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TASTE-NEUTRAL BITTER BLOCKER AND USES THEREOF

20230232880 · 2023-07-27

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    Bitter blocker composition, comprising caffeine and a mixture including Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, K.sup.30, Na.sup.+, HCO.sub.3.sup.−,SO.sub.4.sup.2−, Cl.sup.−, and β-alanine.

    Claims

    1. A composition comprising caffeine and a mixture including Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, HCO.sub.3.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, Cl.sup.−, and β-alanine, wherein the ratio by weight between caffeine and Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, HCO.sub.3.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, Cl.sup.−, and β-alanine is TABLE-US-00011 caffeine = 1 Mg.sup.2+ = 0.015 to 0.2  Ca.sup.2+ =  0.03 to 0.4 K.sup.+ = 0.15 to 2  Na.sup.+ = 0.3 to 4 HCO.sub.3.sup.− = 0.3 to 4 SO.sub.4.sup.2− = 0.6 to 6 Cl.sup.− = 0.15 to 2  β-alanine =  1.5 to 20

    2. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising L-arginine and/or taurine.

    3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein the ratio by weight between caffeine and L-arginine and/or taurine is 1 to 0.8-50.

    4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the sum of ions magnesium (II), calcium (II), potassium (I), sodium (I), bicarbonate, sulfate, and chloride is between 0.1 to 0.16 wt. % of the composition.

    5. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vitamin and/or at least one flavour.

    6. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising water.

    7. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the total amounts in relation of the total composition are TABLE-US-00012 caffeine = 0.01 to 0.06 wt. % magnesium (II) = 0.001 to 0.002 wt. % calcium (II) = 0.002 to 0.004 wt. % potassium (I), = 0.01 to 0.02 wt. % sodium (I) = 0.02 to 0.04 wt. % bicarbonate = 0.02 to 0.04 wt. % sulfate = 0.04 to 0.06 wt. % chloride = 0.005 to 0.02 wt. % β-alanine = 0.1 to 0.2 wt. %

    8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of sugar or sweetener in the composition is <5 wt.

    9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is a bitter blocker composition.

    10. (canceled)

    11. A method of preparing a composition according to claim 1, comprising mixing of components caffeine, Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, HCO.sub.3.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, Cl.sup.−, and β-alanine in such amounts that the ratio by weight between the components is: TABLE-US-00013 Caffeine = 1 Mg.sup.2+ = 0.015 to 0.2  Ca.sup.2+ =  0.03 to 0.4 K.sup.+ = 0.15 to 2  Na.sup.+ = 0.3 to 4 HCO.sub.3.sup.− = 0.3 to 4 SO.sub.4.sup.2− = 0.6 to 6 Cl.sup.− = 0.15 to 2  β-alanine =  1.5 to 20

    12. A method of preparing a food or beverage, comprising a composition according to claim 1 and the method comprising mixing of a food or beverage component with components caffeine, Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, HCO.sub.3.sup.−, SO.sub.4.sup.2−, and β-alanine in such amounts that the ratio by weight is between the components is TABLE-US-00014 caffeine = 1 Mg.sup.2+ = 0.015 to 0.2  Ca.sup.2+ =  0.03 to 0.4 K.sup.+ = 0.15 to 2  Na.sup.+ = 0.3 to 4 HCO.sub.3.sup.− = 0.3 to 4 SO.sub.4.sup.2− = 0.6 to 6 Cl.sup.− = 0.15 to 2  β-alanine =  1.5 to 20

    13. A beverage composition comprising a beverage component and a composition according to claim 1.

    14. The beverage according to claim 13, wherein the amount of caffeine is 15 to 50 mg per 100 ml beverage.

    15. A food composition comprising food component and a composition according to claim 1.

    16. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio by weight between caffeine and Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+, K.sup.+, Na.sup.+, HCO.sub.3.sup.−, so.sub.4.sup.2−, and β-alanine is TABLE-US-00015 caffeine = 1 Mg.sup.2+ = 0.02 to 0.1 Ca.sup.2+ = 0.05 to 0.3 K.sup.+ = 0.2 to 1  Na.sup.+ =  0.5 to 2.5 HCO.sub.3.sup.− =  0.5 to 2.5 SO.sub.4.sup.2− = 0.8 to 4  Cl.sup.− = 0.15 to 1.5 β-alanine =  2 to 10

    17. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the total amount of water is >50 wt. %.

