IRON-CONTAINING COMPOSITION

Abstract

An iron-containing composition containing ferric pyrophosphate, a polyhydric alcohol, gum arabic, and gum ghatti, wherein the content of the polyhydric alcohol is from 93 to 630 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a total amount of gum arabic and gum ghatti is from 15 to 23 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a mass ratio of the content of the gum arabic to the content of the gum ghatti (gum arabic/gum ghatti) is from 0.01 to 0.5, and wherein the ferric pyrophosphate has a volume-average particle size of 0.20 μm or less. The iron-containing composition of the present invention can be used in foodstuff, feeds, cosmetics, pharmaceutical compositions, and the like.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. An iron-containing composition comprising ferric pyrophosphate, a polyhydric alcohol, gum arabic, and gum ghatti, wherein the content of the polyhydric alcohol is from 93 to 630 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a total amount of gum arabic and gum ghatti is from 15 to 23 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a mass ratio of the content of the gum arabic to the content of the gum ghatti (gum arabic/gum ghatti) is from 0.01 to 0.5, and wherein the ferric pyrophosphate has a volume-average particle size of 0.20 μm or less, and wherein the polyhydric alcohol comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, diglycerol, triglycerol, and polyglycerol.

10. A method for producing an iron-containing composition comprising blending ferric pyrophosphate, a polyhydric alcohol, gum arabic, and gum ghatti, wherein the blending amount of the polyhydric alcohol is from 93 to 630 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a total amount of gum arabic and gum ghatti is from 15 to 23 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate, and wherein a mass ratio of the content of the gum arabic to the content of the gum ghatti (gum arabic/gum ghatti) is from 0.01 to 0.5, and wherein the ferric pyrophosphate has a volume-average particle size of 0.20 μm or less, and wherein the polyhydric alcohol comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, diglycerol, triglycerol, and polyglycerol.

11. The method for production according to claim 10, further comprising a step of pulverizing ferric pyrophosphate.

12. The method for production according to claim 10, wherein ferric pyrophosphate having an electric conductivity of 0.05 mS/cm or more in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution is blended.

13. The method for production according to claim 10, wherein the blending amount of ferric pyrophosphate is from 15 to 25% by mass, and wherein the content of the polyhydric alcohol is from 93 to 330 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the ferric pyrophosphate.

14. Foodstuff comprising an iron-containing composition as defined in claim 9.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0027] The present invention will be described specifically hereinbelow by means of Examples and Comparative Examples, without intending to limit the present invention thereto.

[0028] Preparation of Iron-Containing Compositions

Examples 1 to 11, and Comparative Examples 1 to 6

[0029] Four-hundred grams of ferric pyrophosphate A (electrical conductivity in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution: 0.40 mS/cm, a proportion of phosphorus contained in the supernatant obtained when washed with water: 1.4%) was blended and dispersed with 500 g of glycerol and 1100 g of ion-exchanged water, and the dispersion was subjected to a finely pulverizing treatment, to even out the sizes of the average particles of the ferric pyrophosphate to a size as listed in Table 1 or 2, to give a 20% by mass ferric pyrophosphate composition. The composition obtained was mixed with a thickening polysaccharide solution and glycerol in proportions as listed in Table 1 or 2, and the mixture was dispersed and homogenized with a homogenizer, to give an iron-containing composition (12.5% by mass ferric pyrophosphate dispersion). The resulting iron-containing composition was analyzed, and a volume-average particle size, a viscosity, and particle sizes (immediately after the preparation and 4 days after the preparation) of the ferric pyrophosphate were measured. In addition, with regard to each of Examples, its water activity was measured to confirm that the water activity was at a level in which the proliferation of bacteria could be inhibited. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0030] <Dispersibility (Evaluation for Precipitations)>

[0031] A ferric pyrophosphate dispersion of each of Examples and Comparative Examples after 4 days from the preparation was added to a commercially available low fat milk so as to have an iron concentration of 5 mg/100 ml. The mixture was treated with Homo-mixer at 8000 rpm for 2 minutes, and then heated at 80° C. for 30 minutes, and allowed to stand in a refrigerator for one week, to evaluate the amount of yellow to yellow-brown precipitations in accordance with the following criteria.

