Antioxidant-containing food composition

1. A companion animal pet food composition comprising an antioxidant component that comprises alpha-lipoic acid, said companion animal pet food composition suitable for an adult canine or feline, wherein the alpha-lipoic acid is present in the pet food in an amount from about 100 ppm to 600 ppm by weight on a dry matter basis, and wherein said companion animal pet food composition meets the ordinary nutritional requirements as a sole diet for an adult canine or feline.

2. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising L-carnitine.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein alpha-lipoic acid is present in an amount of about 100 ppm to about 200 ppm on a dry matter basis.

4. The composition of claim 2 , wherein L-carnitine is present in an amount of about 50 ppm to about 5000 ppm, and wherein the composition meets ordinary nutritional requirements for an adult canine.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the L-carnitine is present in an amount of about 200 ppm to about 400 ppm.

6. The composition of claim 2 , wherein L-carnitine is present in an amount of about 100 ppm to about 5000 ppm, and wherein the composition meets ordinary nutritional requirements for an adult feline.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the L-carnitine is present in an amount of about 400 ppm to about 600 ppm.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant component further comprises at least one of vitamin E and vitamin C.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein vitamin E is present in an amount of about 100 ppm to about 2000 ppm.

10. The composition of claim 8 , wherein vitamin E is present in an amount of about 500 ppm to about 1000 ppm.

11. The composition of claim 8 , wherein vitamin C is present in an amount of at least 50 ppm.

12. The composition of claim 8 , wherein vitamin C is present in an amount of at least 100 ppm.

13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant component further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of beta-carotene, selenium, coenzyme Q10, lutein, tocotrienols, soy isoflavones, S-adenosylmethionine, glutathione, taurine, N-acetylcysteine and combinations thereof.

14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant component is supplied at least in part by an ingredient having an oxygen radical absorbing capacity of greater than 25 micromole of 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid equivalents per gram of dry matter.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the ingredient having an oxygen radical absorbing capacity of greater than 25 micromole of 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid equivalents per gram of dry matter is selected from the group consisting of spinach pomace, tomato pomace, citrus pulp, grape pomace, carrot granules, broccoli, green tea, ginkgo biloba , corn gluten meal and combinations thereof.

16. A companion animal pet food composition comprising an antioxidant component that comprises (a) alpha-lipoic acid in an amount of about 100 ppm to about 200 ppm, (b) L-carnitine in an amount of about 200 ppm to about 400 ppm, (c) vitamin E in an amount of about 500 ppm to about 1000 ppm, and (d) vitamin C in an amount of at least 50 ppm; said companion animal pet food composition meeting ordinary nutritional requirements for an adult canine.

17. A companion animal pet food composition comprising an antioxidant component that comprises (a) alpha-lipoic acid in an amount of about 100 ppm to about 200 ppm, (b) L-carnitine in an amount of about 400 ppm to about 600 ppm, (c) vitamin E in an amount of about 500 ppm to about 1000 ppm, and (d) vitamin C in an amount of at least 50 ppm; said companion animal pet food composition meeting ordinary nutritional requirements for an adult feline.