A TANNING COMPOSITION

Abstract

The invention provides a tanning composition for oral administration by humans, the composition being a chewable pastille comprising:

(i) a chewable base comprising a gelling agent and a sugar and/or sugar alcohol; and
(ii) one or more skin colour-promoting agents.

The sugar is typically a mixture of glucose and sucrose.

The gelling agent may be is selected from gelatin, pectin, agar, alginate and carrageenan, and mixtures thereof.

The skin colour-promoting agents may comprise one or more of the carotenoids -carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein and astaxanthin, tyrosine, PABA and copper.

Claims

1. A tanning composition for oral administration by humans, the composition being a chewable pastille comprising: (i) a chewable base comprising a gelling agent and a sugar and/or sugar alcohol; and (ii) two or more skin colour-promoting agents selected from -carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein and astaxanthin.

2. A tanning composition according to claim 1 further comprising one or more skin colour-promoting agents comprise one or more of tyrosine, PABA and copper.

3. A tanning composition according to claim 2, wherein the tyrosine is L-tyrosine.

4. A tanning composition according to claim 2, wherein the copper is copper citrate.

5. A tanning composition according to claim 2, wherein the skin colour-promoting agents comprise all of tyrosine, PABA and copper.

6. A tanning composition according to claim 1 further comprising one or more additional carotenoids.

7. A tanning composition according to claim 6 wherein the one or more skin colour-promoting agents comprise three or more carotenoids selected from -carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein and astaxanthin.

8. A tanning composition according to claim 7 containing at least four carotenoids selected from -carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein and astaxanthin.

9. A tanning composition according to claim 8 containing all five carotenoids -carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, lutein and astaxanthin.

10. A tanning composition according to claim 1 wherein the gelling agent is selected from gelatin, pectin, agar, alginate and carrageenan, and mixtures thereof.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A tanning composition according to claim 1 wherein chewable base comprises a sugar but no sugar alcohol and the sugar is a mixture of glucose and sucrose.

14. A tanning composition according to claim 1 wherein the sugar constitutes from about 60% (w/w) to about 95% (w/w) of the total weight of the pastille composition.

15. (canceled)

16. A tanning composition according to claim 6 which additionally comprises one or more substances that promote natural tanning by facilitating the production of melanin.

17. A tanning composition according to claim 16 wherein the one or more further components are selected from vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin E.

18. (canceled)

19. A tanning composition according to claim 16 wherein the one or more further components are selected from copper salts, L-tyrosine and 4 aminobenzoic acid (PABA).

20. A tanning composition according to claim 6 wherein the skin colour-promoting agents comprise: (a) -carotene in an amount of 0.1%-0.8% (w/w); (b) lutein in an amount of 0%-0.15% (w/w); (c) lycopene in an amount of 0%-0.1% (w/w); (d) astaxanthin in an amount of 0%-0.1% (w/w); (e) zeanxhantin in an amount of 0%-0.1% (w/w); and (f) a physiologically acceptable copper salt in an amount of 0%-0.05% (w/w); provided that the total amount of skin colour-promoting agent is the range from 0.5%-1% (w/w).

21. A tanning composition according to claim 1 having the following composition: TABLE-US-00008 % (w/w) of total weight Component of compositions Sucrose 35-55 Glucose 30-50 Water 5-10 Pectin 2-5 Flavouring agent 0-2 Citric acid 1-3 Colouring agent .sup.0-0.2 Vegetable (e.g. 0-0.01 sunflower) oil Natural wax (e.g. 0-0.01 Carnauba wax) Tyrosine 1-4 Vitamin C 0.5-4.sup. Vitamin A 0.2-1.sup. (-carotene) Vitamin E 0.05-0.5 Lutein 0.05-0.2 Zinc .sup.0-0.1 Lycopene 0.02-0.1 Vitamin B2 0-0.06 (Riboflavin) Asthaxin 0.01-0.05 Copper citrate 0.005-0.03 Zeanxhantin 0.005-0.02 Selenium 0-0.003 Total 100%

