Research project SD/AF/04B (Research action SD)
Context
Nowadays, we are moving towards an increasingly complex food chain and consumer habits are changing dramatically. In this context, dietary supplements (e.g. vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants), para-pharmacy products, and functional food (e.g. phytosterols or omega-3 fatty acids enriched food) are of increasing interest. These products lie between food and drugs. Moreover, interactions between active substances and other compounds (drugs, contaminants, food constituents) are poorly documented. Therefore, food safety issues become even more complex than ever. In addition, it is necessary to study how new consumption habits are evolving. Aspects such as information, risk perception, and communication to the authorities, agro-food companies, health professionals and consumers will be considered.
Project description
Objectives
The objective of this project is to contribute to the risk assessment linked to the consumption of dietary supplements, para-pharmacy products and functional foods. Interactions between active substances, natural compounds, transformation products, environmental contaminants, will be studied at the intestinal level. Taking into account new consumers’ habits, the project will focus on the impact of these interactions on human health. It will increase knowledge and fill some gaps regarding health claims and drawbacks that could be linked to these new habits in human nutrition.
Methodology
This project consists of three work packages:
WP 1: Preliminary information collection (ULg, UCL and CERVA-CODA)
WP 2: Biochemical and chemical analyses of contaminants and dietary supplement and functional food (ULg, UCL, UA, UGent and CERVA-CODA) and their interaction.
WP 3: risk assessment and communication (ULg and CERVA-CODA)
Interactions between scientists and stakeholders (and more largely society) is a condition of credibility and efficiency. In the field of food consumption, this objective is important because food safety depends not only on production and control, but also on consumption practices and good information must therefore be promoted. One important aspect is the definition of risks: we assume that risks linked to contaminants and interactions between food, functional food, dietary supplements and para-pharmaceuticals are poorly integrated by consumers. An originality of this project is to build a specific setting to develop dialog between scientists and stakeholders. Agro-food industry is one among the important stakeholders: representatives of food industry have to be interviewed to describe the ways they treat these risks. Citizens also need to be consulted using specific protocols.
This research includes innovative analytical protocols and their validation, quick detection methods and predictive in vitro models pertaining to chemical safety (endocrine disruptors, toxins, plant protection products, dioxins, hormones, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, …). Interactions studies will be performed using existing in vitro models (based on culture of various cell types, prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and of isolated receptors) with mixtures of active substances at concentrations not yet studied until now and very close to the real situation in human nutrition. Extrapolation from the in vitro observations to the real dangers for human will be attempted.
Interaction between partners
The five partners will be organized in an interdisciplinary network. The partners will conduct complementary activities and their integration will be managed by the coordinator. The technical coordination activities are intended to ensure there is good communication and collaboration between partners and that the project deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
Expected results and/or products
- Database with exhaustive listing of dietary supplements, contaminants, food components and para-pharmacy products (their toxicology and beneficial effects)
- Overview of legislation (plants allowed in preparations, health allegations and labelling).
- Reports of the consulted panels of consumers and industries.
- Collection of samples: pure substances (analytical standards, …), commercial preparations (dietary supplements, herbal preparations, …), fractions obtained after preparative chromatography of crude extracts
- Optimized methods, protocols and performance characteristics for all assays and analytical methods
- Data on chemical contamination levels of dietary supplements available on the Belgian market
- Data on intestinal absorption and biotransformation of selected substances, alone or in mixtures.
- Data on pro- or anti-inflammatory effects of selected substances, alone or in mixtures.
- Data on biological effects detected with eukaryotic cell based assays (endocrine disrupting and dioxin-like activity)
- List of ingredients for which possible effects have been identified in the in vitro studies
- Prioritization of the possible risks for the consumers’ health taking into account uncertainties linked to extrapolation to the real world
- Practical recommendations on work still to be done to better characterize the risks identified above
- Report with recommendations specifically addressed to the public authorities, agro-food and para-pharmaceutical industries and consumers
- Report on risk communication specifically addressed to the public authorities, agro-food and para-pharmaceutical industries and consumers
Partners
Activities
ULg
CART (Centre of Analysis of Residues in Traces) is specialized in setting up and development of analytical tools, both biochemical and physicochemical, for residues and contaminants in the food chain.
SEED (Socio économie environnement et développement) research unit is specialized in the field of environment. Themes are now extended to questions such as sustainable agriculture and food quality.
