Spray dried follistatin product
Processes for production of a composition containing active follistatin via spray/heat drying of a biological source containing follistatin as well as compositions containing this active follistatin and methods it use increasing muscle mass are provided.
1. A process for production of a powder comprising active avian follistatin for oral ingestion by a subject, said method comprising:
providing avian whole eggs, avian whole egg yolks, avian egg white or avian egg yolk membranes containing active avian follistatin;
homogenizing or agitating the avian whole eggs, avian whole egg yolks, avian egg white, or avian egg yolk membranes to form an emulsion;
spray drying the emulsion with heat at an inlet temperature of about 280° F. to about 390° F. and an outlet temperature of about 160° F. to about 190° F.;
wherein said method produces a powder containing the active avian follistatin determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); and
formulating said powder for oral ingestion by a subject.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the avian whole eggs, avian whole egg yolks, avian egg whites or avian egg yolk membranes are from fertilized avian eggs.
3. The process of claim 1 further comprising:
preserving the avian whole eggs, avian whole egg yolks, avian egg whites or avian egg yolk membranes and/or powder comprising the active avian follistatin to reduce any bacterial contamination.
4. The process of claim 3 wherein the preservation step comprises irradiation, thermal pasteurization, high pressure treatment and/or pulsed electric field treatment.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the avian whole eggs, avian whole egg yolks, or avian egg yolk membranes are diluted to a solids concentration ranging from about 15% to about 40% prior to homogenizing.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein avian eggs are collected and stored in a refrigerator or cold room at or lower than 40° F. until they are ready to be processed.