Mars, Incorporated

Harold H Schmitz

Leo J Romanczyk

John F Hammerstone, Jr

Kirk S Kealey

Rodney M Snyder

Mary E Myers

Eric J Whitacre

Hans M Geyer

Kati A Chevaux

Ralph A Jerome

Margaret M Buck

Giovanni G Cipolla

Michael E Webster

Craig A McClelland

Laurie S Post

Jeff A Mundt

John F Hammerstone

Elizabeth Zemenek

James C Neumann

Dana L Michael

Mark Allen Kelm

Amy Dombroski

Catherine L Kwik-Uribe

The invention relates to compositions, such as pharmaceuticals, foods, food additives, or dietary supplements, containing A-type procyanidins, and methods of use thereof, for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a human or a veterinary animal to treat or prevent NO-responsive health conditions, treat hypertension, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease and/or vascular circulation disorders, prevent or reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure and/or kidney failure, or to improve blood flow, for example renal blood flow. The composition may optionally contain an additional NO modulating agent and/or a cardiovascular-protective or therapeutic agent, or may be administered in combination with such an agent.

Compositions and methods of use of A-type procyanidins

Foods and pharmaceuticals which contain cocoa and/or nut procyanidin(s) in combination with L-arginine are effective to induce a physiological increase in nitric oxide production in a mammal having ingested the product. A preferred food product is a confection, particularly a dark or milk chocolate containing nuts. The procyanidins may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as chocolate liquor and/or cocoa solids prepared from underfermented beans and nut skins. The L-arginine may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as nut meats, nut pastes, and/or nut flours, seeds, seed pastes, and/or seed flours, or gelatin. The beneficial health effects may include, for example, reduced blood pressure, resistance to cardiovascular disease, and anticancer activity.

Products containing polyphenol(s) and L-arginine

Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.

Process for extracting cocoa polyphenols from cocoa beans

Products containing polyphenol(s) and L-arginine and methods of use thereof

This invention relates to a method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of periodontal disease comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a polymeric compound of formula A. Also disclosed and claimed is an article of manufacture comprising the above compounds packaged within a container with instructions for use, and methods of making thereof.

Treatment of periodontal disease

The invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a nitric oxide (NO)-responsive disease or disorder by administering to a subject in need thereof a composition, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins and/or a procyanidin-containing nut skins extract. Said composition may further comprise cocoa polyphenol(s) and/or L-arginine.

Nut skin products and methods of use thereof

The invention relates to products, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins. Exemplary nut skins are peanut and almond skins. The products may also contain cocoa polyphenol and/or L-arginine, and are useful for inducing vasodilation.

Nut skin products

The invention relates to products, including foods such as confectionary and pet foods, comprising nut skins or polyphenol-containing nut skin extracts. Exemplary nut skins are peanut and almond skins. The products may also contain cocoa polyphenol and/or L-arginine, and are useful for inducing vasodilation.

Chocolates and chocolate liquor having an enhanced polyphenol content

Disclosed and claimed are flavanols, e.g. epicatechin, compositions such as pharmaceutical compositions containing an effective amount of flavanols, e.g. epicatechin, and methods of treatment or prevention of hypertension using the same.

Epicatechin for hypertension treatment

This invention relates to a method of improving renal function comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising the inventive compounds. Also disclosed is a method of improving renal function where the subject is at risk of or suffering from renal failure.

Renal function improvement

This invention relates to compositions comprising epicatechin and method of use of such compositions for inducing vasodilation of blood vessels in humans and veterinary animals.

Epicatechin and vasodilation

This invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising a polymeric compound of formula An and an additional NO-modulating agent and method of use thereof. Also disclosed and claimed is a method of making an article of manufacture comprising of the polymeric compound of formula An.

Methods of manufacture and combination compositions

Processes for making chocolate

Polyphenol-containing compositions, for example procyanidins and derivatives thereof, and their use for treating hypertension are disclosed. Compositions may be used for human and veterinary use, and may be, for example, in a form of a food, a dietary supplement or a pharmaceutical.

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Bethesda, MD, United States of America

Harold H Schmitz