UCL
The Group of Cellular, Nutritional and Toxicilogical Biochemistry (BCNT) within the ISV (Institut des sciences de la vie) is working in the field of cell and physiological biochemistry and pharmaco-toxicology, by means of cell culture systems with mammalian cells as well as on human nutrition, biochemistry of lactation and animal nutrition.
CERVA-CODA
The department “Quality & Safety” contributes to a pro-active policy as regards safe food production, animal health, and public health on the federal and international levels.
UA
The research group Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology (EBT) conducts research concerning the adaptation of aquatic and terrestrial organisms to their environment and the effects of environmental contamination on organisms, populations and communities
UGent
The Laboratory of Food Analysis develops new and innovative analytical techniques, such as rapid immuno-based field tests and also confirmatory chromatographic techniques in the field of analysis of chemical contaminants in food.
Contact Information
Coordinators
Guy Maghuin-Rogister
Université de Liège (ULg)
Centre d’analyse des résidus en Traces (CART)
Laboratoire d’analyse des denrées alimentaires (LADA)
blvd de Colonster 20, bât. B43bis Sart-Tilman
B-4000 Liège
g.maghuin@ulg.ac.be
Tel:+32 (0)4 366 40 40
Fax:+32 (0)4 366 40 44
http://www.adaoa.ulg.ac.be
Marc Mormont
Université de Liège (ULg)
Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement
Socio-économie, Environnement et Développement (SEED)
BAT. BE-011 avenue de Longwy, 185
B-6700 Arlon
Tel: +32 (0)63 230868
Fax: +32 (0)63 23 08 18
mmormont@ulg.ac.be
Promoters
Schneider Yves-Jacques & Yvan Larondelle
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Laboratoire de biochimie cellulaire (BIOC)
Place Louis Pasteur 1
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel : +32 (0)10 47.27.91
Fax: +32 (0)10 47.48.95
yjs@uclouvain.be
Pussemier Luc
Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche Vétérinaire et Agrochimique (CERVA)
chaussée de Louvain 17
B-3080 TERVUREN
Tel: +32 (0)2 769.22.47
Fax:+32 (0)2 769.2305
info@var.fgov.be
Blust Ronny
Universiteit Antwerpen (UA)
Departement biologie
RUCA-campus - Groenenborgerlaan 171
B-2020 Antwerpen
Tel: +32 (0)3 265 33 44
Fax: +32 (0)3 265 34 97
Ronny.blust@ua.ac.be
De Saeger Sarah & Van Peteghem Carlos
Universiteit Gent (UGent)
Laboratory of Food Analysis
Harebekestraat 72
B-9000 Gent
Tel: +32 (0)9 264 81 34
Fax: +32 (0)9 264 81 99
sarah.desaeger@Ugent.be
Carlos.VanPeteghem@ugent.be
Follow-up committee
Filip Babylon - Association Pharmaceutique belge
Claire Bosch - Fédération de l’Industrie Alimentaire (FEVIA)
Etienne Cools - Ministère de la Communauté française
Stefaan De Henauw - Universiteit Gent
Nathalie Guillaume - Fédération belge de l’Industrie et du Commerce, des Compléments alimentaires, Produits naturels, de Réforme et de Diététique (NAREDI)
Johan Hallaert - Fédération de l’Industrie Alimentaire (FEVIA)
André Huyghebaert - SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Alfred Noirfalise - Groupe de contact FNRS Nutrition, alimentation et santé
Robert Remy - Test achat
Rob Renaerts - Centre de recherche et d’information des organisations de consommateurs (CRIOC)
Anne Reul - Fédération de l’Industrie Alimentaire (FEVIA)
Isabelle Scarniet - Test-Achats
Joëlle Van Bambeke - Institut Bruxellois pour la Gestion de l'Environnement
Pierre Villers - Ministère de la Région Wallonne
Christine Vinkx - SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Jean Pottier - SPF Santé publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Food interactions : effects on health, consumer perception and impact on agro-food industries + Annexes : final report
Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2011 (SP2392)
[To download]
Food interactions : effects on health, consumer perception and impact on agro-food industries : summary of the results
Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2011 (SP2393)
[To download]
Voedingsinteracties: gezondheidseffecten, consumentenperceptie en impact op de agroalimentaire industrie : samenvatting van de resultaten
Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2011 (SP2394)
[To download]
Interactions alimentaires: effets sur la santé, la perception du consommateur et l’impact sur les industries agroalimentaires : résumé des résultats
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2011 (SP2395)
[To download]