(Evaluation Criteria)

[0032] Score 5: The precipitations cannot be confirmed at all;
Score 4: The precipitations cannot be hardly confirmed;
Score 3: Some but small amounts of precipitations can be confirmed;
Score 2: The precipitations can be confirmed; and
Score 1: The precipitations can be confirmed in large amounts.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Table 1 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ex. 11 Composition, Ferric pyrophosphate A 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 parts by Glycerol 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 320 440 400 400 mass Gum ghatti 20 18 15 16 22 15 16 20 20 20 20 Gum arabic 0.4 2.4 5.4 4.4 0.44 0.3 0.32 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 Water 279.6 279.6 279.6 279.6 277.6 284.7 283.7 359.6 239.6 279.6 279.6 Ratio Gum arabic/gum ghatti 0.02 0.13 0.36 0.28 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 Analytical Average particle size, 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.13 0.20 results μm Water activity (Aw) 0.74 0.75 0.74 0.75 0.75 0.74 0.75 0.84 0.71 0.75 0.74 Viscosity, mPa .Math. s 1433 1156 460 610 1650 530 630 1184 1884 1788 1200 Particle size 504.7 508.1 499.6 491.9 501.8 446.8 453.0 502.9 510.8 480.3 510.3 immediately after the preparation, nm Particle size four days 510.5 511.1 527.4 537.0 512.6 473.1 475.5 508.3 511.0 496.7 517.8 after the preparation, nm Analytical Dispersibility, 5 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 5 5 4 results, milk evaluation for precipitations

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 TABLE 2 Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Composition, Ferric pyrophosphate A 100 100 100 100 100 100 parts by Glycerol 400 400 400 400 400 400 mass Gum ghatti 20.4 8 0 24 14 20 Gum arabic 0 12.4 20.4 0.48 0.28 0.4 Water 279.6 279.6 279.6 275.5 285.7 279.6 Ratio Gum arabic/gum ghatti 0 1.55   0.02 0.02 0.02 Analytical Average particle size, 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.25 results μm Viscosity, mPa .Math. s 1970 400 880 2410 380 270 Particle size immediately 469.4 427.4 553 506.4 413.4 590 after the preparation, nm Particle size four days after 554.6 607.1 898.6 563.0 448.1 621 the preparation, nm Analytical Dispersibility, evaluation for 3 2 1 3 2 2 results, milk precipitations

[0033] It can be seen from Tables 1 and 2 that the iron-containing compositions of Examples 1 to 11 are all excellent in dispersibility, as compared to the iron-containing compositions of Comparative Examples 1 to 3 in which the mass ratio of the content of gum arabic to the content of gum ghatti is outside the range of from 0.01 to 0.5, Comparative Examples 4 and 5 in which a total amount of gum arabic and gum ghatti is outside the range of from 15 to 23 parts by mass, and Comparative Example 6 in which the volume-average particle size of the ferric pyrophosphate exceeds 0.20 μm.

