SuReMetS Project
SuReMetS, from Sustainable Resources to novel marine nutraceuticals for the management of Metabolic Syndrome
The Metabolic Syndrome is a medical condition that includes obesity and its consequences such as high blood pressure and increased blood sugar. Patients suffering from metabolic syndrome are on a high risk of developing diabetes type II, which is often referred to as "acquired diabetes" in contrast to diabetes type I that has genetic/immunologic causes.
Obesity is the major risk factor for patients to develop metabolic syndrome and diabetes. To understand the issue it is worth to recall the obesity rates of different countries: USA 36%, UK 27%, Norway 23%, China 6% and India ~4% of the respective population, the average global obesity rate is 19.7% (World Fact Book, 2016). This exemplifies that especially the older industrial countries have an (rising) obesity problem with consequences such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes type II. The medical long term consequences of diabetes such as organ damage and problems with blood circulation as well as the reduction of life quality are severe. Also the burden for health systems is considerable, not taking in account the indirect societal costs such as reduced- or in-capacity of work of patients.
The first choice for treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome would be an improved life-style and diet. This aproach depends higly on human factors and additional aid in form of drugs and nutraceuticals could reduce the consequences of the metabolic syndrome and increase the perspective for patients significantly.
Project Aims: The aim of the project is to investigate the suitabillity of marine raw materials for nutraceuticals to treat metabolic syndrom. The use of raw materials that are available as by- and waste-products of the existing marine-industry, such as fish-cut offs and shrimp-shells as well as raw materials such as algae shall ensure that the sourcing of neutraceuticals doees not compeet with other value chains or food-production. The utilization of those raw materials is desierable both from an economic and ecologic point of view. For the processing of marine-raw-materials bacteria from the marine environment will be investiogated for novel hyrdolytic enzymes in order to improve processing and bioactivity of the raw materials. Noteworthy to say that the production of neutraceuticals could add to the economy of rural coastal communitys.
Partners: To acieve the project aims, the partners cover expertise and experience from the production and processing of raw material such as hydrolysis of by products, over the discovery of ennzymes for hydrolysis up to biotesting and chemical analysis.
Consortium:
Prof. Jeanette Hammer Andersen, Marbio, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway
Prof. Alan Dobson, School of Microbiology, University College Cork
Prof. Dick FitzGerald, Biological Sciences University of Limerick
Jason Whooley, Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland Ltd. Research and Development
Prof. Wolfgang Streit, Microbiology & Biotechnology, University of Hamburg
Dr. Sebastian Lippemeier, BlueBioTech ltd.
Jaran Rauø, Marealis Innovation AS
Whom we want to benefit:
- Patients suffering from the metabolic syndrome, by providing new nutraceuticals to improve their condition.
- Coastal societies by adding new business models and value chains.
- The environment by using marine raw materials more efficiently.