22. A tanning composition having the following composition: TABLE-US-00009 % (w/w) of total weight Component of compositions Sucrose 35-55 Glucose 30-50 Water 5-10 Tyrosine 1-5 Pectin 2-5 PABA 1-5 Flavouring agent 0-2 Citric acid 1-3 Vitamin C 0.2-2.sup. Vitamin E 0.05-0.5 Zinc citrate .sup.0-0.1 Vitamin B2 .sup.0-0.1 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B12 0-0.05 Copper citrate 0.005-0.030 Vitamin D 0-0.005 Vegetable (e.g. 0-0.01 sunflower) oil Natural wax (e.g. 0-0.01 Carnauba wax) Total 100%

23. A tanning composition for oral administration by humans, the composition being a gummy candy comprising: (i) a chewable gummy base comprising a gelling agent and a sugar and/or sugar alcohol; and (ii) one or more skin colour-promoting agents; wherein the gelling agent, sugar and/or sugar alcohol and one or more skin colour-promoting agents are as defined in claim 1.

24. A method of cosmetic tanning or cosmetic skin colour enhancement, which method comprises the oral administration to a subject of an effective number of a tanning composition as defined in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0184] FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A are photographs (originally filed in colour) of volunteers' arms at the start of the trial described in Example 3 below.

[0185] FIGS. 1B, 2B and 3B are photographs (originally filed in colour) of volunteers' arms at the end of the trial described in Example 3 below.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Example 1A

[0186] A tanning composition was prepared with the following composition.

TABLE-US-00003 % (w/w) of total weight Weight (mg) per Component of compositions two pastilles Sucrose 44 2200 Glucose 35.6 1780 Water 8.22 411 Pectin 3.6 180 Flavouring agent 1.7 85 Citric acid 1.5 75 Artificial 0.1 5 colouring agent E124A Sunflower oil 0.005 0.25 Carnauba wax 0.005 0.25 Tyrosine 2.3 115 Vitamin C 1.84 92 Vitamin A 0.576 28.8 (-carotene) Vitamin E 0.276 13.8 Lutein 0.092 4.6 Zinc citrate 0.0576 2.88 Lycopene 0.046 2.3 Vitamin B2 0.0322 1.61 (Riboflavin) Astaxanthin 0.023 1.15 Copper citrate 0.0172 0.86 Zeaxanthin 0.008 0.4 Selenium 0.0012 0.06 Totals 100 5000

[0187] The pastilles were prepared by mixing the various components and heating the mixture to form a thick syrupy mass. which was then poured into moulds and allowed to solidify to form pastilles.

[0188] The resulting pastilles have a soft chewy gummy consistency.

Example 1B

[0189]

TABLE-US-00004 % (w/w) of total weight Weight (mg) per Component of compositions two pastilles Sucrose 44 2200 Glucose 35.6 1780 Water 8.9 445 Pectin 3.6 180 Flavouring agent 1.7 85 Citric acid 1.5 75 Artificial 0.01 5 colouring agent E124A Sunflower oil 0.005 0.25 Carnauba wax 0.005 0.25 Tyrosine 2.0 100 Vitamin C 1.6 80 Vitamin A 0.50 25 (-carotene) Vitamin E 0.24 12 Lutein 0.08 4 Lycopene 0.04 2 Vitamin B2 0.028 1.4 (Riboflavin) Astaxanthin 0.020 1 Copper citrate 0.015 0.75 Zeaxanthin 0.007 0.35 Zinc citrate 0.05 2.5 Selenium 0.0011 0.055 Totals 100 5000

[0190] In a typical dosing regime, 2-3 chewable pastilles (according to Example 1A or 1B) are consumed per day for an initial period of about 10 days, following which an increase in skin colouration is observed as a result of deposition of the zeanxanthin, asthaxin, lycopene and vitamin A in the epidermis and subcutaneous fatty tissue. Once a desired skin colouration has been obtained, a maintenance dose of 1-2 pastilles per day is administered over a period for which a more tanned appearance is required.

Example 2

Example 2A

[0191] A tanning composition was prepared with the following composition.

