Medium-chain length fatty acids, glycerides and analogues as stimulators of erythropoiesis

1. A method for stimulating erythropoiesis wherein said method comprises administering, to a subject who is anemic, a composition comprising a compound of any of formulae I, II, and IIa, or a combination thereof;

R 1 —CO—OR 2   II

(R 1 —CO—O) k M  IIa

wherein each R 1 is independently C 7-11 alkyl;

A and B are independently H or CO—R 1 ;

R 2 is H or C 1-4 alkyl;

M is a metal monocation (k=1) or (k=2); and

Y is O;

wherein the administration of said composition is done by a route selected from sublingual, pulmonary, intramuscular, intradermal, subcutaneous and intravenous; wherein each dose of said composition that is administered comprises about 1 gram to about 10 grams of said compound(s); and wherein the administration of said compound(s) causes stimulation of erythropoiesis.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula II, wherein R 2 is hydrogen and which is a medium-chain fatty acid.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula IIa, and wherein M is a metallic counterion selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises caprylic acid or capric acid.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises sodium caprylate or sodium caprate.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises calcium caprylate or calcium caprate.

7. A method for stimulating erythropoiesis wherein said method comprises administering, to a subject who is anemic, a composition comprising a compound of any of formulae I, II, and IIa, or a combination thereof;

R 1 —CO—OR 2   II

(R 1 —CO—O) k M  IIa

wherein each R 1 is independently C 7-11 alkyl;

A and B are independently H or CO—R 1 ;

R 2 is H or C 1-4 alkyl;

M is a metal monocation (k=1) or (k=2); and

Y is O;

wherein the administration of said composition is done orally, and said oral administration is not accompanied with erythropoietin; wherein each dose of said composition that is administered comprises about 1 gram to about 10 grams of said compound(s); and wherein the administration of said compound(s) causes stimulation of erythropoiesis.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject is receiving chemotherapy.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject is receiving radiotherapy.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject has chronic anemia.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject has transient anemia.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject has chronic renal failure.

13. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject has anemia arising from end-stage renal disease.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject is receiving chemotherapy.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject is receiving radiotherapy.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject has chronic anemia.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human.

18. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject is a human.

19. A method for stimulating erythropoiesis wherein said method comprises administering, to a subject who is anemic, a composition comprising a compound of any of formulae I, II, and IIa, or a combination thereof;

R 1 —CO—OR 2   II

(R 1 —CO—O) k M  IIa

wherein each R 1 is independently C 7-11 alkyl;

A and B are independently H or CO—R 1 ;

R 2 is H or C 1-4 alkyl;

M is a metal monocation (k=1) or (k=2); and

Y is O,

wherein the administration of said composition is done orally, and said oral administration is not accompanied with erythropoietin; wherein the anemic condition of the subject does not result from iron-deficiency; and wherein the administration of said compound(s) causes stimulation of erythropoiesis.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject is receiving chemotherapy.

21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject is receiving radiotherapy.

22. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject has chronic anemia.

23. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject has transient anemia.

24. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject has chronic renal failure.

25. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject has anemia arising from end-stage renal disease.

26. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the subject is a human.

27. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula II, wherein R 2 is hydrogen and which is a medium-chain fatty acid.

28. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula IIa, and wherein M is a metallic counterion selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

29. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises caprylic acid or capric acid.

30. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises sodium caprylate or sodium caprate.

31. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises calcium caprylate or calcium caprate.

32. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula II, wherein R 2 is hydrogen and which is a medium-chain fatty acid.

33. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises a compound of formula IIa, and wherein M is a metallic counterion selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

34. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises caprylic acid or capric acid.

35. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises sodium caprylate or sodium caprate.

36. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises calcium caprylate or calcium caprate.