Fighting Crohn’s With Algae

Описание: The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (#IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, has nearly doubled since 1990, with an increasing number of cases affecting young people between the ages of 15 and 39. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue and bleeding can have a severe impact on daily life, yet many patients do not respond fully to existing therapies or eventually develop resistance to them. The need for new, safe and effective treatment options has never been greater.

The EU-funded Algae4IBD project has brought together researchers from across Europe on a mission to explore #algae, including #microalgae and seaweed, as a natural and sustainable source of bioactive compounds that could help to reduce inflammation, restore microbial balance and support gut health. Over 1,000 algae strains were screened, with around 150 selected for detailed testing. Scientists examined the effects of these algae on inflamed human cells, bacterial cultures and mucosal biopsies collected from IBD patients undergoing endoscopy.

To ensure repeatable results and pharmaceutical-grade quality, the algae were cultivated indoors under tightly controlled conditions, among other things. Promising extracts showing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, prebiotic and probiotic properties were then evaluated for their therapeutic potential. Meanwhile, industrial partners in France and Ireland began developing functional foods enriched with these bioactive compounds, creating prototypes such as biscuits, yoghurt, vegan butter, cupcakes, and more. These products are not intended to replace medical treatment, but rather to complement it by offering daily nutritional support to patients.

The project's dual aim is to discover new pharmaceutical candidates and to develop functional foods that could one day be widely available to help maintain gut health and reduce inflammation.

Would you like to know more about the research of the #algae4ibd project?    • IBD Patients Are Left Out with Pain, Stres...  


SOCIAL MEDIA
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https://algae4ibd.eu/
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DISCLAIMER
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This project has received funding from the European Union‘s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101000501