Methods and compositions for treating, reducing or preventing deterioration of the visual system of animals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9320759-B2
Application number	US-201213981220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2012
Priority date	Jan 25, 2011
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

Methods and compositions for treating, reducing, or preventing deterioration of at least one component of the visual system of an animal are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to the animal a composition comprising UFA and NORC in an amount effective to treat, reduce, or prevent deterioration of at least one component of the visual system. Methods extending the prime years of an animal's life, improving the quality of life, and promoting health and wellness of an animal using compositions comprising UFA and NORC are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating, reducing, or preventing deterioration of one or more components of the visual system of an animal comprising identifying an animal susceptible to or suffering from deterioration of one or more components of the visual system and administering in conjunction to the animal one or more unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and one or more nitric oxide releasing compounds (NORC) in an amount effective for treating, reducing, or preventing deterioration of such components of the visual system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein deterioration comprises deterioration of one or more of the retina, the optic nerve, or another component of the visual system.

3. The method of claim of claim 2 wherein the deterioration comprises deterioration of one or more of the retinal pigment epithelium, the outer segment (photoreceptors), the inner segment (photoreceptors), the outer limiting membrane, the outer nuclear layer, the outer plexiform layer, the inner nuclear layer, the inner plexiform layer, the ganglion cell layer, the nerve fiber layer, or the inner limiting membrane.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the another component of the visual system comprises one or more of the optic chiasm, the optic tract, the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and/or related tissues of the thalamus, the superior colliculus, the optic radiation, the primary visual cortex of the brain (V1), the prestriate cortex (V2), the third visual complex, visual area V4, visual area V5, the pretectal nucleus, or the superchiasmatic nucleus.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the deterioration is caused by normal aging in the absence of an injury or disease identifiable as a substantial source of the deterioration.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the deterioration is caused by injury.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the injury is an age-related injury.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the injury is a retinal tear, a macular hole, an epiretinal membrane, or a retinal detachment.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the deterioration is caused by disease.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the disease is an age-related disease.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the disease is retinitis, optic neuritis, macular degeneration, proliferative or nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, progressive retinal atrophy, progressive retinal degeneration, sudden acquired retinal degeneration, immune-mediated retinopathy, retinal dysplasia, chorioretinitis, retinal ischemia, retinal hemorrhage, hypertensive retinopathy, retinal inflammation, retinal edema, retinoblastoma, or retinitis pigmentosa.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a human or a companion animal.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the UFA comprises one or more of ALA, EPA, DPA, DHA, or another n-3 fatty acid from any source.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the UFA are from a fish oil source.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the NORC are arginine, a nitric oxide-releasing analog or derivative or arginine, citrulline, or ornithine.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the UFA and the NORC are administered to the animal in amounts of from about 0.001 g/kg to about 50 g/kg.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the UFA and the NORC are administered to the animal daily.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering in conjunction to the animal one or more B vitamins in an amount effective for treating, reducing, or preventing the deterioration.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the B vitamins are administered in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 40 times the recommended daily requirement of B vitamins.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering in conjunction to the animal one or more antioxidants in an amount effective for treating, reducing, or preventing the deterioration.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the antioxidants are administered in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 times the recommended daily allowance for the antioxidants.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the antioxidants include one or more of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, a tocopherol or tocotrienol compound with Vitamin E activity, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, lutein, or selenium.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering in conjunction to the animal one or more B vitamins and one or more antioxidants in an amount effective for treating, reducing, or preventing deterioration.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the B vitamins are administered in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 40 times the recommended daily requirement of B vitamins and the antioxidants are administered in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 10 times the recommended daily allowance for the antioxidants.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the UFA and NORC are administered as part of a composition formulated as a human food composition, a pet food composition, or a dietary supplement.

Assignees

• Pan Yuanlong
• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Pan Yuanlong

Classifications

• A61P43/00

  Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 · CPC title

• A61K45/06

  Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca · CPC title

• A61K35/60

  Fish, e.g. seahorses; Fish eggs · CPC title

• A61P27/02

  Ophthalmic agents · CPC title

• A61K33/00 Primary

  Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients · CPC title