PROBIOTIKÀ Study

Study and Development of New Pro- and Prebiotic Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Disorders (PROBIOTIKÀ)

The PROBIOTIKÀ project is the first business cluster created to establish a HUB dedicated to the research, development, and industrialization of innovative probiotic products, as well as the study of new nutraceuticals aimed at preventing and reducing serious metabolic disorders associated with microbiota imbalances resulting from antibiotic therapies.

The activities of Probiotikà have focused on:

1) Study and characterization of new pro- and prebiotic products for the management of hypercholesterolemia.

ACHIEVED RESULTS

• Development of a new blend consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Boulardii strain), dry garlic extract, and vitamin B6, shown to support the reduction of blood cholesterol levels.
• Formulation of nutraceutical food products derived from processed fruits and vegetables, chocolates, pralines, and biscuits made with specialty flours (spelt/potato), including varieties with truffle, in which the probiotic content remains viable for 24 months at room temperature. Preliminary in vivo trial results of the blend showed a 10% reduction in plasma cholesterol levels after 90 days of administration.
• Development of a new product composed of Bacillus clausii and Saccharomyces Boulardii probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamins, designed to evaluate cholesterol reduction and efficacy on the target microbiota.
• Isolation and characterization of a Lactobacillus reuteri strain capable of metabolizing Bile Salts Hydrolase (BSHase) 5% to 10% more efficiently.

2) Study and characterization of new pro- and prebiotic products for the management of dysmetabolisms associated with alterations in the human microbiota.

ACHIEVED RESULTS

• Development of alternative solid-form formulations based on Bacillus clausii and raw materials: a concentration of clausii equal to 6 billion CFU per sachet (corresponding to the adult daily dose) has been achieved, combined with lactoferrin, pepsin, linden, green tea, red grape extract, and additional excipients ensuring pleasant taste and proper dispersion.
• A microbiota analysis was conducted on 700 free-living individuals. The findings led to the identification of several taxa associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease. For cardiovascular conditions, two previously unreported taxa—Chorobacteriaceae and Shigella—were identified, whose species correlate with cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome profiles.