Delivery of active agents using a chocolate vehicle
This invention provides edible compositions comprising pharmaceutically or nutraceutically active agents in particulate form homogeneously dispersed in a fat matrix, such as chocolate or chocolate compound coating.
1. A composition for oral consumption prepared from chocolate, said composition comprising at least about 10% by weight calcium carbonate powder having a median particle size between about 10 μm and about 13 μm homogeneously dispersed throughout said chocolate, said chocolate comprising a fat matrix composed of about 90% to about 100% by weight cocoa butter, said cocoa butter being in the Form V crystalline polymorph and having a melting point between about 32° C. and about 34° C., such that said composition is solid at room temperature but melts at a temperature below mouth temperature.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate comprises at least about 20% by weight of the composition.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate comprises at least about 25% by weight of the composition.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the calcium carbonate comprises at least about 30% by weight of the composition.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate has an apparent viscosity in the molten state within about ±50% of the apparent viscosity of the identical chocolate in the absence of the calcium carbonate powder, as measured under conditions of identical temperature and shear.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate has an apparent viscosity in the molten state within about ±25% of the apparent viscosity of the identical chocolate in the absence of the calcium carbonate powder, as measured under conditions of identical temperature and shear.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate has an apparent viscosity in the molten state within about ±10% of the apparent viscosity of the identical chocolate in the absence of the calcium carbonate powder, as measured under conditions of identical temperature and shear.
8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate has an apparent viscosity in the molten state within about ±5% of the apparent viscosity of the identical chocolate in the absence of the calcium carbonate powder, as measured under conditions of identical temperature and shear.
9. The composition of claim 1 further comprising Vitamin D.
10. The composition according to claim 9 wherein said Vitamin D is ergocalciferol.
11. The composition according to claim 9 wherein said Vitamin D is Vitamin D 3 .
12. The composition of claim 9 further comprising Vitamin K.
13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said chocolate comprises milk fat.
14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is sweet chocolate.
15. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is semi-sweet chocolate.
16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is dark chocolate.
17. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is milk chocolate.
18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is white chocolate.
19. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is couverture chocolate.
20. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is baking chocolate.
21. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition is in the form of a molded chocolate bar, which comprises about 1.5 g of calcium carbonate powder per 7 g of said composition.