Metabolic syndrome has become one of the main public health problems in industrialised countries. The high and growing prevalence of this syndrome in recent years has raised the alarm in what the World Health Organization (WHO) has called the epidemic of the twenty first century. Lifestyle changes, which include unsatisfactory diets and low physical activity, are the main external triggers. Numerous health campaigns are trying to curb this problem by recommending more suitable diets and to encourage the practice of physical exercise.
Participating groups
In this context, eight companies in the biotechnology and agri-food sector decided to join forces to address the problem from the nutritional point of view, developing food solutions which, included into the usual diet, would provide functionalities that could help reduce risk and improve pathologies related to metabolic syndrome. The METASIN project consortium was formed by:
- BIOSEARCH, S.A., the coordinating company of the project, specialised in the research, development, production and marketing of healthy ingredients of natural origin.
- ACEITES DEL SUR-COOSUR, S.A., a company with over a century of experience devoted to the production of olive oil and table sauces.
- ALGAENERGY, S.A., a technology-based company focused on the development and marketing of new products derived from microalgae, a biotechnological sector in which the company is a global benchmark.
- CREACIONES AROMÁTICAS INDUSTRIALES, S.A. (CARINSA), whose main activity is the creation, manufacture and marketing of all kinds of aromas, fragrances and additive preparations.
- FEIRACO LÁCTEOS, S.L., a reference in the Galician dairy sector, focused on the collection, processing and marketing of cow's milk and derived products.
- GO FRUSELVA, S.L., specialised in the development and co-manufacturing of purees, smoothies and juices in pouches and bottles.
- MAHOU, S.A., a leading company in the Spanish beer sector.
- VIDA (VÉRTICE DE INNOVACIÓN Y DESARROLLO DE ALIMENTOS, S.A.), a company belonging to Galletas Gullón, SA, one of the first biscuit makers in Europe and one of the main food companies in Spain, leader in the healthy-biscuits market segment.
Major research groups from different universities and technology centres in Spain have also collaborated in the METASIN project, such as LEITAT-scientific coordinator of the project, which has extensive experience in research, development and industrial innovation tasks, as well as in the management of cooperation projects, the University of Granada, Jaén, Santiago de Compostela, Pablo de Olavide Seville, Valencia Polytechnic, the Institute of Dairy Products (IPLA-CSIC), the Institute of Research in Food Sciences (CIAL-CSIC), AINIA Technological centre CARTIF, IRTA, FIBAO, IdiPAZ Health Research Institute and the National Association of Canned Seafood Manufacturers (ANFACO-CECOPESCA). The objective was to create a network of collaboration between Companies and Public Centres, promoting such transfer in order to make the most of the knowledge and capabilities of public and private research.
Notable outcomes
The balance of the project has been very positive. New products have already been launched with beneficial effects such as a light sauce with fibre and quinoa, oat, rice and microalgae pancakes, juices with healthy ingredients such as microalgae, Omega-3 and antioxidants, butter with a healthier fat profile, thanks to special feeding of cows, Omega-3 oil from algae, extract rich in D-chiroinositol that improves the pregnancy rate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, related to insulin resistance. Furthermore, prototypes of foods such as bread, muffins, juices and fruit drinks enriched with active compounds, yogurts, soy sauces and mortadella, chewing gum and food supplements with different functional ingredients have been developed. With regards to the microbiota, new probiotic strains have been studied which, in animal models, have been shown to have very positive effects on obesity and glucose metabolism.
