METAL DI-AMINO ACID CHELATES OR METAL TRI-AMINO ACID CHELATES

1 . A composition comprising a metal tri-amino acid chelate complex, the complex comprising a metal tri-amino acid chelate and a counterion, wherein

(i) the tri-amino acid is tetradentate,

(ii) the metal has an oxidation state of +2,

(iii) there is a 1:1 ratio between the metal and the tri-amino acid,

(iv) the metal tri-amino acid chelate has a positive charge in an aqueous solution.

2 . A composition comprising a metal tri-amino acid chelate complex, the complex comprising a metal tri-amino acid chelate and optionally a counterion, wherein

(i) the tri-amino acid is bidentate,

(ii) the metal has an oxidation state of +2 or +3, and

(iii) there is a 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3 ratio between the metal and the tri-amino acid.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the metal tri-amino acid chelate complex has a neutral charge in a solid state.

4 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, calcium, and iron.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the metal is magnesium.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the tri-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of tri-glycine tri-aspartic acid (D3), tri-glutamic acid (E3), tri-histidine (H 3 ), tri-serine (S3), and tri-tyrosine (Y3).

7 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the tri-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of tri-glycine tri-aspartic acid (D3), tri-glutamic acid (E3), tri-histidine (H 3 ), tri-serine (S3), and tri-tyrosine (Y3).

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein each amino acid of the tri-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of glycine (G), aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E), histidine (H), serine (S), and tyrosine (Y).

9 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein each amino acid of the tri-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of glycine (G), aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E), histidine (H), serine (S), and tyrosine (Y).

10 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an organic acid salt of the metal.

11 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the organic acid salt of the metal is a citrate salt, a malate salt, an acetate salt, or a tartrate salt.

12 . A composition comprising a magnesium tri-amino acid chelate complex, the complex comprising a magnesium tri-amino acid chelate and a counterion, wherein

(i) the tri-amino acid is tetradentate,

(ii) there is a 1:1 ratio between the magnesium and the tri-amino acid,

(iii) the magnesium tri-amino acid chelate has a positive charge in an aqueous solution.

13 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the magnesium tri-amino acid chelate complex has a neutral charge in a solid state.

14 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the tri-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of tri-glycine (G3), tri-aspartic acid (D3), tri-glutamic acid (E3), tri-histidine (H 3 ), tri-serine (S3), and tri-tyrosine (Y3).

15 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein each amino acid of the tri-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of glycine (G), aspartic acid (D), glutamic acid (E), histidine (H), serine (S), and tyrosine (Y).

16 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the tri-amino acid is tri-glycine.

17 . A composition comprising a zinc tri-amino acid chelate complex, the complex comprising a zinc tri-amino acid chelate and optionally a counterion, wherein

(i) the tri-amino acid is bidentate,

(ii) the zinc has an oxidation state of +2, and

(iii) there is a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio between the zinc and the tri-amino acid.

18 . A composition comprising a zinc tri-glycine chelate complex, the complex comprising a zinc tri-glycine chelate, wherein

(i) the zinc has an oxidation state of +2, and

(ii) there is a 1:2 ratio between the zinc and the tri-glycine.

19 . A composition comprising a zinc tri-glycine chelate complex, the complex comprising a zinc tri-glycine chelate ion, and a counterion, wherein

(i) the zinc has an oxidation state of +2, and

(ii) there is a 1:1 ratio between the zinc and the tri-glycine.

20 . A composition comprising a calcium tri-amino acid chelate complex, the complex comprising a calcium tri-amino acid chelate and optionally a counterion, wherein

(i) the tri-amino acid is bidentate, and

(ii) there is a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio between the calcium and the tri-amino acid.