[0034] Preparation of Iron-Containing Compositions

Examples 12 to 14

[0035] The same procedures as in Example 1 were carried out except that a 8.0% by mass ferric pyrophosphate dispersion was provided as a composition listed in Table 3, to give an iron-containing composition. In Table 3, ferric pyrophosphate A had an electrical conductivity of 0.40 mS/cm in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution, and a proportion of phosphorus contained in the supernatant obtained when washed with water of 1.4%; ferric pyrophosphate B had an electrical conductivity of 0.10 mS/cm in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution, and a proportion of phosphorus contained in the supernatant obtained when washed with water of 65.1%; and ferric pyrophosphate C had an electrical conductivity of 0.08 mS/cm in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution, and a proportion of phosphorus contained in the supernatant obtained when washed with water of 95.3%. With respect to the resulting iron-containing compositions, the evaluation for precipitations was carried out in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 11. In addition, the resulting iron-containing compositions were analyzed, and a volume average particle size, a viscosity, and particle sizes (immediately after the preparation and four days after the preparation) of the ferric pyrophosphates were measured. In addition, the water activity was measured, and it was confirmed to be at a level in which the proliferation of bacteria can be inhibited. The results are shown in Table 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Ex. 12 Ex. 13 Ex. 14 Composition, Ferric pyrophosphate A 100 0 0 parts by Ferric pyrophosphate B 0 100 0 mass Ferric pyrophosphate C 0 0 100 Glycerol 625 625 625 Gum ghatti 20 20 20 Gum arabic 0.4 0.4 0.4 Water 322.9 322.9 322.9 Ratio Gum arabic/gum ghatti 0.02 0.02 0.02 Analytical Average particle size, μm 0.15 0.15 0.15 results Water activity (Aw) 0.74 0.74 0.74 Viscosity, mPa .Math. s 128 1140 510 Particle size immediately 503.9 508.2 516.9 after the preparation, nm Particle size four days 514.8 520.4 543.1 after the preparation, nm Analytical Dispersibility, evaluation 5 5 4 results, milk for precipitations

[0036] From Table 3, the dispersibility in all of the iron-containing compositions of Examples 12 to 14 was excellent, and the dispersibility of Examples 12 and 13, in which ferric pyrophosphates A, B, the ferric pyrophosphates having higher electrical conductivity were used was more excellent. In addition, when the viscosities were considered, the iron-containing composition of Example 12 blended with ferric pyrophosphate A was most excellent.

[0037] Preparation of Iron-Containing Compositions

Examples 15 and 16

[0038] Five-hundred grams of ferric pyrophosphate A (electrical conductivity in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution: 0.40 mS/cm, a proportion of phosphorus contained in the supernatant obtained when washed with water: 1.4%) was blended and dispersed with 500 g of glycerol, 70 g of gum ghatti, 2 g of gum arabic, and 928 g of ion-exchanged water, and the dispersion was subjected to a finely pulverizing treatment for 60 minutes, to even out the sizes of the average particles of the ferric pyrophosphate to a size as listed in Table 4, to give an iron-containing composition of a 25% by mass ferric pyrophosphate. The resulting iron-containing composition was analyzed, and a volume-average particle size and a viscosity of the ferric pyrophosphate were measured. The results are shown in Table 4.

Comparative Example 7

[0039] The same procedures as in Examples 15 and 16 were carried out except that the amount of glycerol and the amount of ion-exchanged water were changed to amounts as listed in Table 4, to try to prepare a composition. However, Comparative Example 7 was solidified so that a volume-average particle size and a viscosity could not be measured.

[0040] <Production Suitability>

[0041] The production suitability of Examples 15 and 16 and Comparative Example 7 was evaluated in accordance with the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 4.

(Evaluation Criteria)

[0042] ◯: producible as a liquid slurry during the finely pulverizing treatment;
Δ: thickening during the finely pulverizing treatment, but being producible as a liquid slurry; and
x: solidifying during the finely pulverizing treatment, making it non-producible, or having a volume-average particle size after the finely pulverizing treatment of exceeding 0.20.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Comp. Ex. 15 Ex. 16 Ex. 7 Composition, Ferric pyrophosphate A 100 100 100 parts by Glycerol 100 100 90 mass Gum ghatti 15 15 15 Gum arabic 0.4 0.4 0.4 Water 184.6 184.6 195.6 Ratio Gum arabic/gum ghatti 0.03 0.03 0.03 Analytical Average particle size, μm 0.15 0.20 — results Viscosity, mPa .Math. s 4500 3800 — Production suitability ◯ ◯ X

Examples 17 and 18

[0043] To 100 parts by mass of an iron-containing composition of a 25% by mass ferric pyrophosphate obtained in Examples 15 and 16 were added 70 parts by mass of glycerol and 30 parts by mass of water to dilute, to prepare an iron-containing composition of a 12.5% by mass of ferric pyrophosphate. The resulting iron-containing compositions were subjected to the evaluation for precipitations in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 11. As a result, the precipitations were not visually seen in both the cases, confirming to show excellent dispersibility.

