thereof.

7. A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the plant source is selected from the group consisting of seaweed, kept and alfalfa seeds.

8. A composition as defined in claim 3 wherein the plant source is a cereal.

9. A composition as defined in claim 8 wherein the cereal is selected from the group consisting of pigmented rice grains including polished, whole grain, aromatic, black, black glutinous, red and parboiled rice grains.

10. A composition as defined in claim 4 wherein the carbohydrate source is selected from the group consisting of glucose, maltose, sucrose and combinations thereof.

11. A composition as defined in claim 1 further comprising a vitamin selected from the group consisting of vitamin B3, B6 and combinations thereof in an amount sufficient to enhance uptake of the tryptophan across the blood-brain barrier.

12. A composition as defined in claim 1 in the form of a tablet, powder, suspension, liquid, capsule or gel.

13. A composition as defined in claim 1 in the form of a dietary supplement.

14. A dietary supplement as defined in claim 13 wherein the supplement is formulated in a plurality of oral dosages for ingestion on a daily basis.

15. The dietary supplement as defined in claim 14 wherein the supplement is provided as a powder drink mixture.

16. A composition as defined in claim 6 comprising at least partially defatted butternut squash seed meal having protein-bound tryptophan in an amount of 25 mg to 1000 mg of tryptophan, from 25 mg to 200 mg of glucose, and a physiologically acceptable diluent or carrier therefor.

17. A composition as defined in claim 6 comprising at least partially defatted butternut squash seed meal providing from 25 mg to 50 mg of tryptophan, from 3 μg to 12 mg of melatonin, from 75 mg to 100 mg of glucose, and a physiologically acceptable diluent or carrier therefor.

18. A composition as defined in claim 11 further comprising from 5 mg to 50 mg of vitamin B3, from 0.5 mg to 50 mg of vitamin B6, and combinations thereof.

19. (canceled)

20. A method of enhancing sleep in a mammal comprising administering an effective amount of a composition as defined in claim 11 said mammal.

21. Use of a composition as defined in claim 11 for enhancing sleep in a mammal.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

EXAMPLES

[0021] The procedures for obtaining compositions of use in the practise of the present invention are as described in aforesaid WO 01/89319.

[0022] A drink mixture of 10 grams for use according to the invention was made according to the general procedures described in aforesaid WO 01/89319 with the addition of plant-derived melatonin, having the composition: [0023] 5 gm of defatted squash seed [0024] 4.39 gm glucose (“glucose 43”) [0025] 0.49 gm Chocolate flavor [0026] 0.07 gm guar gum [0027] 0.04 gm rice starch [0028] 0.001 gm plant source melatonin

Patient Reports

[0029] We have found, however, that the combined ingestion of protein-bound tryptophan and melatonin produced an unexpected superior benefit on subjective sleep quality to protein-bound tryptophan alone. The addition of 1 mg melatonin to 10,000 mg of a protein-bound tryptophan composition described in aforesaid WO 01/89319 has produced surprising improvements in sleep quality and duration. Based on self-report data from 14 consumers, 100% experienced reduced sleep latency and/or increased sleep duration, and 29% reported more regular sleep-wake cycles with the melatonin-supplemented composition compared to the melatonin-free composition. Several self-reports also mentioned more intense dreams, increased feelings of restfulness and deeper sleeps.

[0030] Prior to treatment with 1 mg melatonin to 10,000 mg of a protein-bound tryptophan composition, these individuals all reported long-standing insomnia and a desire to treat their insomnia with methods other than sleep medications

EXAMPLES

[0031] One survey participant, a middle aged man from Bavaria, Germany reported issues with falling and staying asleep when consuming the melatonin-free protein-bound tryptophan composition once per day. The participant then consumed 10,000 mg of the composition with 0.01% added melatonin once before bed. After 60 days of this consumption, the participant reported decreased sleep latency and increased sleep duration. The participant also reported that other sleep-enhancing supplements and hypnotic medications were no longer necessary to remediate his or her insomnia-related issues.

[0032] Another participant, a middle aged woman from Germany reported a reduced quality of life due to drowsiness and long periods of wakefulness when regularly consuming the melatonin-free tryptophan composition. After 60 days of consuming 10 g of the 0.01% melatonin composition once before bed, the participant reported quick improvements in both sleep quality and ease of waking up in the morning.

[0033] Another German woman participant had struggled to fall asleep while regularly taking the melatonin-free tryptophan composition. The participant then consumed 10 g of the 0.01% melatonin composition once before bedtime for 60 days. The participant then reported reduced sleep latency, improved sleep quality, and longer and more intense sleep phases.

REFERENCES

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