Abstract
Functional foods are currently one of the fastest growing sectors of the food industry since they are considered a dietary strategy to reduce incidence of human illness thanks to their active components. The project FUNPRO-L wants to develop and evaluate the functional properties of a novel fermented milk designed to promote female well-being. To do so, probiotic strains, exopolysaccharide producers and a starter culture will be selected to obtain the most suitable blend to produce a functional fermented milk tailored for women. The product will be specifically designed to be good, healthy, and functional with prebiotic and probiotic activity towards women related infections. It will be characterized from a nutritional, sensorial, and functional point of view, applying in vitro techniques, among others the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME) that recreates a dysbiotic microbiome. Based on the functional properties and on the ability to drive the gut microbiome, the new product will be evaluated in a clinical trial with women with IBS which presented an anamnesis of vaginitis and/or recurrent vulvovaginitis. Gut microbiome will be studied by meta-omics approaches to define taxonomic and metabolic differences as affected by the intake of novel product. Moreover, its effects on microbial and human metabolism will be evaluated by biochemical, inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolome analyses. The expected outcome will open paths towards low-fat free fermented milk for prevention of metabolic disorders occurring in vulvovaginitis.
Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Davide Gottardi
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari
Coordinatore:
Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro(Italy)
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 98.332,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
12/10/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