TABLE-US-00005 % (w/w) of total weight Weight (mg) per Component of compositions two pastilles Sucrose 43.23 2161.44 Glucose 35 1750 Water 8.22 411 Pectin 3.6 180 Flavouring agent 1.7 85 Citric acid 1.5 75 Sunflower oil 0.005 0.25 Carnauba wax 0.005 0.25 Tyrosine 4 200 Vitamin C 0.4 20 Vitamin E 0.21 10.5 Zinc citrate 0.06 3 Vitamin B2 0.056 2.8 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B12 0.000036 0.0018 Copper citrate 0.015 0.75 Vitamin D 0.0002 0.01 PABA 2 100 Totals 100 5000

[0192] The pastilles were prepared by mixing the various components and heating the mixture to form a thick syrupy mass. which was then poured into moulds and allowed to solidify to form pastilles.

[0193] The resulting pastilles have a soft chewy gummy consistency.

Example 2B

[0194]

TABLE-US-00006 % (w/w) of total weight Weight (mg) per Component of compositions two pastilles Sucrose 40.2 2010 Glucose 32.0 1600 Water 8.2 412 Pectin 3.6 180 Flavouring agent 1.7 85 Citric acid 1.5 75 Sunflower oil 0.005 0.25 Carnauba wax 0.005 0.25 Tyrosine 10 500 Vitamin C 0.4 20 Vitamin E 0.21 10.5 Zinc citrate 0.06 3 Vitamin B2 0.05 2.8 (Riboflavin) Vitamin B12 3.6E05 0.0018 Copper citrate 0.015 0.75 Vitamin D 0.0002 0.01 PABA 2 100 Totals 100 5000

[0195] The pastilles were prepared by mixing the various components and heating the mixture to form a thick syrupy mass. which was then poured into moulds and allowed to solidify to form pastilles.

[0196] The resulting pastilles have a soft chewy gummy consistency.

[0197] In a typical dosing regime, 3-4 chewable pastilles (according to Example 2A or Example 2B) are consumed per day for 3-4 days prior to exposure, during UV exposure, and optionally after UV exposure (e.g. for up to 3-4 days after UV exposure), following which an increase in skin colouration is observed as a result of an increase in melanin production in the melanocytes in the skin.

Example 3

Example 3A

[0198] Five volunteers took three pastilles per day for a period of 3 weeks. The pastilles had the composition described in Example 1B with the amounts of the following ingredients amended as detailed below:

TABLE-US-00007 Weight (mg) per Component two pastilles Beta-carotene 30 Lycopene 1 Lutein 2 Zeaxanthin 1 Astaxanthin 1

[0199] The weights of all other components not listed in the table above were the same as the amounts used in Example 1B.

[0200] Following the end of the trial, 3 of out 5 of the volunteers were dissatisfied with the result due to the orange colour of their palms.

[0201] Known tanning tablets containing the same amount of -carotene do not result in volunteers' palms turning orange and hence it was concluded that the pastilles of the invention show increased rates of absorption of beta-carotene compared to known tablet compositions.

Example 3B

[0202] Ten volunteers took three pastilles per day for a period of 3 weeks. The pastilles had the composition described in Example 1B. The volunteers were not in environments with high sun levels (i.e. they were in environments when they would not normally develop a tanning of the skin) and did not use any other tanning products or equipment (e.g. sun beds).

[0203] Following the end of the trial 8 out of 10 of the volunteers were satisfied that their skin had changed colour and 9 out of 10 of the volunteers were satisfied with the resultant colour (i.e. their skin had developed a healthy brown glow rather than an orange colour).

[0204] In addition, photographs of the volunteers' skin were taken at the start and end of the trial (see FIGS. 2A and 2B, wherein FIG. 2A was taken before the start of the trial and FIG. 2B was taken at the end of the trial). The tanning effect of the compositions can be seen from a comparison of the photos.

Example 3C

[0205] Twenty volunteers took three pastilles per day for a period of 3 weeks. The pastilles had the composition described in Example 2B. These volunteers took the pastilles in combination with high exposure to natural sunlight or use of sun beds.

[0206] Following the end of the trial 17 out of 20 of the volunteers were satisfied that their skin had changed colour to a greater extent than they would have expected by sun exposure or use of sun beds alone).

[0207] In addition, photographs of the volunteers' skin were taken at the start and end of the trial (see FIGS. 1 and 3, wherein FIGS. 1A and 3A were taken before the start of the trial and FIGS. 1B and 3B were taken at the end of the trial).

EQUIVALENTS

[0208] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the specific embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the principles underlying the invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.