Periodic Reporting for period 1 - COLOSTEO (Nutraceutical supplementation based on colostrum for prevention of osteoporosis)
Période du rapport: 2018-01-01 au 2019-12-31
Osteoporosis constitutes a major public health concern; 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men are currently at risk for an osteoporotic fracture. In 2010, the economic burden of osteoporotic fractures in the European Union (EU) was approximately €37 billion. These costs are estimated to raise by 25% in the year 2025. Worldwide, by 2050, the incidence of osteoporotic fractures is expected to increase 310% in men and 240% in women compared to 1990. These estimates may indicate some ineffectiveness of currently available products aiming to prevent osteoporosis. In fact, the use of the marketed pharmacological agents for osteoporosis (e.g. bisphosphonates) has been decreasing in the EU. This is probably due to the reported side effects (as osteonecrosis of the jaw, atrial fibrillation and atypical femur fractures), and to the uncertainty of the positive long-term effects on bone formation. Calcium supplementation has also been reported to increase the risk of myocardial infarction. This means that there is a need for innovative products in order to reduce the current burden of osteoporosis. Bovine colostrum is a promising agent for osteoporosis prevention since it has natural components that seem to be directly involved in bone formation. As a nutracentical, colostrum confers an advantage over pharmacological agents since it can avoid the unpleasant side effects while inducing bone health benefits. The aim of COLOSTEO project is to produce new knowledge on the effects of bovine colostrum on bone formation and to create a nutracentical supplementation for osteoporosis prevention. To fulfil with this aim, COLOSTEO formed an intersectorial consortium involving academic and industrial partners. Academic partners have the scientific knowledge, facilities and experience to investigate the effects of colostrum on bone formation. Industrial partners have the expertise, experience and knowledge on manufacturing new products and marketing. Together, academia and industry will: a) Analyse bovine colostrum components and its consume safety; b) Investigate the effectiveness of bovine colostrum in preventing bone loss using an animal model (osteoporotic rat); c) Study the effects of the supplement on bone formation in human participants; d) Dissemination of the results; e) Create a business plan for product commercialisation.
During the first two years of the project, the COLOSTEO project has achieved most of its objectives with relatively minor deviations. A number of researchers were seconded to other sectors (from industry to academia and vice versa). Through the staff exchanges, the researchers participated in networking, research and training, workshops, innovation, dissemination and public engagement activities. These activities provided experience and expertise, especially to the young researchers in several areas of knowledge. They obtained new technical capabilities ranging from animal physiology, human physiology and product development. The consortium has already finished three research studies and the results will be published soon. We participated in the American Society of Bone and Mineral Society (ASBMR 2019) annual conference and in in the Formación en OSTEOPOROSIS Conference to disseminate our results. Additionally, we have developed the project website (www.colosteo.eu) and the project’s social media where we regularly upload newsletters, conference communications and infographics, to disseminate information to a wider audience.
The COLOSTEO project will provide relevant experimental data on how bone cells (from animal studies) and bone metabolism (from human studies) responds to treatment with bovine colostrum. The mechanisms through which bovine colostrum may interfere with bone cells and the effectiveness of bovine colostrum to reduce bone losses in individuals with osteopenia/ osteoporosis have not been elucidated yet, as well as the effectiveness to prevent bone mass losses in postmenopausal women. This means that the project will produce new knowledge that can be further used to create a new agent against osteoporosis, and, ultimately decrease the economic burden of osteoporotic fractures in the EU. Furthermore, because COLOSTEO created an intersectorial consortium involving academic and industrial partners to achieve its scientific aims, both academic and industrial partners will gain intersectorial and interdisciplinary knowledge, which will broader staff’s employability and career opportunities not only within their own countries, but also within Europe. By the end of the project it is expected to achieve the following:
a) New knowledge on the mechanisms on how bovine colostrum enhances bone formation and decreases bone resorption;
b) New knowledge on the role of bovine colostrum in human populations;
c) Insights towards the creation of a new nutracentical for osteoporosis;
COLOSTEO academic and industry partners will gain intersectorial and interdisciplinary knowledge, COLOSTEO partners will strength their networks and improve their knowledge and technical skills. the project so far)
a) New knowledge on the mechanisms on how bovine colostrum enhances bone formation and decreases bone resorption;
b) New knowledge on the role of bovine colostrum in human populations;
c) Insights towards the creation of a new nutracentical for osteoporosis;
COLOSTEO academic and industry partners will gain intersectorial and interdisciplinary knowledge, COLOSTEO partners will strength their networks and improve their knowledge and technical skills. the project so far)