Compositions and methods for promoting weight gain and feed conversion
The invention features compositions for administration of an oxidatively transformed carotenoid or a component thereof and methods of promoting weight gain and feed conversion efficiency therewith.
1. A foodstuff comprising from 0.00001% to 0.005% (w/w) oxidatively transformed carotenoid, wherein said oxidatively transformed carotenoid comprises a mixture, and wherein said mixture comprises a polymeric component formed by reaction of 6 to 8 molar equivalents of oxygen with a carotenoid.
2. The foodstuff of claim 1 , wherein said foodstuff is a baked good, beverage, beverage mix, health bar, biscuit, or animal feed.
3. The foodstuff of claim 2 , wherein said foodstuff is an animal feed and said animal feed is a dry or semi-moist pet food.
4. The foodstuff of claim 2 , wherein said foodstuff is an animal feed.
5. The foodstuff of claim 2 , wherein said foodstuff is a beverage mix and said beverage mix is a powder or a liquid concentrate.
6. The foodstuff of claim 1 , wherein said foodstuff further comprises an antioxidant.
7. The foodstuff of claim 1 , wherein said foodstuff comprises from 0.00001% to 0.001% (w/w) oxidatively transformed carotenoid.
8. The foodstuff of claim 1 , wherein said foodstuff comprises from 0.00001% to 0.0005% (w/w) oxidatively transformed carotenoid.
9. A method for making a foodstuff, said method comprising the step of mixing oxidatively transformed carotenoid with a foodstuff to form a foodstuff comprising from 0.00001% to 0.005% (w/w) oxidatively transformed carotenoid, wherein said oxidatively transformed carotenoid comprises a mixture, and wherein said mixture comprises a polymeric component formed by reaction of 6 to 8 molar equivalents of oxygen with a carotenoid.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said foodstuff is an animal feed.
11. The foodstuff of claim 1 , wherein said carotenoid is selected from the group consisting of lycopene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, echinenone, isozeaxanthin, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, citranaxanthin, β-apo-8′-carotenic acid ethyl ester, alloxanthin, an apocarotenol, astacene, capsanthin, capsorubin, a carotenediol, a carotenetriol, a carotenol, cryptoxanthin, decaprenoxanthin, epilutein, fucoxanthin, a hydroxycarotenone, a hydroxyechinenone, hydroxylycopene, lycoxanthin, neurosporine, phytoene, phytofluoene, rhodopin, spheroidene, torulene, violaxanthin, apocarotenoic acid, β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid, azafrin, bixin, a carboxylcarotene, crocetin, diapocarotenoic acid, neurosporaxanthin, norbixin, and lycopenoic acid.
12. The foodstuff of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material has a molecular weight greater than 1,000 Daltons.
13. The foodstuff of claim 4 , wherein said animal feed is horse feed.
14. The foodstuff of claim 4 , wherein said animal feed is swine feed.
15. The foodstuff of claim 4 , wherein said animal feed is poultry feed.
16. The foodstuff of claim 4 , wherein said animal feed is sheep feed.
17. The foodstuff of claim 4 , wherein said animal feed is cattle feed.
18. The foodstuff of claim 4 , wherein said animal feed is fish feed.
19. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carotenoid is selected from the group consisting of lycopene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, echinenone, isozeaxanthin, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, citranaxanthin, β-apo-8′-carotenic acid ethyl ester, alloxanthin, an apocarotenol, astacene, capsanthin, capsorubin, a carotenediol, a carotenetriol, a carotenol, cryptoxanthin, decaprenoxanthin, epilutein, fucoxanthin, a hydroxycarotenone, a hydroxyechinenone, hydroxylycopene, lycoxanthin, neurosporine, phytoene, phytofluoene, rhodopin, spheroidene, torulene, violaxanthin, apocarotenoic acid, β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid, azafrin, bixin, a carboxylcarotene, crocetin, diapocarotenoic acid, neurosporaxanthin, norbixin, and lycopenoic acid.
20. The method of claim 9 , wherein said polymeric material has a molecular weight greater than 1,000 Daltons.
21. The method of claim 10 , wherein said animal feed is horse feed.
22. The method of claim 10 , wherein said animal feed is swine feed.
23. The method of claim 10 , wherein said animal feed is poultry feed.
24. The method of claim 10 , wherein said animal feed is sheep feed.
25. The method of claim 10 , wherein said animal feed is cattle feed.
26. The method of claim 10 , wherein said animal feed is fish feed.
27. The method of claim 9 , wherein said foodstuff comprises from 0.00001% to 0.001% (w/w) oxidatively transformed carotenoid.
28. The method of claim 9 , wherein said foodstuff comprises from 0.00001% to 0.0005% (w/w) oxidatively transformed carotenoid.