| abstract |
A sweetener supplement compositions which provides a bioavailable source of calcium and are stable from calcium salt precipitation for at least about four hours at temperatures of at least about 85 DEG F. (29 DEG C.). The compositions comprise: a) from about 0.6% to about 7%, by weight, soluble calcium; b) from about 2% to about 47%, by weight, of an edible acid component comprising a mixture of citric acid and malic acid wherein the ratio of citric equivalents and malic equivalents to calcium equivalents is from about 1.5:1 to about 2:1 and the ratio of citric equivalents to malic equivalents is from about 3:97 to about 93:7; c) from about 5% to about 80%, on a dry weight basis, sugar, wherein preferably at least about 15% of said sugar is fructose, on a dry weight basis; and d) from about 5% to about 92%, by weight, water. The present invention also relates to methods of making said sweetener supplements, foods and beverages containing them and to methods of enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of calcium citrate malate. |