| abstract |
The present invention provides stable encapsulated (−)-hydroxycitric acid (“HCA”) dosage unit forms, uses thereof, as well as and methods of making the same. In particular, HCA and the salts, esters and amides of HCA according to the invention are delivered via enteric vehicles, such as enteric-coated tablets, and also enteric and enteric-coated capsules and soft gelatin capsules (softgels). Enteric-coatings may be applied externally to the HCA-containing dosage unit form or, in the case of capsules and soft gelatin capsules, the enteric compound also may be incorporated into the gelatin shell to yield an HCA-containing dosage unit form of the invention. The HCA-containing compositions are protected against acid degradation, lactonization and undesirable ligand binding in select environments. The invention provides HCA-containing dosage unit forms useful to prevent or reduce the symptoms associated with a disease, disorder or condition such as obesity, weight gain, hunger, hyperlipemia, and postprandial lipemia. |