Development of new non-pharmacological methods of correction of metabolic syndrome: normalization of physiological and biochemical indices in animals
Project web-site: http://biochem.if.ua
Project duration: 01.01.2018 – 31.12.2020
Grant holder: Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (Grant of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine)
Project goals: The aim of this project is to normalize the physiological and biochemical parameters in animals with metabolic syndrome via calorie restriction and to improve their adaptation to the normal state using nutritional supplements and preparations of adaptogenic plants. Searching for ways to correct metabolic syndrome is one of the actuall problems nowdays. The use of various pharmacological agents often gives side effects. Therefore alternative approaches should be founded. One of such alternative approaches is to use a method to limit the amount of calories available to animals without disturbing the balance of the consumed macro- and micro-components of food. Although itself the metabolic syndrome is characterized by metabolic and oxidative stresses, the output from it and the transition to a normal state can also be stressful. Since the change in the intensity of stress can also be a type of stress, the use of nutritional supplements and drugs of medicinal plants-adaptogens can contribute to a better adaptation to metabolic syndrome and the new normal physiological state. That is why this project proposes to use individual substances or mixtures and preparations for which the ability to raise the resistance of animals to various stresses has been described earlier.
Specific project objectives are:
- To develop reproducible models of metabolic syndrome in mice and fruit flies.
- To develop ways of transition from the state of metabolic syndrome to the normal by caloric restriction in animals.
- To decrease stress effects in animals during transition from the state of metabolic syndrome to the normal state using nutritional supplements and preparations from adaptogenic plants.
Expected results:
The results of this project will provide the basis for considering the metabolic syndrome as a complex state with clearly defined quantitative indicators of metabolic, oxidative and carbonyl stresses with simultaneous stimulation with balance shift between pro- and anti-inflammatory processes in the direction of the latter. The developed approaches will create the basis of biologically substantiated proposals for a comprehensive approach to the prevention and correction of metabolic syndrome. In the first place we are talking about individual chemical compounds and their complexes, as well as preparations from plants that have adaptogenic properties. Perhaps it is this approach that will ease the conditions of metabolic syndrome as well as the transition form it to the norm in people who drastically lower their body weight.
Contact person and project manager in Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University: Professor Volodymyr Lushchak, Head of the Department of Bichemistry and Biotechnology,
e-mail: lushchak@pu.if.ua.