Compositions and methods for increasing muscle mass and strength, treating skin, reducing wear and degradation from aging and exposure and improving recovery from stress such as exercise and trauma

1. A nutritional composition comprising:

an amino acid component, said amino acid component comprising by weight of total essential amino acids:

3-9% of L-histidine;

4-11% of L-isoleucine;

3-37% of L-leucine;

4-12% of L-lysine;

6-17% of L-phenylalanine;

0.3-9% of L-threonine;

1-4% of L-tryptophan;

4-19% of L-valine;

27.6-60% of L-arginine;

10.3-17% of L-methionine; and

wherein the nutritional composition optionally comprises an artificial sweetener and, optionally, a flavoring component.

2. The composition of claim 1 , in the form of a single serving wherein L-methionine is present in an amount of at least 400 mg methionine per 10 g of said component administered.

3. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an additional amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-citrulline, L-cysteine, L-carnitine, creatine and mixtures thereof.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein L-arginine is present in an amount of 35.2-60%.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein L-arginine is present in an amount of 35.2% to 45.5%.

6. A method for treating one or more of: muscle mass, strength, functional performance, fatigue, soreness and recovery from disease treatment or surgery in a human subject, comprising:

administering to a subject in need of such treatment a composition comprising an amino acid component, said amino acid component comprising by weight of total essential amino acids:

3-9% of L-histidine;

4-11% of L-isoleucine;

3-37% of L-leucine;

4-12% of L-lysine;

6-17% of L-phenylalanine;

0.3-9% of L-threonine;

1-4% of L-tryptophan;

4-19% of L-valine;

27.6-60% of L-arginine;

10.3-17% of L-methionine; and

wherein the composition optionally comprises an artificial sweetener and, optionally, a flavoring component.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the amino acid component comprises the following concentrations of amino acids in terms of w/w %: L-histidine, 3-9%; L-isoleucine, 4-11%; L-leucine, 8.7-15.9%; L-lysine, 6.3-12%; L-methionine, 10.3-17%; L-phenylalanine, 6-17%; L-threonine, 0.3-9%; L-tryptophan, 1-4%; L-valine, 4-19%; and L-arginine, 35.2-60%.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the amino acid component comprises, in terms of w/w %: L-histidine, 3-9%; L-isoleucine, 4-11%; L-leucine, 8.7-15.9%; L-lysine, 6.3-11.6%; L-methionine, 10.3-17%; L-phenylalanine, 8.1-15.9; L-threonine, 0.3-9%; L-tryptophan, 1-4%; L-valine, 4-11.6%; and L-arginine, 35.2-45.5%.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the amino acid component comprises, in terms of w/w %: L-histidine, 5.2%; L-isoleucine, 6.6%; L-leucine, 10.3%; L-lysine, 7.6%; L-methionine, 10.3%; L-phenylalanine, 10.3%; L-threonine, 4.6%; L-tryptophan, 2.4%; L-valine, 7.6%; and L-arginine, 35.2%.

10. A method for improving one or more of wound healing, wound outcomes, and surgical recovery in a human subject comprising:

administering to a subject in need of such treatment a composition comprising an amino acid component, said amino acid component comprising by weight of total essential amino acids:

3-9% of L-histidine;

4-11% of L-isoleucine;

3-37% of L-leucine;

4-12% of L-lysine;

6-17% of L-phenylalanine;

0.3-9% of L-threonine;

1-4% of L-tryptophan;

4-19% of L-valine;

27.6-60% of L-arginine;

10.3-17% by weight of L-methionine; and

wherein the composition optionally comprises an artificial sweetener and, optionally, a flavoring component.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the amino acid component comprises the following concentrations of amino acids in terms of w/w %: L-histidine, 3-9%; L-isoleucine, 4-11%; L-leucine, 8.7-15.9%; L-lysine, 6.3-12%; L-methionine, 10.3-17%; L-phenylalanine, 6-17%; L-threonine, 0.3-9%; L-tryptophan, 1-4%; L-valine, 4-19%; and L-arginine, 35.2-60%.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the amino acid component comprises, in terms of w/w %: L-histidine, 3-9%; L-isoleucine, 4-11%; L-leucine, 8.7-15.9%; L-lysine, 6.3-11.6%; L-methionine, 10.3-17%; L-phenylalanine, 8.1-15.9; L-threonine, 0.3-9%; L-tryptophan, 1-4%; L-valine, 4-11.6%; and L-arginine, 35.2-45.5%.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the amino acid component comprises, in terms of w/w %: L-histidine, 5.2%; L-isoleucine, 6.6%; L-leucine, 10.3%; L-lysine, 7.6%; L-methionine, 10.3%; L-phenylalanine, 10.3%; L-threonine, 4.6%; L-tryptophan, 2.4%; L-valine, 7.6%; and L-arginine, 35.2%.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein a dose of 1.5 g to 42 g of the said amino acid component is administered one, two, or three times a day or such doses are administered over a 24 hour period.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein a dose of 1.5 g to 42 g of the said amino acid component is administered one, two, or three times a day or such doses are administered over a 24 hour period.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the administration is oral.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the administration is oral.

18. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an artificial sweetener and, optionally, a flavoring component.

19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the artificial sweetener is aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose, rebaudioside A (rebA), advantame, neotame, or Siraitia grosvenorii fruit extracts.

20. The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition further comprises an artificial sweetener and, optionally, a flavoring component.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the artificial sweetener is aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose, rebaudioside A (rebA), advantame, neotame, or Siraitia grosvenorii fruit extracts.

22. The method of claim 10 , wherein the composition further comprises an artificial sweetener and, optionally, a flavoring component.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the artificial sweetener is aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose, rebaudioside A (rebA), advantame, neotame, or Siraitia grosvenorii fruit extracts.