CHEWABLE COMPOSITIONS FOR THE STABILIZATION OF DIAGNOSTIC BIOMARKERS

1 . A chewing gum composition useful to stabilize a diagnostic marker, the chewing gum composition comprising a gum base and a stabilizing agent useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker in saliva.

2 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of a protease inhibitor, a DNase inhibitor, and a RNase inhibitor.

3 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker selected from the group consisting of a protein, a glycoprotein, a nucleic acid, an enzyme, an enzyme inhibitor, and a metabolite.

4 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker indicative of a disease state.

5 . The chewing gum composition of claim 4 , wherein the disease state is selected from the group consisting of a cancer, a metabolic disease, a cardiac disease, diabetes, a bacterial infection, a viral infection, a fungal infection, and a parasitic infection.

6 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is capable of inhibiting degradation of a diagnostic marker to a inhibitory degree, the inhibitory degree selected from the group consisting of at least about 40%, at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 55%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 95%, and at least about 99%.

7 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Fixanal® Buffer 6.0, acetic acid, aluminum hydroxide bentonite, aluminum sulfate hydrate, benzoic acid, aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate, caffeine, and 3-tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, or a combination thereof.

8 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

an anti-caking agent.

9 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

a preservative.

10 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

an emulsifying agent.

11 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

a nutrient and dietary supplement.

12 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sequestrant.

13 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

a stabilizer.

14 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

a flavoring substance.

15 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising:

an additive.

16 . The chewing gum composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of an anti-caking agent, a chemical preservative, an emulsifying agent, a nutrient and dietary supplement, a sequestrant, a stabilizer, and flavoring substance.

17 . A chewing gum composition useful to stabilize a diagnostic marker, the chewing gum composition comprising:

a stabilizing agent useful to completely or substantially prevent degradation or inactivation of a diagnostic marker in saliva; and

at least one chewing gum composition component selected from the group consisting of an anti-caking agent, a chemical preservative, an emulsifying agent, a nutrient and dietary supplement, a sequestrant, a stabilizer, flavoring substance, and an additive;

wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Fixanal® Buffer 6.0, acetic acid, aluminum hydroxide bentonite, aluminum sulfate hydrate, benzoic acid, aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate, caffeine, and 3-tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, or a combination thereof.