Periodic Reporting for period 2 - COLOSTEO (Nutraceutical supplementation based on colostrum for prevention of osteoporosis)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2020-01-01 do 2021-12-31
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.
COLOSTEO project has achieved most of its objectives with relatively minor deviations. A number of researchers were seconded 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. Four scientific articles have been published for open access.
We participated in the American Society of Bone and Mineral Society (ASBMR 2019 and ASBMR 2020) annual conferences, the Hellenic Society for the Study of Bone Metabolism annual Congress and the SEIOMM XXV (2021) national congress to disseminate our results. Additionally, we have developed the project website (https://colosteoeu.wixsite.com/website(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) and the project’s social media where we regularly upload publications, conference communications, infographics, popularization articles, interviews and videos to disseminate information to a wider audience. Also, our paper "Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Improves Bone Metabolism in an Osteoporosis-Induced Animal Model " was nominated for the "Nutrients 2023 Best Paper Award" by Nutrients MDPI!
We participated in the American Society of Bone and Mineral Society (ASBMR 2019 and ASBMR 2020) annual conferences, the Hellenic Society for the Study of Bone Metabolism annual Congress and the SEIOMM XXV (2021) national congress to disseminate our results. Additionally, we have developed the project website (https://colosteoeu.wixsite.com/website(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) and the project’s social media where we regularly upload publications, conference communications, infographics, popularization articles, interviews and videos to disseminate information to a wider audience. Also, our paper "Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Improves Bone Metabolism in an Osteoporosis-Induced Animal Model " was nominated for the "Nutrients 2023 Best Paper Award" by Nutrients MDPI!
Bovine colostrum could be a potential strategy against osteoporosis. COLOSTEO presented for the first time, the positive effects of bovine colostrum on bone health. Our bovine colostrum was effective in inducing significant improvements in bone health in rats with osteoporosis. Considering data from our in vitro study and in vivo study, our bovine colostrum seems to be stimulating osteoblast activity (these effects seem to be dose-dependent and not sex- dependent). However, the effects of our bovine colostrum do not seem to be at the same extend as the ones induced by alendronate (a standard frug for the treatment of osteoporosis); i.e. alendronate is more effective in preventing bone mass losses than bovine colostrum. Nevertheless, considering the positive effects induced by bovine colostrum, the fact that these effects are not at the same scale as alendronate, does not mean that bovine colostrum cannot be used as a preventative strategy. In fact, COLOSTEO research results could potentially have a significant impact in the society, as bovine colostrum could be used as a supplement to prevent bone losses. Nevertheless, we also must be aware that, contrary to the results obtained in vitro and in vivo, our bovine colostrum seems not to induce any effects in human participants with both osteoporosis and osteopenia. A potential reason for the lack of effects in humans could be related to the dose of colostrum used, i.e. maybe the dose that we used in humans was not sufficient to induce effects. Future research should consider COLOSTEO data and take it to another level, i.e. manipulate dose, timing and frequency of administration in humans. The participated researchers were provided with new career perspectives. They were given access to state of-the-art knowledge, techniques and research facilities, and/or information about market and technological needs and products, therefore potentiating opportunities for the researchers and organizations. Moreover, they obtained new technical capabilities ranging technical capabilities ranging from animal physiology, human physiology, act development. In addition, the participated researchers had the opportunity to gain benefits including personal development, career progress, exposure to a different organisational culture, opportunity to change direction, and time for contemplation and re-evaluation of the existing skills and abilities. They were able to bring skills into their home organisations that otherwise would not have been available.