    18. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the total amount of water is >90 wt. %, or >99 wt. %.

    19. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the total amount of sugar or sweetener in the composition is <1 wt. %.

    20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ratio by weight between the components is: TABLE-US-00016 caffeine = 1 Mg.sup.2+ = 0.02 to 0.1 Ca.sup.2+ = 0.05 to 0.3 K.sup.+ = 0.2 to 1  Na.sup.+ =  0.5 to 2.5 HCO.sub.3.sup.− =  0.5 to 2.5 SO.sub.4.sup.2− = 0.8 to 4  Cl.sup.− = 0.15 to 1.5 β-alanine =  2 to 10

    21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the ratio by weight between the components is: TABLE-US-00017 caffeine = 1 Mg.sup.2+ = 0.02 to 0.1 Ca.sup.2+ = 0.05 to 0.3 K.sup.+ = 0.2 to 1  Na.sup.+ =  0.5 to 2.5 HCO.sub.3.sup.− =  0.5 to 2.5 SO.sub.4.sup.2− = 0.8 to 4  Cl.sup.− = 0.15 to 1.5 β-alanine =  2 to 10

    Description

    [0082] The panelists were asked to judge the basic tastes (sweet, bitter, sour, salty) and an aftertaste of three compositions BB, BB-β-Ala and BB-Salts, as described in Table 6. Subjects rinsed thoroughly with tap water after each stimulus. All stimuli were presented in plastic cups (10 ml) and at room temperature. The minimum time between the presentation of successive stimuli was 30 seconds. Finally, the data were visualized as spider charts in the following figure.

    [0083] FIG. 1 shows: The taste of caffeinated water (320 mg/L or 32 mg/100 ml) containing the complete bitter blocker composition (BB) was indistinguishable from a standard drinking water without caffeine for 5 of 6 panelists. One of panelists described sour and salty tastes, as well as unpleasant aftertaste.

    [0084] FIG. 2 shows: 3 of 6 panelists drinking caffeinated water containing the bitter blocker formula without β-Ala (BB-β-Ala) tasted bitter and salty tastes and one panelist recognized a sour taste in addition. The same 3 panelists described salty, sour, metallic and irritating aftertastes.

    [0085] FIG. 3 shows: Among 6 panelists tasting caffeinated water containing the bitter blocker formula without salts (BB-Salts), 4 depicted the bitter taste, 3 panelists the sweet taste and one panelist a sour taste. Four panelists felt bitter, astringent and/or sweet aftertastes.

    [0086] Conclusion of sensory testing: As illustrated in the Results, the β-Ala alone (BB-Salts) at the defined concentration is blocking the bitter taste of caffeine to some extent only. Similarly, the bitter blocking effect of the described salt composition without beta-alanine (BB-β-Ala) at the concentrations defined in Table 6 is incomplete, too. On the other hand, the mixture of β-Ala with a salt composition (BB) as described in Table 6 is able to mask the bitter taste of caffeine in the caffeinated beverages completely. Hence, there is a synergistic effect since the bitter blocking effect of the composition is greater than the sum of the effects of the individual components. Moreover, there was another effect in addition to the said synergistic effect: the taste of caffeinated water containing the complete bitter blocker composition (BB) was indistinguishable from a standard drinking water without caffeine. This taste-neutral effect of the bitter blocker composition could be described as a surprising or bonus effect.

    [0087] Although modifications and changes maybe suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the applicant to involve within the patent application hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and probably come within the scope of this contribution to the art. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth in detail in the appended claims. The features disclosed in the description and in the claims could be essential alone or in every combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.