Example 19

[0044] Four-hundred grams of ferric pyrophosphate A (electrical conductivity in a 1% aqueous ferric pyrophosphate solution: 0.40 mS/cm, a proportion of phosphorus contained in the supernatant obtained when washed with water: 1.4%) was blended and dispersed with 400 g of glycerol, 64 g of gum ghatti, 1.28 g of gum arabic, and 1134.72 g of ion-exchanged water, and the dispersion was subjected to a finely pulverizing treatment, to even out the sizes of the average particles of the ferric pyrophosphate to 0.15 μm, to give an iron-containing composition of a 20% by mass ferric pyrophosphate. To the solution were further added 80000 g of ion-exchanged water and 19134.72 g of dextrin, the mixture was heated to dissolve the dextrin, and the solution was spray-dried with a spray-dryer, to prepare a powdery iron-containing composition. The resulting iron-containing composition was subjected to the evaluation for precipitations in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 11. As a result, the precipitations were not visually seen, confirming to show excellent dispersibility.

[0045] Preparation of Iron-Containing Compositions

Examples 20 to 23 and Comparative Examples 8 to 11

[0046] The same procedures as in Examples 15 and 16 were carried out except that the amount of each of the components was changed to the amount as listed in Table 5, to give each of iron-containing compositions of a 25% by mass ferric pyrophosphate. The resulting iron-containing compositions were analyzed, and a volume-average particle size and a viscosity of the ferric pyrophosphate were measured. The production suitability was evaluated in accordance with the same criteria as in Examples 15 and 16. The results are shown in Table 5. Here, Comparative Example 8 was solidified so that the volume-average particle size and the viscosity could not be measured.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 TABLE 5 Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex. 20 Ex. 21 Ex. 22 Ex. 23 Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ex. 11 Ferric pyrophosphate A 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Composition, Glycerol 100 100 100 94 100 100 100 100 parts by mass Gum ghatti 22.4 20 15.2 22.4 0 22.4 14.8 22.64 Gum arabic 0.4 0.4 7.6 0.4 23 1.6 8 0.16 Water 177.2 179.6 177.2 183.2 177 176 177.2 177.2 Ratio Gum arabic/gum ghatti 0.02 0.02 0.50 0.02 — 0.07 0.54 0,007 Analytical Average particle size, μm 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 — 0.3 0.25 0.3 results Viscosity, mPa .Math. s 29800 26000 24600 28600 — 31000 24000 34000 Production suitability Δ Δ Δ Δ X X X X

[0047] As shown in Table 5, it could be confirmed that Examples 20 to 23 had production suitability at high concentrations even though the viscosities thereof would be near 30000, thereby making them less advantageous in the production efficiencies than Examples 15 and 16. On the other hand, although the same finely pulverizing treatment as in Examples 20 to 23 was carried out in Comparative Examples 9 to 11, particle aggregation was confirmed after the finely pulverizing treatment, thereby making them disadvantageous in dispersibility, so that they were evaluated as not having production suitability at high concentrations.

Examples 24 to 27

[0048] To 100 parts by mass of an iron-containing composition of a 25% by mass ferric pyrophosphate each obtained in Examples 20 to 23 were added 70 parts by mass of glycerol and 30 parts by mass of water to dilute, to prepare each of iron-containing compositions of a 12.5% by mass ferric pyrophosphate. The resulting iron-containing compositions were subjected to the evaluation for precipitations in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 11. As a result, the precipitations were not visually seen in all the cases, confirming to show excellent dispersibility.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0049] The iron-containing composition of the present invention can be used in foodstuff, feeds, cosmetics, pharmaceutical compositions, and the like.